Warren Kohm didn’t grow up with a silver spoon — he grew up learning how to make things work, and how not to take anything for granted.
In this episode of “Humble Beginnings,” we sit down with Warren, CEO of Aurex Defense, to trace the formative experiences that shaped his leadership philosophy, from growing up as the youngest of five in a modest Long Island home to leading a private equity–backed defense company.
Raised by two teachers, Warren learned early the value of independence, discipline and learning by doing. He started working at age 12, paid his own way through college, balanced academics with collegiate athletics and took on multiple jobs to stay afloat. Through it all, he gained lessons that would later inform his approach to leadership and finance, and define his values.
Warren shares candid stories from the early stages of his career, including his grind in commission-only sales at John Hancock, a humbling rejection from a movie theater job and the pivotal moments that led him from IT programming to finance leadership roles at Accenture, American Management Systems, Booz Allen Hamilton and CGI. Along the way, mentorship, curiosity and a willingness to say “yes” opened unexpected doors and ultimately led him to the C-suite.
Now a CEO, Warren reflects on what it takes to lead people well: knowing when to push, when to step back and why results matter — but people matter more. He also opens up about the deeply personal impact of mental health on his life, the loss of two sisters and why supporting employee well-being is essential.
Tune in for an honest look at work ethic, resilience, leadership, humanity and a reminder that long-term success is built one decision, one mentor and one lesson at a time.