About this episode

Dr. Michelle Milam shares her insights on leadership and trust from her 37 years in law enforcement.

Join us for the premiere episode of Clues of Leadership, where we sit down with Dr. Michelle Milam, Chief of Police for Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration and a 37-year law enforcement veteran. Dr. Milam shares powerful insights from her journey through Metropolitan Police Department in Washington, DC, where she retired as a lieutenant, and her continued impact as an associate professor training the next generation of officers. In This Episode: • The leadership lesson that changed everything: "Be the leader you didn't have" • Why the jump from officer to sergeant is the hardest transition in policing • How to identify and leverage informal leaders in your organization • The tragic story of an officer who died, and the leadership lesson it taught • Navigating modern policing challenges: social media, AI, and constant surveillance • The power of emotional intelligence in law enforcement leadership • Why trust and credibility matter more than rank Key Takeaways: Leadership isn't born—it's developed through lived experience, faith, and family Rank doesn't make people follow you; respect is earned The best leaders practice what they preach and make human decisions Building trust…

People in this episode

Host: Dominick Watters

Guest: Dr. Michelle Milam

Topics covered

• leadership
• law enforcement
• trust
• emotional intelligence
• policing challenges
• education

Keywords

• leadership
• trust
• law enforcement
• emotional intelligence
• policing
• education
• Metropolitan Police
• Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration, Metropolitan Police Department

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