Lead Last: A Counterintuitive Approach to Building Stronger Leaders and Teams

Shreveport, Louisiana Jun 7, 2026 (EMWNews.com) – Bringing nearly 15 years of high-stakes military and organizational management experience back to his roots, Ruston native and Grambling State University alumnus Major Olaolu Ogunyemi has launched a definitive new field guide for corporate leadership. In his upcoming book, Lead Last: Twenty-One Counterintuitive Principles for Becoming an Effective Leader (Amplify Publishing, June 2, 2026), the active-duty U.S. Marine Officer challenges traditional command-and-control styles, delivering a service-first management framework designed to help local business owners and executives build fiercely loyal, high-performing teams. 

Drawing on his experience as an award-winning author, mentor, and Marine officer, Ogunyemi introduces a management model rooted in servant leadership, emotional intelligence, and long-term vision. Through a blend of practical insights and real-world examples, he demonstrates how leaders can build resilient teams, make bold decisions without sacrificing trust, and create a lasting legacy by leading with influence, not just authority.

At its core, Lead Last is both a leadership field guide and a mindset shift. Ogunyemi distills years of leadership experience into realistic guidance that encourages others to prioritize persuasion over control. By stepping back and creating space for others to grow, Ogunyemi argues that leaders can strengthen team performance while still fostering deeper trust and accountability across their organizations.

Praise for Lead Last is also pouring in from critics. Kirkus calls it “a valuable addition to any leader’s library,” while Foreword describes it as “an insightful leadership guide.” BlueInk Reviews raves, “This book will benefit managers, team leaders, and emerging professionals with its practical and thoughtful framework for understanding how a people-first approach can shape team culture and long-term results.”

Lead Last will be available on June 2, 2026, and sold through all major book retailers. To learn more or order your copy, visit https://leadlastbook.com.

About the Author

Olaolu Ogunyemi is a U.S. Marine Officer, award-winning author, and leadership strategist dedicated to developing resilient, purpose-driven leaders at work and home. As the Founder of Parent-Child-Connect, Olaolu bridges the gap between high-stakes military discipline and the intentionality required for modern mentorship.

Olaolu is the author of the Amazon best-selling Crow From the Shadow and a recipient of the Marine Corps University Foundation’s Command and Control Writing Award. His work–ranging from tactical IT strategy in the Marine Corps Gazette to faith-based resilience on the YouVersion Bible App–is unified by a single mission: equipping influencers to lead with contagious energy and practical frameworks. 

Whether he is speaking to corporate executives or in classrooms, Olaolu delivers a message of “Marine Corps discipline meets fatherly heart” that transforms how we lead the next generation.

Connect with him at www.parent-child-connect.com.

About Amplify Publishing Group 

Amplify Publishing Group is a leading independent hybrid publisher that is passionate about ideas and voices that need to be heard. APG publishes across a wide variety of genres and is the culmination of twenty years of experience acquiring, producing, marketing, and distributing books.