Today we’d like to introduce you to Anthony Waite.
Hi Anthony, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Growing up without a prominent father figure and struggling for most of my childhood I would say adversity was the day to day norm. Slowly, I was becoming a statistic as I became part of the system. Living in section 8 housing and running with the wrong crowd was part of life and it eventually led to me graduating highschool with a 1.8 GPA. Shortly after graduation, I had an altercation with my stepfather who struggled with alcohol and punched me in the face. Mike Tyson famously said “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face.” Unfortunately for me I didn’t have a plan. This led to me becoming homeless and sleeping on random friends couches for about a year. It wasn’t until I witnessed friends succumb to addiction, gang violence, and incarceration that I realized I had to do something as my future was becoming a reality. It is then that I decided to go to the recruiting office and join the Navy. I enlisted in the medical field and a few years later I was at the White House serving on the Presidents Medical Team. Shortly after that assignment, I would obtain a commissioned as a Naval Officer and graduate Nursing School. After a deployment in 2019, my superintendent from the highschool I barely graduated from informed me that I was selected as “Distinguished Alumni” for my graduating class. It was here that I realized “It doesn’t matter how you started, it matters how you decide to finish.”
That message has allowed me create the leadership and development platform Lead 360 where I help elementary to executive leaders cultivate the confidence to lead with character and not credentials. I also created a soft skill development program for at risk youth called Guys in Ties where we help young men develop the skills to thrive inside of the classroom regardless of their external situation and circumstances.
Today,
I am the Director for Healthcare Inter-service Training at Fort Sam Houston and am preparing for retirement as I wrap up a 23 year career.
I am also the host of the Lead 360 Podcast and speak on stages around the country.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It is never a smooth road as we live in a fast pace, ever changing world. Leadership is not just a one and done event as it requires constant and consistent awareness and confidence to face the challenges in front of us as well as in the future.
Some of the struggles that I have dealt with have been overcoming a flawed self image and imposter syndrome as most of us deal with on a regular basis. Balancing day to day work on Active Duty while making an impact outside of the uniform all while being present to my own 2 boys (ages 9 & 11) is very challenging. I have to constantly remind myself of the “Why” every time I want to throw in the towel.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
By day I am a Naval Officer and Nurse Educator as the Director of Healthcare Inter Service Training.
Outside of the Uniform I coach, speak, and train on the topics of leadership, resiliency, and mindset.
But what I am most proud of is becoming the example of what transformation is and looks like for my own sons Caiden and Lincoln. Before I can preach about leadership, I have to first practice leadership and they have given me the opportunity to be the man God has called me to be.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
People can reach out to me directly via email or social media to connect or collaborate. I am always open to have nee guest on my show and or add value to any organization or person.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @anthonywaiteofficial
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/anthony.waite.7
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthony-waite-msn-bsn-rn-rblp-c-47972558
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@anthonywaiteofficial
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-lead-360-podcast-with-anthony-waite/id1476331744?i=1000778798212
