Dr. Richard Santiago from the U.S. Army: Being a Change Agent When the Odds are Against You

Dr. Richard Santiago from the U.S. Army: Being a Change Agent When the Odds are Against You

Author: Dr. Laura Sicola September 19, 2023 Duration: 34:15

On this week’s episode we are honored to have Dr. Richard Santiago, CFO of the U.S. Army Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) who shares how he had to become a change agent in order to implement massive digital transformation across more than one hundred locations around the world that absolutely could not afford to fail.

In this episode you will learn:

  • How he overcame the challenges of addressing a diverse audience of leaders and individual contributors that would eventually lead to a team with better decision-making skills
  • The importance of surrounding yourself with subject-matter experts
  • How he gave his team more autonomy through honest and positive leadership, resulting in a huge, and successful, transition

 

24 Hour Challenge:

Ask three people for feedback on your communication effectiveness.

 

About Dr. Richard Santiago:

Dr. Richard Santiago was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is a bicultural leader who  has internalized the cultures from both Puerto Rico and the United States (US). He holds a PhD in  Business Management with specialization in Leadership from Capella University; and a  MSA with specialization in Leadership from Central Michigan University.

Dr. Santiago has over 33 years of leadership experience. He is currently the Director of  Global Finance Operations / Chief Financial Officer (CFO) at the US Army Intelligence  and Security Command (INSCOM) while supporting global intelligence and security  operations. He is also  the Vice President of Education at Prospanica DC as well as the Founder of the  Bicultural Leadership Coach, LLC. From 2009 to 2010, he served as the President of  the American Society of Military Comptrollers (ASMC), Mount Vernon Chapter.

Dr. Santiago retired from the Army in 2015 as a Lieutenant Colonel after 25 years of  active service. During his time in the military, he served with the Chairman of the Joint  Chiefs of Staff (CJCS), Multi-National Forces, and North Atlantic Treaty Organization  (NATO) partners. For over 10 years, he worked in multicultural environments abroad in  locations such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Bosnia, and Hungary,  among others. Some of his job assignments included: (a) Commander for Finance  Operations in support of Multi-National Forces, Baghdad, Iraq; (b), Fund Manager in  support of NATO, Kabul, Afghanistan; (c) Finance & Accounting Officer and Liaison  Officer to the Saudi American Bank, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; and (d) Defense Resource  Manager in the Joint Staff, the Pentagon, Washington, DC. 

 

You can connect with Dr. Richard Santiago in the following ways:

 

You can connect with Laura in the following ways:

  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drlaurasicola
  • LinkedIn Business Page: https://www.linkedin.com/company/vocal-impact-productions/
  • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/VocalImpactProductions
  • Facebook: Vocal Impact Productions
  • Twitter: @LauraSicola
  • Instagram: @VocalImpactProductions
  • Website: https://speakingtoinfluence.com/podcast/
  • Laura’s Online Course: virtualinfluence.today

 

 


Speaking to Influence features conversations about the tangible mechanics of leadership communication, moving beyond theory into practical application. Host Dr. Laura Sicola, an expert in linguistic influence, guides discussions that dissect how language, tone, and presence directly impact credibility and outcomes. Each episode brings a perspective from seasoned executives and industry figures who share their real-world experiences-not just their successes, but the nuanced moments where a single conversation changed a trajectory. The focus here is on the actionable: how to structure a message for a skeptical board, modulate your voice to convey authority without arrogance, and read a room to pivot your approach in real time. This isn't about generic public speaking tips; it's a deep exploration of the strategic choices behind influential speech. Listeners gain access to a toolkit for building confidence, commanding attention, and achieving specific professional results through more intentional communication. The podcast operates at the intersection of business strategy, personal development, and the often-overlooked technical art of persuasion, making it relevant for anyone whose role requires them to lead, sell, or inspire through spoken word. Dr. Sicola's background provides a unique lens, ensuring every conversation yields insights you can use immediately to refine your own impact.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Speaking to Influence
Podcast Episodes
Chantal Capodicasa of TD Bank: Speak Up! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:37
Laura welcomes Senior Vice President of TD Bank, Chantal Capodicasa, to talk about how she found the courage to speak up in defense of her team and challenge a directive in a time of crisis. In this episode you will lear…
Charlie Saffro of CS Recruiting: Asking the Right Questions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:00
Our newest episode of Speaking to Influence features Charlie Saffro, CEO and Founder of CS Recruiting, who talks about the importance of resourcefulness and curiosity in a job interview, and how to do it by doing your re…
Ossa Fisher of Aurora Tech: Listen First [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:05
Joining Laura on this week’s episode is Ossa Fisher, President of Aurora Innovation, where Ossa shares the multi-faceted pow rapport-building techniques to uncover the real problem and get people on board, resulting in e…
Erik Ryan of Iron Mountain: The Power of ‘No’ [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:34
This week’s episode of Speaking to Influence is with guest Erik Ryan, Senior Vice President and CFO of Iron Mountain, in a conversation that focuses on the power of ‘no’. In this episode you will learn: About a time Erik…
Chris Hall of Stacuity: Silencing the Skeptics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:29
This week,Chris Hall, Chairman and Co-Founder of Stacuity Ltd. describes thechallenges of being a small startup grappling with geographical bias in the tech industry,and the need to convince others of their credibility i…
Smitha Murthy of Beagle Security: A Leader Who Lifts Up [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:26
Joining Laura this week is Smitha Murthy, CEO of Beagle Security. Smitha shares the steps she took to build rapport with key decision makers early in her career in order to be recognized as someone truly ready for a lead…
Chris Hood of CH Digital: Lessons Learned from Google Culture [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:12
This week, Chris Hood of CH Digital and former Head of Digital Strategy at Google discusses the lessons he learned from the communication culture at Google, and how they can be implemented in any business. In this episod…