Stoic Leadership: How Ancient Virtues Build Modern Business Strength

When the storm hits—a market crash, a public relations disaster, a global pandemic—everyone looks to the leader. Their words, their body language, even the tone of their voice sends a message that can either calm the storm or intensify it.

As someone who has led teams across the military, public service, and now healthcare, I’ve seen this dynamic play out time and again. Early in my career as a United States Marine, I learned that in chaos, calm is contagious. Marines don’t just look to their leaders for orders—they look for reassurance, for steadiness. Years later, as the CFO of a regional transportation authority during the COVID-19 pandemic, I saw that same principle in action. In those uncertain months, our riders and employees depended on public transit for essential services. Fear and confusion were everywhere. My job wasn’t just managing budgets and operations—it was to project calm, set priorities, and give my team the confidence to serve our community despite the chaos.

Today, as the CEO of Fraum Health, I continue to see how a leader’s energy shapes the entire organization. Whether it’s a complex patient care challenge or a business crisis, my team mirrors the steadiness—or lack thereof—that I project.

In moments of uncertainty, leadership is less about having all the answers and more about setting the tone. This principle isn’t new. In fact, it’s thousands of years old, rooted in the teachings of ancient Stoic philosophers like Marcus Aurelius and Seneca.

The Stoics believed that while we can’t control the world around us, we can control how we respond. This mindset is essential for modern leaders navigating rapid change, whether in business, government, or community organizations. At the heart of Stoicism are four key virtues—wisdom, courage, temperance, and justice. When applied to leadership, they form a powerful framework for building resilient teams and organizations.

Wisdom: Seeing Clearly in the Fog of Crisis

"The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." — Marcus Aurelius

Wisdom isn’t just about intelligence or expertise. It’s about seeing the world as it truly is—without distortion from fear, ego, or wishful thinking. In leadership, wisdom gives you the clarity to separate what’s urgent from what’s important, what you can control from what you can’t.

Modern application:

During the pandemic, there was intense pressure to make decisions quickly. Transit systems were lifelines for essential workers, but they were also potential vectors for spreading the virus. It would have been easy to get swept up in emotion or politics. Instead, I leaned on wisdom—seeking accurate data, consulting with experts, and focusing my team on facts rather than fear.

I’ve carried that lesson forward into healthcare. At Fraum Health, challenges arise daily—unexpected regulatory changes, supply chain issues, or urgent patient needs. My role isn’t just to solve problems but to create the conditions where my team can think clearly and act decisively. When the leader sees clearly, the whole team gains clarity.

Courage: Acting Decisively When Others Freeze

"You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." — Marcus Aurelius

Courage doesn’t mean being fearless. It means choosing to move forward despite fear. In business and leadership, this often involves risk—launching a bold new initiative, restructuring a team, or taking a stand on a difficult issue.

Modern application:

During COVID-19, many public agencies froze, waiting for someone else to lead. Our transit authority didn’t have that luxury. People depended on us to get to work, medical appointments, and essential services. Courage meant making difficult, visible decisions—like rerouting services, protecting frontline employees, and communicating openly with the public—even when we didn’t have perfect information.

Today, at Fraum Health, we face a different kind of challenge: advancing regenerative medicine and proactive wellness care in a rapidly evolving field. Introducing innovative treatments sometimes invites skepticism or resistance. Courage requires stepping forward anyway, confident in our mission and our preparation.

Without courage, wisdom never leaves the planning stage.

Temperance: Being the Calm in the Storm

"No man is free who is not master of himself." — Epictetus

Temperance is self-control—the ability to manage your emotions rather than let them manage you. Leaders are emotional thermostats. If we run hot, the room heats up. If we remain steady, even when the situation is tense, we create an environment where people can think clearly and perform at their best.

Modern application:

As a Marine, I learned that when chaos erupts, the leader’s demeanor sets the tone. A calm voice and measured actions can transform fear into focus. During the height of the pandemic, when ridership plummeted and staff faced daily risks, I relied on this principle. My team didn’t need me to predict the future—they needed me to model composure.

In healthcare leadership, this remains vital. At Fraum Health, when a patient faces uncertainty or a team member feels overwhelmed, my response sets the emotional climate. Temperance isn’t about suppressing emotion; it’s about channeling it into constructive energy.

Justice: Building Trust Through Fairness

"If it is not right, do not do it. If it is not true, do not say it." — Marcus Aurelius

Justice is the virtue of fairness, integrity, and doing what’s right—not just what’s expedient. In leadership, trust is your most valuable currency. Once it’s lost, it’s incredibly difficult to regain.

Modern application:

During COVID-19, justice meant making decisions transparently and equitably, especially when resources were limited and stakes were high. Even unpopular decisions gained acceptance when people understood the reasoning behind them.

At Fraum Health, justice continues to guide our mission. Whether we’re making staffing decisions, designing care protocols, or engaging with our community, we prioritize ethics and transparency. Our commitment to community service—through free clinics, charitable partnerships, and volunteerism—isn’t just good branding. It’s about doing the right thing, consistently.

Setting the Tone: The Leader’s First Duty

In a world of constant disruption, leaders often feel pressure to have all the answers. But your first responsibility isn’t to solve every problem—it’s to set the tone for how your team will respond to those problems.

When you embody the four Stoic virtues:

• Wisdom brings clarity.

• Courage inspires action.

• Temperance creates calm.

• Justice builds trust.

The result is a resilient organization where people feel safe, focused, and motivated—even when external circumstances are chaotic.

Closing Thought

Stoic leadership isn’t about being detached or unemotional. It’s about mastering yourself so you can lead others with strength and grace.

In my journey—from the Marine Corps, to serving as a public manager during one of the most challenging crises of our time, to leading a healthcare organization—I’ve learned that calm, principle-centered leadership is the foundation for lasting success. Like a lighthouse in a storm, a great leader doesn’t control the waves, but their steady light guides others safely to shore.

As Marcus Aurelius wrote nearly 2,000 years ago:

"You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength."

That truth remains as relevant for today’s leaders as it was for the philosopher-emperor himself.