Military Leadership Tactics For CEOs In Crisis | J. Michael Fischer Jr. & David Esposito

Have you ever stopped to ask yourself what real leadership looks like when life gets tough?

In this episode of Going Beyond the Deal, host J. Michael Fischer Jr. talks with David Esposito, CEO of ONL Therapeutics, West Point graduate, Gulf War veteran, and biotech leader. This conversation goes deep into leadership communication skills, mission statement examples, high performance habits, and how to stay strong when your team needs you most.

David also explains the science behind saving vision through innovation. We explore wet macular degeneration, dry macular degeneration, macular degeneration treatment, immune system activation, and how new medical technology is redefining the future of care.

If you’ve ever been curious about real-world healthcare technology innovation, leadership skills training, or how to improve work performance under pressure, this episode will speak to you.

This is a simple but powerful reminder: consistency beats intensity, purpose beats fear, and strong leadership can carry people through anything. Whether you’re growing a business, leading a team, or facing personal doubt, David’s journey shows the mindset needed to persevere.

TIMESTAMPS
[00:01] – Why a Jersey kid chose West Point, and what it revealed about real purpose
[00:22] – The “Aha!” moment: Can military leadership really transfer into biotech?
[00:53] – How ONL Therapeutics protects vision—what most execs miss about relentless innovation
[01:48] – The moment family, community, and business shaped a calling to serve
[03:33] – Crushing self-doubt: Inside the pressure cooker of leading teams when everything’s at stake
[08:32] – What top business athletes, Green Berets, and private equity stars share—The secret ingredient
[13:35] – The 3 proven leadership lessons that build unstoppable companies (and why most miss #3)
[23:48] – Real talk: Managing fatigue, optimism, and the brutal truth when the gut punches keep coming

About the Guest
David Esposito is the CEO of ONL Therapeutics, a cutting-edge biotech company pioneering life-changing treatments to prevent retinal cell death and preserve vision. A former Army platoon leader awarded the Bronze Star, David is known for his unmatched resilience and ability to transpose battlefield clarity into executive mastery. With more than 30 years in life sciences, he’s led teams through both soaring exits and humbling failures, always championing purpose and people above the transaction.
🔗 LinkedIn:   / davidesposito2  
Website: http://www.onltherapeutics.com

Mentioned Resources
University of Michigan (Dr. David Zaks): https://www.uofmhealth.org/profile/18...
West Point: https://www.westpoint.edu/
101st Airborne Division (U.S. Army): https://www.army.mil/101stAirborne
Bronze Star Medal: https://www.afpc.af.mil/Fact-Sheets/D...
NIH – National Institutes of Health: https://www.nih.gov/

Resources:
Connect with Michael on LinkedIn:   / j-michael-fischer-jr-b2868230  
DBD Investment Bank: https://www.dbdinvestmentbank.com/

🔔 If you found value in this, don’t forget to subscribe for more insights on entrepreneurship, cost-saving strategies, and leadership development 👉🏻    / @goingbeyondthedeal  

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