Join us for the premiere episode of Clues of Leadership, where we sit down with Dr. Michelle Milam, Chief of Police for Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration and a 37-year law enforcement veteran. Dr. Milam shares powerful insights from her journey through Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, where she retired as a lieutenant, and her continued impact as an associate professor training the next generation of officers.

In This Episode: • The leadership lesson that changed everything: "Be the leader you didn't have" • Why the jump from officer to sergeant is the hardest transition in policing • How to identify and leverage informal leaders in your organization • The tragic story of an officer who died, and the leadership lesson it taught • Navigating modern policing challenges: social media, AI, and constant surveillance • The power of emotional intelligence in law enforcement leadership • Why trust and credibility matter more than rank

Key Takeaways:

• Leadership isn't born—it's developed through lived experience, faith, and family
• Rank doesn't make people follow you; respect is earned
• The best leaders practice what they preach and make human decisions
• Building trust with your team is the foundation of effective leadership

Dr. Milam is an FBI National Academy graduate with over 17 years as an educator, bringing both practitioner experience and academic expertise to every conversation. Her mother's strength as a breast cancer survivor taught her the perseverance that carried her through nearly four decades of service.

Whether you're a new officer, aspiring supervisor, or seasoned leader, this conversation offers timeless wisdom on developing your leadership skills in one of the most challenging professions.

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Leadership isn’t accidental. It leaves clues.

In this official trailer for Clues of Leadership, host Dominick introduces the vision behind the podcast and the standard it represents.

This is not surface-level conversation. This is not résumé recitation.

Clues of Leadership is a platform for real dialogue with chiefs, commanders, executives, and high-stakes decision-makers who have led through pressure, crisis, growth, and transformation. Each episode uncovers the defining moments that shaped their leadership — the failures, pivots, hard decisions, and lessons learned when responsibility was real.

If you are a current leader, an emerging leader, or preparing for your next level of influence, this podcast was built for you.

Subscribe and join the conversation.

Because leadership leaves clues — and the next clue might change the way you lead.

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