What if the future of logistics isn’t about bigger fleets—but about smarter connections?
Chris Condon grew up with the grit of farm country and the drive to fix what’s broken. After decades in the freight industry, he realized the real opportunity wasn’t in moving more freight. It was in empowering the small and mid-sized freight forwarders who move 80% of the world’s cargo.
In this episode of Real Leadership, Chris shares the journey that led him to found Aircon, an AI-powered platform reshaping how freight forwarders quote, book, and manage cargo. From sleepless nights building early-stage tech to rethinking how the industry uses capacity, Chris unpacks the lessons he’s learned about leadership, adaptability, and the power of putting people—and partners—first.
In this episode, we cover:
- Why small freight forwarders are the “linchpin” of global logistics
- How AI can help companies compete at scale without massive infrastructure
- The leadership mindset shift from operational execution to strategic advisory
- What it really takes to navigate the ups and downs of early-stage growth
- The future of air freight—and why capacity, not cost, will define success
Time Stamps
04:10 - Understanding AirCon's Role in Freight Forwarding
06:56 - The Decision to Start AirCon
07:11 - The Importance of Freight Forwarders
08:03 - AI's Impact on Small and Medium-Sized Businesses
10:11 - The Future of the Logistics Workforce
11:54 - Leadership Lessons from Farming Background
Show Notes
- Chris on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/chriscondon/
- Aircon Website: https://www.airconai.com/
- Contact Aircon: sales@airconai.com
- Jim’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jim-weaver-36457418
- Real Leadership Podcast: realleadership.oningroup.com
- Real Leadership LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/104897916/
- The Ōnin Group: oningroup.com/clients
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com