543: Resilience, Honor and Commitment: Leadership Lessons from POW Survivor Lee Ellis

What does it take to build lasting resilience in the face of unimaginable adversity?

In this inspiring episode, host Nicole Jansen sits down with Lee Ellis—leadership coach, award-winning author, Air Force veteran, and former POW in North Vietnam for over five years. Drawing on his extraordinary experiences of captivity, Lee shares practical wisdom on resilience, leadership, honor, and the true power of mission-driven living.

Lee opens up about overcoming adversity as a prisoner of war, the critical role of commitment, faith, and community, and why self-acceptance and vulnerability are essential for real leadership. Together, Nicole and Lee explore what sets resilient people apart, how to bounce back after failure, and why having a strong sense of purpose can actually extend your life. Plus, Lee shares moving stories from his latest book Captured by Love and the unsung heroism of the POWs’ wives.

If you’re seeking actionable inspiration on navigating hardship and leading with honor—at work or in life—this episode will equip you with the mindsets and tools you need most.

What We Discuss in This Episode

• What helped prepare Lee for the POW experience?
• What was it like to be shot down and survive as a POW for over five years?
• How do purpose and mission drive resilience—even beyond extreme adversity?
• Why are POWs statistically more likely to outlive their civilian peers?
• What role did faith and community play in surviving captivity?
• How did the POWs bounce back mentally after giving in to suffering or failure?
• Why is embracing vulnerability—and owning your strengths and struggles—key for modern leaders?
• How can we apply these lessons to today’s disconnected, anxious world?
• What are Lee’s seven core behaviors for leading and living with honor?
• How did the wives and families fighting back home change the POWs’ fate?

Podcast Highlights & Timestamps

0:00 – Own Yourself: Build Resilience
1:19 – Meet Lee Ellis
2:30 – Farm Boy to Fighter Pilot
4:36 – Shot Down: Life Changes
6:48 – POW Survival Secrets
8:45 – Why POWs Live Longer
9:32 – Mission-Driven Resilience
11:13 – Bouncing Back from Defeat
13:02 – Hope: POW Wives’ Fight
15:22 – Purpose Fuels Life
17:03 – Lead with Faith & Humility
18:28 – Vulnerability and Confidence
20:59 – 7 Core Leadership Behaviors
23:49 – Building Courageous Communities
25:47 – Isolation vs Connection
28:40 – Encouragement & Accountability
29:48 – The Myth of Lone Rangers
30:48 – Captured by Love
32:48 – Hidden Heroes: POW Wives
35:54 – Coming Home: The Release
36:48 – Lee’s Modern Mission
40:05 – Build Your Own Resilience
41:51 – Your Uniqueness is Strength

This is a must-listen conversation for anyone looking to deepen their resilience and lead with true honor—no matter what life throws at you.

Favorite Quotes

Self-Acceptance: “You got to know the good, the bad, the ugly about yourself and just own it. When you accept that, you’re going to be secure, more confident, more humble. You can be more vulnerable. And that’s a very important thing today."

Resilience: "Everybody has to suffer in life. And what we learned is that we could recover from suffering if we kept our commitments."

Community: "You've got to be in community… after suffering torture, to just have a word of encouragement—'Lee, you did your best.' That makes all the difference."

Ready to transform how you face adversity and lead others? Dive in, reflect, and take action!

Episode Resources

https://leadersoftransformation.com/podcast/leadership/543-resilience-honor-and-commitment-leadership-lessons-from-pow-survivor-lee-ellis/

Check out our complete library of episodes and other leadership resources here: https://leadersoftransformation.com

________

📣 SUBSCRIBE to the Leaders of Transformation Podcast 

👇 CONNECT with Nicole Jansen on Social Media 

▶︎ YOUTUBE

▶︎ INSTAGRAM

▶︎ FACEBOOK 

▶︎ LINKEDIN

▶︎ X