Stanley McChrystal

General Stanley McChrystal is a retired four-star US Army General, former Commander of US and NATO Forces in Afghanistan, and the Founder, CEO and Chairman of the McChrystal Group. Widely regarded as one of the most influential military leaders of his generation, he is known for transforming the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) into one of the most effective counterterrorism forces in modern history. With over 34 years of distinguished service, his leadership philosophy that “organisations perform when teams work” has become the foundation of his globally acclaimed work on building adaptable, high-performing organisations.

Stanley’s military career was defined by operational excellence, innovation and collaboration under pressure. Commissioned into the US Army in 1976, he went on to command elite units, including the 75th Ranger Regiment, before being appointed Commander of US and NATO Forces in Afghanistan. Earlier, as head of JSOC, he redefined the structure and culture of special operations, integrating intelligence and field operations to respond with agility to fast-changing threats. In recognition of his leadership, he was appointed Military Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations in 1999 and became one of the most respected strategic thinkers within the armed forces.

Following his retirement from active duty, Stanley founded the McChrystal Group in 2011, a leadership and management consultancy that helps organisations in business, government, and non-profits build trust, communication and shared purpose across teams. His bestselling books, including ‘Team of Teams: New Rules of Engagement for a Complex World’, ‘Leaders: Myth and Reality’, and ‘Risk: A User’s Guide’, expand on the leadership lessons he learned in the field and apply them to modern organisational challenges. He is also the author of his memoir My Share of the Task and the speaker behind the widely viewed TED Talk “Listen, Learn… Then Lead“, which explores the power of humility and active listening in leadership.

Today, Stanley continues to advise global leaders and speak on leadership, risk and transformation. His insights have influenced Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and educational institutions worldwide. Combining military precision with emotional intelligence, he offers a compelling message about leading through complexity, building resilient teams and cultivating trust in times of uncertainty. Whether addressing executives, policymakers or future leaders, General McChrystal’s lessons in adaptive leadership remain as relevant in boardrooms as they are on the battlefield.