Potecha - West Point Woman

Praise for West Point Woman

Sara Potecha and I began our careers in parallel universes on two different rivers, mine along the Severn in Annapolis, and hers along the meandering Hudson at West Point. I know that neither of us set out to prove what a minority or a woman could achieve those conditions were forced upon us. Our goal was to serve our country the best way we could. It was others who defined our potential by how we looked or which chromosomes we had, and it was that external perspective that made our circumstances different from the other people we served with. In this wonderful, timely book, Potecha has found a way to give voice to my experiences and those of hundreds of other women and minorities who chose to attend an elite service academy. Her words are the threads that sew each of our experiences together, weaving them into a tapestry of shared sacrifice, commitment, and love of country. Her story is our story, and it reflects the best of what America is all about.

Jeff Brown

USNA 84, Former Naval Aviator, Advisor to the Gover nor of Virginia

West Point Woman is one of the best books on leadership that I have encountered. Sara Potecha takes her unique experiences from the business world, motherhood and as one of the first women graduates from West Point and blends them all into stories that teach. Potecha s style makes the stories both relatable and translatable into actions that can be taken to improve the reader s outlook on perceived challenges, obstacles and ability to lead. As a mother and a woman in the corporate world, I found this book inspired me to continue to work on my own leadership style, learn from my challenges, and continue to lead and develop those around me with both discipline a nd compassion.

M ichele McCauley

SVP Human Resources, Apex Systems | Ape x Life Sciences

An inspiring memoir full of passion, adversity, triumph, and thought leadership. Sara Potecha provides an insightful first-person perspective of her experience as one of the first women graduates from West Point military academy. Captivating stories capture how her experiences were molded into a leadership philosophy and helped transform her into a highly sought-after corporate management consultant. Think youre having a bad day? Stuck in the mud? West Point Woman will help you see things through a different lens and broaden your leadership perspective along the way.

Houston Mills

Former United States Marine Corps (USMC) Officer and F/ A-18 Fighter Pilot, Ai rline Executive

We learn best through stories; we grow best through adversity. Sara Potecha applies these ideas in her leadership memoir, West Point Woman: How Character is Created and Leadership is Learned . Professionally and personally, Potecha has experienced unique challenges and has demonstrated extraordinary resilience and grit. As one of the first women graduates at West Point, as a management consultant in the corporate world, as a young widow with three small children, Potecha shares her journey with us. In Sara s poignant yet practical, thought-provoking , yet easy-to -read voice, West Point Woman translates her own story into leadership le ssons for all.

Gail O Sullivan Dwyer

USMA 81, Author of Tough As Nails: One Woman s Journey thr ough West Point

In West Point Woman , Sara describes and gives credit to nine fundamentals that helped her through her journey to success. They are the tenets that result in strength of character, reinforce fair play and teamwork, while also accepting accountability as a professional and a human being. I encourage all of us to read this book and remind ourselves of what it takes to be a winner and a valued person. Let us endeavor as women and men to share these fundamentals and work as equal partners in making our world a better place for all.

Rand Blazer

Presiden t, Apex Segment

In West Point Woman , Sara (Fotsch) Potecha captures an extraordinary perspective of one of West Point s first female graduates. Her pathfinding story of faith, courage, resilience and humor is a must -read for anyone determined to scale lofty heights against all odds. Sara instantly connects the reader with her personality and her boots as she walks through and beyond one of the most significant barriers of American history. Having attended both West Point and Annapolis provides me only a deeper appreciation for the unique challenges she conquered in thos e early years!

Chris Williams

USNA 85, Former Navy Fighter Pilot, Ai rline Executive

It was my great privilege and honor to have been involved in testing the first class of women candidates to enter West Point in 1976. Little did I know that one day I would have the pleasure of hiring a West Point woman to join my company. While Sara contributed in so many ways to the success of our firm, her courage and character in the face of personal tragedy inspired us all. I was excited when reading West Point Woman to see how Sara modelled leadership by using her real-life experiences and principles learned at our alma mater. Sar a is a winner !

Robert Bryant

USMA 72, CFO, Glav & Holm es Architecture

First and foremost, it is certainly an honor to have this opportunity to stand alongside and publicly recognize my classmate, Sara Potecha. Her work captures the essence of her experience and many of ours at a time of historical change for an institution recognized for honored traditions, service to one s country , and dedication to the defense of our grand Nation. Sara s ability to commit her experiences to written word is tremendous with elegance and detail. This is a real -life story where the triumph of the human spirit celebrates. Well done, Classmate and Godspeed.

Major Gene ral Ray Royalty

Commanding General, 84th T raining Command

In West Point Woman , Sara Potecha has eloquently shared the gift of her first woman experiences at the Academy with us to refocus our leadership attributes, both personally and professionally. While peeling back the layers, Sara exposes the balancing act of vulnerability and oftentimes humor required to be an effective leader one who can work through his or her own obstacles and challenges while also leading others through their own. Sara is able to personify the principle of integrity by imploring readers to lead by action and not by words.

Tierra Kavanaugh Wayne

CEO, T KT & Associates

Part story-teller , part consultant, and part historian, Sara Potecha reaches into her life and shares with us the reality of what it was like to be one of the first women to graduate from West Point Military Academy. If you want to know what it feels like to be a plebe or a cow or a captain , read this book. Her skills and values were shaped by these experiences, and she will engage you into asking the questions that she herself had to answer about family, hardship, perseverance, a nd leadership.

Phoebe A. Wood

Corporate Director , CompaniesWood

Sara was a management consultant on a successful Veterans employment project when I first encountered her. She definitely walked the walk and talked the talk that comes alive through the leadership examples in this book. She applied these skills to create a vision of the values Veterans bring to businesses and was instrumental in developing a team of partners to achieve the mission. She led with humility, camaraderie and humor. The lessons on preconceptions and addressing adversity are critically important to those of us who face daily barriers. The book is also a testimonial to the power of networks for careers and families. West Point Woman is an inspiring and engaging book that demonstrates how leadership skills can be learned, modeled and applied at work and life.