Command Through Chaos: MasterClass Announces Battlefield Tactics for Business Success With 4-Star Gen. Stanley McChrystal

Learn how to lead faster, move smarter, and build teams that don't break under pressure

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 25, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- MasterClass, the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world's best, today announced the launch of Battlefield Tactics for Business Success with retired four-star Gen. Stanley McChrystal. He spent 34 years in the U.S. Army and commanded 150,000 troops. Now McChrystal translates his military leadership into lessons for navigating high-stakes business environments. The class is available exclusively on MasterClass, where subscribers have unlimited access to 200+ instructors with an annual membership.

Through personal stories and real-world examples—from U.S. military operations in the Middle East to advising companies like Pfizer, Intuit and Under Armour—McChrystal teaches members how to build high-output teams, foster radical transparency and make smarter, faster decisions. In this class, members will learn how to operate at the speed of battle without sacrificing morale, earn trust across silos and turn disruption into opportunity.

Key lessons include:

• Leading Through Chaos – McChrystal shares how he reimagined command structures while leading the Joint Special Operations Command, facing operational silos and battling a nimble, complex enemy. Members will learn how to stay calm under pressure, recognize weak spots in their systems and adapt quickly without losing direction.
• Build Teams That Don't Break – Inspired by how he united Delta Force, Navy SEALs and CIA teams under one mission, McChrystal teaches how to align disparate functions into a "team of teams" that operate with shared goals and mutual trust.
• Leadership Without Ego – Sharing his early career mistakes and near-dismissal from the United States Military Academy at West Point, McChrystal explores why humility and self-awareness are critical to growth and how strong leaders can step back without losing authority.
• Move at the Speed of Change – Drawing on his breadth of experience—from the evolving battlefield to corporate shifts at Intuit—McChrystal explains how organizations can replace rigid structures with agile, networked models built for speed and resilience.
• Communicate With Clarity – McChrystal introduces the "Commander's Intent" model—used in the military to ensure every team member understands not just the task but also the purpose behind it so they can adapt to changes without waiting for approval.

"In combat, business, or any human endeavor, leadership boils down to the same fundamentals. Leaders have to create clarity when the environment is anything but clear. They have to build trust that endures when pressure mounts. And they have to adapt because the plan will always change," McChrystal said. "What I've learned over a lifetime in uniform is that the best teams—whether a platoon in Afghanistan or a company navigating disruption—succeed because they can operate with speed, unity, and resilience in the face of uncertainty. That's what this class is about."

Embed & view the trailer here: https://youtu.be/XsDfHkjGC9c 

Download stills here: https://dam.masterclass.com/Share/rpq2tqc7n1j5u8thfq45m12wodatfx4n
Credit: Courtesy of MasterClass

About MasterClass:
MasterClass is the streaming platform that provides the insights, tools and lived experiences of the world's best so that members can become their best at work and in life. An annual membership provides unlimited access to 200+ instructors and classes in a variety of formats and subjects, including business and leadership, communication, health and wellness, writing and more—available anytime, anywhere, on mobile, tablet, desktop, Apple TV®, Android™TV, Amazon Fire TV and Roku® players and devices. Get negotiation tactics from Chris Voss. Win big in business with Mark Cuban. Cook with Gordon Ramsay. Write with Shonda Rhimes. Learn how to navigate relationships with Esther Perel or make bold choices with Samuel L. Jackson. MasterClass On Call and MasterClass Certificates are separate product offerings for personalized learning—MasterClass On Call lets members practice and prepare for high-stakes conversations with AI roleplays and real-time coaching from the AI of the world's best, while MasterClass Certificates, developed with leading companies, equip learners with in-demand skills to adapt and thrive in fast-changing careers. For organizations, MasterClass at Work provides flexible training solutions that teach holistic and core skills for employees at all levels.

Media Contact:
Susan Scott, MasterClass
[email protected]

SOURCE MasterClass