JJ Parma: From Navy SEAL to Business Leader, Combat Stories, Harvard Business Alum, Entrepreneur

Team Never Quit

From the battlefield to the boardroom, with retired Navy SEAL, Lieutenant Commander JJ Parma.
In this week’s episode of The Team Never Quit Podcast, we’re honored to have retired Navy SEAL Lieutenant Commander JJ Parma. With a distinguished military career spanning numerous positions, including SEAL Platoon Commander and multiple operations officer roles, JJ Parma’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping the future of military operations. He was responsible for the manning, training, and equipping of personnel while managing day-to-day operations and budgeting for units across the globe.
Beyond his military achievements, JJ has transitioned into civilian life as a motivational speaker and operations professional. With expertise in intercultural communication, intelligence analysis, government, and crisis response, JJ has a demonstrated history of leading in both military and civilian sectors.
A Master of Business Administration with a focus on financial management, JJ is now a leader in the financial services industry, driving the strategic intent of investment platforms worldwide. His passion for leadership and culture is further backed by a specialized program in Professional Leadership Development from Harvard Business School, where he honed skills in business leadership, culture, and strategy.
Alongside his Swim Buddy Kristel, JJ delves into how the lessons from his military career continue to influence his approach to business and life, providing practical insights that listeners can apply in their own lives.
This episode is packed with valuable insights from a true leader who has mastered the art of navigating complex environments both in and out of the military. Whether you’re a military professional, business leader, or someone looking to elevate your personal and professional life, JJ Parma’s story will inspire and motivate you to strive for excellence.
In This Episode You Will Hear:
• I grew up 2 streets over from Marvelous Marvin Hagler. (4:28)
• Everything about my childhood today is about perspective. (6:48)
• [I grew] up in the inner city, a very diverse multicultural place. You name it, we had it. Portuguese, Greek, Black, Spanish, and Spanish populations – we had it all. (6:52)
• My mother was the true definition of a hero – selfless. (9:20)
• I would spend my time as a child alone, in a pool, teaching myself to swim. I was so comfortable, I would stay there all day, all night, all summer. (17:00)
• I had every book on the Vietnam War that you could possibly imagine. (32:24)
• I was the kid who tied my friends to a tree. (32:28)
• This fascination with the military never really went way. It built and built. Every Halloween, guess what I was? Some kind of Army guy with face paint. Some commando, running around. (33:00)
• [Navy SEALS] They’re like Green Berets - but the water… it was the water – peace. Nobody does that. That’s what I want. Maritime. (39:04)
• Rick Kyser was my mentor. He was phenomenal. He told us the story about Black Hawn down from his perspective. That was it for me. Hook, line, and sinker. This is the job for me. (48:19)
• In Serbia, the Muslims were being eradicated by the Serbs. Genocide Level 1. And we went there defending the Muslim population. The peacekeeping mission was that we were protecting them. When it gets political, people want to hone in on the politics. They don’t know the stories on the ground. The stories on the ground never get told. (61:52)
• We spent 3 months ship-chasing Bin Laden’s family. There was a container ship in the northern Arabian Sea which had one of Bin Laden’s sons on it, transporting arms. You know what we found? 55 containers of rice. (70:27)
• Next thing you know, I hear it. A 2.75 rocket. Hits about 1-15 yards from the back Humvee. The Humvee comes off the ground, lands, I’m in the 3rd Humvee looking back, and I’m like “We just lost a couple of guys right there.” (82:58)
• I got a letter from Bush with Team 10’s original coin which said “Victory through Violence”, which they stopped making. Now it’s “Victory through Valor.” (92:19)
• We have so many skills, and our skill set so vast, it’s all lexicon. That the trick that the civilians play on you. (100:26)
• Find a good swim buddy. (101:15)
• Moments are fleeting. One thing that’s finite is death. They’re told by society that this how it has to go. You have to live this phase, this phase, and this phase, and then you’re gone. And they live that way. We’re gonna try to reset that. (110:46)
• When you find your swim buddy – if they find you at your lowest point – that’s a keeper. (111:52)
• People need to fail, because from failure, launches a whole new life lesson. (113:10)
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