237: The Green Beret Who Learned to Lead with Empathy | Clarence Dingman

Clarence Dingman, President of Defense Markets at PingWind and former U.S. Special Forces officer, joins Damon Lembi to share powerful lessons on leadership, culture, and continuous learning. From commanding elite military teams to leading a dual-culture organization through rapid growth and a major merger, Clarence reveals how empathy, trust, and active listening create resilient, high-performing teams. Whether you’re stepping into a new role or uniting people after a big change, his insights offer a blueprint for growth through learning, humility, and shared purpose.

Read the full breakdown of Clarence Dingman’s episode on Learnit.

Key Leadership Lessons from Clarence Dingman’s Journey:

• Always be learning: Clarence lives by Michelangelo’s quote, “And yet, I am still learning,” embedding lifelong growth into PingWind’s culture.

• Empower, don’t micromanage: Great leaders transition from doers to resource-driven mentors who enable others to succeed.

• Lead through empathy: Active listening and authentic communication strengthen trust and retention at scale.

• Culture beats strategy: Successful mergers and fast growth depend on aligning values, not just operations.

• Toxic talent costs more than it contributes: Protecting culture means having the courage to prioritize values over performance.

Connect with Clarence Dingman:

• Website: PingWind

• LinkedIn: Clarence Dingman

Clarence is President of Defense Markets at PingWind, a leading provider of IT and mission support services for federal and defense agencies. A former U.S. Army Special Forces officer, he brings decades of experience in leadership, team building, and cultural transformation to every organization he serves.

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