Culture Shapes Leadership with Kelsey Hensley at NovEx Supply Chain

Today's guest is Kelsey Hensley, President at NovEx Supply Chain, whose company was ranked No. 1,662 on the 2025 Inc. 5000 list. In this Grow Think Tank interview, Kelsey shares insights on company culture and leadership development, highlighting the six core values, kindness, openness, intentionality, trustworthiness, initiative, and accountability, that guide decision-making and foster personal growth at NovEx. She discusses the balance between technology and human relationships in logistics, explaining how clearly defined values have transformed the company's hiring practices and strengthened team alignment. Reflecting on her leadership journey, Kelsey emphasizes the importance of empowering teams and focusing on strategic growth, illustrating how intentional leadership fosters a thriving organizational culture.

Episode Highlights & Time Stamps

1:26 Introduction to Novex Supply Chain
2:40 Embracing AI in Logistics
6:34 The Human Element in Business
8:17 Leadership and Culture Connection
10:31 Highlighting Company Values
13:18 Living the Values
16:48 Independent Teams and Leadership
17:28 Overcoming Control Issues
21:23 Focusing on Valuable Work
24:28 The Worth of Cultural Efforts

Building a Values-Driven Culture From the Ground Up

In this Grow Think Tank interview, Kelsey Hensley, founder of Novex Supply Chain, shares how rapid growth as a bi-coastal 3PL provider pushed her to shape company culture intentionally. She walks through the six core values that guide Novex. Kindness, openness, intentionality, trustworthiness, initiative, and accountability, and how they influence decisions, hiring, coaching, and team interactions. Kelsey describes the pride she feels watching employees embody these values not only at work but in their personal lives, reinforcing the power of a values-first culture.

Leadership Principles and Tech, AI, and the Human Touch in Logistics Empowerment

Kelsey and Gene shift the conversation to today's evolving workplace and the rise of AI in logistics. While acknowledging industry layoffs and the anxiety surrounding automation, Kelsey stresses that technology should enhance human performance, not replace it. She believes logistics still thrives on relationships and personalized service, which machines cannot replicate. For Novex, AI is a tool, not the driver, and the company remains committed to keeping people at the heart of the business.

Why Culture Shapes Leadership: Not the Other Way Around

Diving deeper, Kelsey emphasizes that culture determines the type of leaders who emerge. She shares the breakthroughs she had once she formally defined Novex's core values, giving the organization a clear framework for hiring, training, and accountability. Her hiring philosophy centers on behavior over skill. Skills can be taught, but misaligned behaviors disrupt teams. By prioritizing value-aligned behavior, Kelsey has cultivated a dependable, supportive environment where people can thrive.

Learning to Let Go: A Founder's Leadership Evolution

Reflecting on her journey, Kelsey discusses her early tendency to control every detail of the business and how a long overseas family trip forced her to step back. Trusting her team, allowing them to make mistakes, learn, and lead became a turning point for Novex. Empowering her people has freed her to focus on strategy, brand development, and deeper client relationships. Her story highlights how founders evolve and how letting go can unlock growth, independence, and a stronger culture.

Key Takeaways

• Values Drive Everything: Novex Supply Chain's six core values kindness, openness, intentionality, trustworthiness, initiative, and accountability serve as the foundation for decision-making, hiring, and team development.
• Culture Shapes Leadership: Kelsey emphasizes that strong culture produces strong leaders. Clearly defining company values created alignment and accountability across the organization.
• Hire for Behavior, Train for Skill: Skills can be taught, but behavior and attitude determine long-term success. Value-aligned behavior is the top hiring priority at Novex.
• Tech Supports People, Not Replaces Them: Despite AI advancements and logistics industry layoffs, Kelsey believes the human element relationships, communication, and personalized service remains irreplaceable.
• Letting Go Unlocks Growth: Kelsey's shift from controlling every detail to empowering