Real Leadership

You don’t have to choose between legacy and innovation. Jessica Warnke is proof — she’s doing both—and doing it exceptionally well.

Jessica grew up in the logistics world—her grandfather started a truck dealership with poker winnings, her father scaled Carter Express from 13 trucks to a national logistics force. 

Today, Jessica is the President & CEO of Carter Logistics, leading a 900-truck operation with global ties and deep f...

Andrew Tidwell has never followed the traditional HR playbook.

With a background in labor negotiations, international chaos, and what he calls “solving difficult people problems,” Andrew built a career by saying yes to the messy stuff—and figuring it out mid-flight.

Today, he’s CHRO at WineShipping, where he’s helped transform a fast-scaling logistics company into a culture-first, award-winning workplace. 

But ask him how he got th...

What if everything you thought about leadership was wrong?

Rudy Alanis grew up in a family where leadership meant service, purpose, and people. But after 25 years in global HR leadership—working at GE, TE Connectivity, Helix Electric, and now as Chief People Officer at Facility Solutions Group (FSG)—he’s learned that success isn’t just about working hard or getting results. It’s about how you lead people along the way.

In this ...

What keeps a logistics company thriving for nearly six decades?

Plenty of companies throw around words like trust and transparency, but few actually walk the talk. Even fewer know how to turn these values into a competitive edge.

In this episode, Paul shares what most leaders overlook when it comes to building a resilient, high-performing organization—whether you're leading a logistics team, navigating an acquisition, or thinking a...

The Psychologist Who Built a Life-Saving Logistics Empire

Most people don’t wake up thinking they’ll run a high-stakes logistics company. Matt Silverberg didn’t either.

Armed with a master’s in clinical psychology, he was working in the nonprofit sector—until a phone call changed everything. His father-in-law needed help in a niche logistics business. What started as a favor turned into a full-scale leadership pivot.

Today, Matt is...

From transforming a struggling division into a $6 billion powerhouse to tackling the unprecedented challenges of modern warfare, Matt Milas, President of Defense & Space at Honeywell Aerospace, knows what it means to lead under pressure. 

His journey is a masterclass in turning obstacles into opportunities, and he shares it all on this week’s episode of Real Leadership.

With 20+ years in aerospace leadership, Matt has held ...

What does it really take to be a great leader in today’s world? In Season 1 of Real Leadership, we explored this question by talking with 28 extraordinary leaders in the real economy—those who inspire their teams, solve real-world challenges, and create meaningful impact every day.

Through their stories, one thing became clear: success isn’t about ego or titles. It’s about leading with a servant’s heart, building purpose-driven tea...

From navigating a high-stakes maternity leave during the pandemic to stepping in as interim CEO during a health crisis, Chrissy Dunlap, Chief Revenue Officer at BirdieBox, knows what it means to lead with heart and grit. Her journey is a masterclass in balancing personal adversity with professional leadership, and she shares it all on this week’s episode of Real Leadership.

From her start in the sports industry to leading one of th...

How do you rise above a challenging start to lead one of the top companies in the baking industry? In this episode, Jim Weaver sits down with Mike Porter, President and COO of New Horizons Baking Company, to discuss his inspiring journey from a troubled adolescence to industry leadership. Mike shares how resilience, mentorship, and a people-first mindset have been key to his success.

From implementing flexible work schedules to pro...

How do you lead in an industry with over 20,000 competitors, all vying for the same freight loads? In this episode, Jim Weaver sits down with Drew Herpich, Chief Commercial Officer at Nolan Transportation Group (NTG), one of the largest freight brokerages in the U.S. Drew brings a wealth of experience from his 14 years at Coyote Logistics and shares how NTG is navigating an evolving logistics landscape—from potential East Coast por...

What does it take to lead a global powerhouse like Shell through history's most critical energy transition? Carolyn Comer, President and CEO of Shell Energy North America, knows exactly how to turn big challenges into big opportunities—and she’s sharing her playbook in this must-listen episode of Real Leadership.

Carolyn pulls back the curtain on the energy industry’s biggest hurdles: reliability, affordability, and the urgent shif...

Empowerment Without Abandonment Ever wondered how the leader of a $3.1 billion company maintains a culture of independence and accountability across multiple industries? David Walker, President and CEO of EBSCO Industries, shares his secret: Empowerment without Abandonment. In this episode, David explains how giving his teams the freedom to be entrepreneurial—without leaving them to fend for themselves—has been crucial to EBSCO’...

He’s driving operational excellence in a world of milk runs, cross-docks, and lean practices.

Richard DeBoer, Executive Vice President of Supply Chain Logistics at Carter Logistics, combines financial acumen with operational expertise to lead one of the top logistics firms. Drawing on his wealth of experience as CFO and COO, Richard has propelled Carter Logistics into a period of expansion, fortifying their presence in markets cons...

We’re still reeling a bit from what we just learned:

• The uncomfortable truth behind building a great culture.
• How will the next revolution in packaging impact your business, too? 
• When innovation beats iteration.

Our guest in this episode took us in directions we weren’t expecting (but man, did we need to go there!) His passion and pra...

The transcendent career of a recovering politician.  

Before Steve Ammons became the CEO of the Birmingham Business Alliance, he served as a Jefferson County Commissioner, focusing on economic development and information technology. Steve’s journey from entrepreneur to city council member to a key figure in regional economic growth has left a lasting impact on the Birmingham region.

In this episode of Real Leadership, we discuss:

Living the pros and cons of being a young leader

Before stepping into his role as President of Operational Technologies Corporation (OpTech), Maximiliano Navarro III honed his entrepreneurial skills and gained invaluable insights from his family’s business. When it comes to drive and commitment, Maximiliano proves age is just a number. 

In this episode of Real Leadership, we explore: 

• How early expo...

A dramatic career shift changed everything. 

David Reid, the dual-hatted Chief Technology Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at NOV, brings a unique blend of visionary technology and strategic marketing to one of the leading global energy equipment providers. With a background that spans architecture and engineering, David is helping to steer new frontiers in the energy sector.

In this episode of Real Leadership, we discuss: 

...

He’s tried — and failed — to retire twice.

Randy Tucker is the current Chairman and CEO of Wineshipping and a key board member of the international 3PL, GEODIS. With a knack for numbers and a passion for people, Randy is still pursuing the art of building a perfect culture.

In this episode of Real Leadership, we discuss: 

• Why culture is key to performance and how to build a culture at scale