Retired Army Ranger officer Larry Perino, who survived the 1993 Battle of Mogadishu depicted in Black Hawk Down, joins host Sara to discuss leadership under extreme pressure, rebuilding purpose after military transition, and his current mission leading commercial and small business banking for veteran-owned businesses at Navy Federal Credit Union. The conversation blends combat stories with practical leadership lessons on trust, culture, emotional regulation, and finding meaningful work.
Show Notes:
00:00 - Introduction to the episode and guest Larry Perino, 25-year Army veteran and Navy Federal Credit Union AVP
01:00 - Larry thanks Sara and the conversation begins
01:38 - How Larry's definition of purpose evolved from military mission to civilian career
03:04 - The free fall of military transition and the search for work-life balance
04:13 - How Larry's wife encouraged him to look into Navy Federal Credit Union
05:14 - Finding a mission-driven culture and becoming proud to call himself "a banker"
06:08 - The scale of the opportunity: 1.8 million veteran-owned businesses, Navy Federal serving only 1%
07:21 - Larry introduces his combat background with Task Force Ranger in Somalia, 1993
07:56 - The fifteen-hour firefight and losing 18 Americans
08:14 - Larry's commitment to telling his fallen comrades' story so they are not forgotten
09:01 - Sara reflects on shared values around memory and legacy
09:39 - Perspective from a small business owner on the value of a good banker
10:36 - The importance of understanding small business owners' financial knowledge gaps
11:34 - The concept of a "good no" and pointing business owners to resources
12:08 - Discussion of mission and culture being intertwined at Navy Federal
12:36 - The value of psychological safety in workplace culture
13:19 - Larry credits leaders who gave him grace and trust throughout his career
14:08 - Larry's "hiring you to solve my problem" philosophy on leadership responsibility
15:07 - Transition into discussing leading under pressure without losing control
15:29 - Larry describes the intensity of the Mogadishu firefight
16:07 - The Ranger Creed and how culture becomes lived reality in crisis
17:36 - Corporal Jamie Smith's wounding and the intensity of the battle
19:26 - Larry describes freezing in fear and the internal dialogue that followed
21:20 - Willing himself to move one step at a time
22:23 - Techniques for self-calming under extreme stress
23:22 - Realizing the danger of becoming "a burden" to the team
24:10 - Story about fellow soldier Jeff Struecker noting Larry's calm radio voice
25:16 - The coping mechanism of focusing on others instead of yourself
27:36 - Never leaving a fallen comrade and finding resilience through trusted teammates
28:13 - Reflecting on how culture and training created calm under fire
29:08 - Discussion of Ranger culture's broader applications to organizations
30:00 - Transition to applying high-stakes lessons to everyday workplace pressure
31:05 - The importance of pausing before reacting, especially with family
32:07 - Keeping perspective: "nobody's dying" but stakes still matter to members
33:00 - Explanation of credit union structure and member ownership
39:01 - Sara shares her own calming techniques, dogs and drinking water
34:04 - Shoutout to Jefferson Fisher's communication techniques and taking a breath
36:36 - The value of being human and authentic as a leader
39.53 - How employees can tell if a leader is self-serving
40:41 - Larry's own transition story: taking a misaligned government contracting job after retirement
43:29 - Discussion of translating mission into daily action for the team
45:10 - Encouraging referrals and using bankers as a resource, even for a "no"
46:01 - Introducing SBDC and SCORE mentorship resources for entrepreneurs
47:15 - Explaining "commander's intent" and aligning teams to a larger mission
48:19 - Practical steps for connecting with Navy Federal for a small business loan
50:35 - Closing thoughts: find a purpose and make it matter
51:12 - Ted Lasso-inspired advice: be curious, not judgmental
51:56 - Final thanks and closing remarks
SEO:
Retired Army Ranger Larry Perino shares his Black Hawk Down survival story and how it shaped his leadership at Navy Federal Credit Union serving veteran-owned businesses.
What is The Route to Success?
Success rarely follows a straight line.
On The Route to Success, I sit down each week with business owners, nonprofit leaders, founders, and changemakers from different backgrounds to talk about the real stories behind leadership, growth, hope, and resilience.
Together, we explore the challenges people do not always see. Burnout. Setbacks. Purpose. Wellness. Asking for help. Starting over. We also talk about the practical tools, decisions, and habits that helped each guest keep moving forward.
These are honest, thoughtful conversations. They are not polished stories about perfect success. They are real discussions about what it takes to lead, grow, and find hope during difficult seasons, with plenty of moments to connect and laugh along the way.
New episodes are released every Thursday.