From Small-Town Roots To Military Leadership And A PhD Journey

What if purpose asks you to leave comfort behind?
We sit down with Alyca, soldier, mother, scholar—to explore how a five-stoplight childhood in Louisiana grew into leading hundreds of soldiers, cycling fifty-eight miles along the Han River after 14-hour shifts, and pursuing a PhD in information systems and decision sciences.
Her story is raw and resolute: navigating domestic violence and the shame that followed, becoming a single parent at twenty, and rebuilding with faith, study, and steady miles on the road.

The result is a leadership ethos grounded in service, gratitude, and the golden rule.

We walk through the pivot points that shaped her identity: a 9/11 call to serve, two marriages that taught honesty and the limits of willpower, and deployments that revealed how recovery and reflection fuel resilience.

As a company commander and later a recruiting commander, she learned to meet people where they are—whether that means a degree plan, a trade school path, or a simple financial blueprint to buy a first truck.
Mentors appear like compass points: a female battalion commander who protected her command during a medical crisis with her newborn, a colonel who believed beyond doubt, and a Rhodes Scholar who demanded excellence while building true team cohesion.

Each voice pulled her further into confident, people-first leadership.

Alyca’s next chapter turns experience into research. With two years left at LSU before moving to West Point’s Army Cyber Institute, she’s focused on translational work that helps soldiers and teams thrive: reducing techno-stress, clarifying expectations, and designing tech-enabled workflows that lessen anxiety and improve performance.
She’s candid about imposter syndrome, the discipline of listening more than speaking, and the practice of taking a nap when the dumpster fire rages.

Expect practical wisdom for anyone craving purpose-driven growth: lead with service, protect your values, and build systems that care for humans. If this conversation sparks something in you, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.


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