
At the Coalface
At the Coalface is a series of conversations hosted by Phil Rose.
Phil’s guests share stories about their life beyond the headlines of international affairs. They look for lessons learned about making an impact in the world as practitioners in diplomacy, international organisations, NGOs, journalism and the private sector.
Many of Phil’s guests are connected by their common experience of taking time away from work to attend Fletcher School's Global Master of Arts Programme.
At the Coalface
Athanasia Shinas - Where Service Meets Self: A Senior Military Logistician on Purpose and Leadership
In this episode, I sit down with Athanasia Shinas just hours after her graduation from The Fletcher School to reflect on her remarkable 28-year career as a senior military logistics officer. What begins as a conversation about career choices, from a childhood love of archaeology to joining ROTC, evolves into a deeply personal exploration of leadership, service, and growth. Athanasia shares how she fell in love with the mission, the challenges of commanding through complexity, and the importance of understanding what truly motivates people. We explore the power of the ladder of inference, what setbacks teach us, and learning to live with loss.
Connect with Athanasia on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/athanasia-shinas-79672a65.
Instagram: @at.the.coalface
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