It’s time to shift the spotlight.

Next time you sit down in a car, there’s a real chance Lear built the seat. Lear Corporation holds roughly 26% of the global seat market. It’s the largest U.S.-based automotive supplier, with $23 billion in net sales and 164,000 people across 36 countries. And it doesn’t just assemble seats. Lear cuts and sews the covers, builds the structures and mechanisms, and makes the wire harnesses, electronics, sensors, and heating and cooling units that go into today’s vehicles.

An 18-year veteran of Cracker Barrel, Doug oversees field operations and operations services for nearly 660 stores nationwide. Having worked his way through store, district, and regional leadership, his approach centers on the people delivering the guest experience every day, pairing operational excellence with a deep understanding of what keeps a legacy brand true to its roots.

Today, Justin is CEO of Stephen Gould, the 87-year-old, third-generation family business his grandfather started as a storefront on Manhattan’s Lower East Side in 1939 reselling boxes, paper bags and twine.  Justin now leads a company spanning 40+ locations across six countries, partnering with some of the biggest names in consumer products, tech and retail, and one that’s grown from $500 million to $1 billion in revenue over the last decade and a half. 

Robert’s story is a case study in what it looks like to scale a company without abandoning the people who built it — from the original team that’s mostly still with him a quarter-century later, to a leadership decision involving a random drug test that he says taught him the difference between what’s by-the-book right and what’s actually right.

Joe leads procurement for ABM Industries, a Fortune 500 facility services giant managing more than $1 billion in annual spend across 20,000+ clients. In this conversation, he talks about:

What does it take to become the first-ever Chief Marketing Officer at two different companies? Mark-Hans Richer has done it twice — nine years at Harley-Davidson and nine years at Fortune Brands, with a nearly decade-long run at GM in between steering Chevy Trucks, GMC, and Pontiac.

Tiffany Benjamin is the CEO of the Humana Foundation, the philanthropic arm of one of the largest healthcare companies in the country. A Harvard-trained lawyer, she started at a major firm, spent several years as senior investigative counsel for Congress, and rose through Eli Lilly’s legal ranks before an unexpected turn — a corporate secretary assignment she never asked for — pulled her into social impact work for good.

Dan Florness joined Fastenal as CFO when the company’s run rate was about $250 million. Thirty years later, with the last 11 as CEO, Fastenal does over $9 billion in revenue across 26 countries, and it takes about a week to match a full year of the business he joined. Dan steps down in July, and this conversation captures the leadership philosophy behind that run

Jessica Warnke has always been surrounded by trucking, but she never planned on making it her career. Raised in the logistics world, she stepped into her current role as President & CEO of Carter Logistics in 2023. Carter Logistics, a leader in supply chain solutions, serves major clients like Honda and Nestlé and is known for its innovative Shared Milk Run Network.

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.

Matthew Milas is a seasoned leader in the aerospace and defense sector, currently serving as President of Defense and Space at Honeywell Aerospace. With over 20 years of experience, he has spearheaded major growth initiatives, securing multi-billion-dollar deals and driving operational excellence across global markets.

Prior to Honeywell, Matt held executive roles at L3Harris Technologies, Raytheon Technologies–Collins Aerospace, and Spirit AeroSystems, where he played a key role in major aerospace programs, including the F-35. He holds a bachelor’s degree in industrial and operations engineering from the University of Michigan and a master’s in international economics from Eastern Michigan University.

Carolyn Comer began her professional journey in the nonprofit sector before becoming Managing Director of Healy Chemicals UK in the mid-1990s. Carolyn joined Shell in 1998, where she held various commercial and leadership roles across Shell’s Downstream marketing businesses, including Global Commercial Lubricants, Specialties, Commercial Fuels, and Marine. Her work spanned multiple geographies, including the UK, Ireland, Norway, the Netherlands, and the USA.

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.

Matt Silverberg joined Associated Couriers in 2013, transitioning from the non-profit sector, and quickly grew the company’s revenue threefold through strategic acquisitions and diversification. Under his leadership, Associated Couriers became a leader in life sciences logistics, specializing in time-sensitive deliveries for sectors like healthcare. Matt is a strong advocate for conscious capitalism, believing that businesses should prioritize people as well as profits. In addition to his professional achievements, he supports several charitable organizations, including the American Cancer Society.

Chrissy joined BirdieBox in 2018 as Director of Business Development, becoming one of the company’s first hires. Initially launched as a golf subscription service, BirdieBox soon evolved into a leader in corporate gifting. Now, as CRO, Chrissy leads the company’s sales and revenue strategies, driving its growth and innovation in the corporate gifting space.

Mike Porter grew up in rural Ohio, where his family owned a retail bakery company. Heeding his father’s advice, Mike attended AIB International — a respected baking institute — after graduating high school. Mike began his career at New Horizons in 1997 as a production supervisor. 

Over the years, he advanced through various leadership roles at New Horizons, including Director of Quality Assurance, Operations Manager, and Vice President of Sales Administration. After an interlude at DuPont, Mike returned to New Horizons Bakery in 2020 to take on his current role as President and COO. 

Drew was promoted to CCO after joining NTG in 2020 as Executive Vice President, Enterprise Strategy. His extensive knowledge in creating carrier relationships has led a successful transformation of carrier operations creating a flywheel that benefits customers and carriers alike. He reshaped TI & NTG’s value proposition by driving increased coverage of customer freight through various initiatives improving drayage, LTL, final mile and warehousing opportunities. His work seamlessly provides the right solutions for each customer’s unique transportation needs by leveraging a vast carrier network.

Bill Canady is the CEO of two major companies, OTC Industrial Technologies and Arrowhead Engineered Products. He’s the mastermind behind a business strategy that has generated a $3 billion boost in shareholder value and the author of the upcoming book “The 80/20 CEO.”

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.

”I think that leadership is a virtue that you’re kind of born with. If you are a leader and you know it in your heart, I think you can learn to be great.”

“The greatest part of servant leadership is listening, hearing what our folks are telling you, and then going out and getting that done so that they can become more effective.”

David Walker is the dynamic President and CEO of EBSCO Industries. Leading a global powerhouse with a diverse portfolio that spans industries from Information Services to Outdoor Products, David has taken EBSCO to new heights, solidifying its place among the top privately held firms in both Alabama and the entire United States. With $3.1 billion in annual revenue and a team of 5,000 strong, his leadership is not just about numbers—it’s about creating impact.

Paul began his leadership journey in the United States Marine Corps, serving as a Captain before transitioning into the transportation sector. He spent over two decades at Schneider National, where he held key leadership roles in Operations, Customer Service, and Intermodal, ultimately serving as Regional Vice President of Van Truckload and Vice President of Intermodal Operations. His career continued with executive leadership roles at Interstate Distributor and Transport America, where he served as President and CEO.

Since joining WSI in 2019, Paul has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s strategy and operational performance, first as Chief Operating Officer and now as President.