Influential Woman · Leadership Development, Military
Lyndsey L. Thompson, MBA
Battalion Commander, Leadership Development Consultant/ Author, Thompson LDRShip Enterprises
Radcliff, KY 40160
At 17, a fight shook something loose in me that no one has tamed since. I stopped shrinking and started owning my size, my talents, and my space without shame or hesitation.
Lyndsey L. Thompson, MBA · In Her Own Words
Her Story
About Lyndsey
Lyndsey L. Thompson has built a distinguished career defined by leadership, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to developing the next generation of professionals. With nearly 22 years of service as an active-duty U.S. Army Intelligence Officer, she has led high-performing teams across strategic operations, organizational transformation, and global intelligence functions. Currently serving as Battalion Commander for the Mission Support Battalion under the United States Army Recruiting Command, Lyndsey oversees the Army’s national marketing and outreach operations, including mobile exhibit units, esports and fitness teams, convention outreach, and entertainment ensembles. Her ability to lead complex, high-visibility missions while fostering strong organizational cultures has earned her a reputation as a mission-driven and results-oriented executive leader. Throughout her military career, Lyndsey has held a series of increasingly influential leadership positions spanning operational planning, crisis response, organizational restructuring, and executive advisory roles. She has directed multinational intelligence operations across eight countries, managed multimillion-dollar budgets and modernization initiatives, and played a key role in coordinating strategic communication during global operations, including the 2021 Afghanistan evacuation efforts. Earlier in her career, she developed training and onboarding systems, led compliance investigations as an Inspector General, and commanded units responsible for intelligence, logistics, and administrative support. Her educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Western Kentucky University and an MBA with a concentration in Marketing from the University of Louisville, along with advanced military education through the Joint Forces Staff College and the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College. As she prepares to transition from military service into the private sector, Lyndsey is channeling her decades of leadership experience into mentorship, consulting, and authorship. Through her company, Thompson LDRShip Enterprises, LLC, she focuses on helping Generation Z and early-career professionals develop the communication, leadership, mentorship, and strategic thinking skills needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving workforce. Her recently published book, Mentor Me: Leadership Handbook for Gen Z, reflects her passion for equipping young professionals with practical tools for career readiness and personal growth. Grounded in authenticity, emotional intelligence, and service, Lyndsey’s leadership philosophy centers on empowering others to navigate change with confidence and purpose.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Lyndsey
01What do you attribute your success to?
I absolutely attribute my success to my Lord and Savior and the parents He blessed me with. My parents have been the most supportive, understanding, patient individuals. From running my brother and I to every athletic activity and extracurricular event we were a part of in high school and middle school, to supporting our dreams and our aspirations all through college; they consistently poured into us as we tried new things and progressively figured out who we were and who we wanted to be. So I give 100% of the credit to my parents and to my God for giving me the parents that He knew would be perfect for me.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to find something that you love in every position that obtained, and give it my all. The military is one very extended career where you may transition into a multitude of jobs, and you don't really have a lot of say as to what job it is that you go to. Your field is kind of carved out for you, and it may not be something that you absolutely love every single time. But if you can find something in it that you truly enjoy, some aspect of it that really clicks for you, it helps you take ownership of that position and encourages you to do your absolute best. So it at all possible, find something you love in everything that you do. And if you can’t, you probably need to find something else to do.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The same advice I put into my book: Mentorship is essential. Find someone who is doing what you want to do, sit down with them, and learn. Ask questions, receive their feedback, act on their suggestions, and then come back and provide them with the feedback on whatever it is they recommended to you. Find a mentor! The second thing is leadership development. Pour into yourself, learn how to be a leader, learn how to communicate. Your ideas are only as impactful as your ability to clearly communicate them to a third party. And then there is EQ, emotional intelligence. Understand your emotional vulnerabilities, your challenges. And finally, experience. Go out and search for experience. Look for ways to make yourself better, to sharpen your own skills, and start building the portfolio that will show proof to would be employers that you can do what they need you to do. This will set you apart for the rest of your cohort, graduating with a degree but no experience to testify on behalf of their capabilities. These are the 3 pillars that I focus on in my book, and I stand by them.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In my particular field as an Army officer, the challenges ebb and flow depending upon the state of the world and the position you hold. Whether we are in a steady state environment or at war, requiring we be away from our families and friends. One of the challenge can be the isolation that you feel in those particular situations. Another challenge may be the operational tempo that goes along with that. The pace can increase significantly, and that can be overwhelming. But in those challenges, there resides the opportunity to, again, sharpen your tools, to make yourself better. Learning to overcome those challenges and obstacles, will make you tougher, stronger, and provide you with endurance and stamina in the long run. Any challenge can be perceived as an opportunity to get better.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I live by the Army values: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless service, honor, integrity, and personal courage. That's what the Army reinforced in me my entire military career. I’ve added Faith and Family to the front of that list.
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