Kevin Stock's journey from Olympic Village tram driver to Executive Vice President of Engineering at GEODIS reveals powerful insights about leadership, technology, and relationship-building that are transforming logistics today.

Our conversation begins with Kevin's fascinating experience at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where he transported athletes around Georgia Tech's campus as a college student. This unique opportunity allowed him to meet gold medalists, attend exclusive events, and even cross paths with Arnold Schwarzenegger—a perfect illustration of how diverse experiences shape leadership perspectives.

As we dive into Kevin's two-decade tenure at GEODIS, he reveals how engineering shapes modern logistics operations. His team creates tailored solutions for clients, analyzing their specific needs—whether speed-to-market or cost efficiency—and designing warehouse systems that might incorporate anything from basic racking to advanced robotics. With e-commerce creating dramatic demand swings (sometimes 10x normal volume), automation has become increasingly crucial. Kevin notes that as technology costs decrease while labor costs rise, the economics of automation continue to improve.

Yet amid this technological revolution, Kevin emphasizes that leadership remains the decisive factor in organizational success. "The difference between a performing company and one that does not is leadership," he quotes, sharing that "70% of an employee's effectiveness is based on their relationship with their direct leader." This human element becomes even more critical in today's hybrid work environments, where relationships must be built intentionally rather than through casual office interactions.

For emerging leaders, Kevin offers two key pieces of advice: learn about all aspects of the business beyond your immediate role, and actively build relationships throughout the organization. His own career benefited tremendously from transitioning between operations and engineering roles, giving him perspective from both sides of the business.

Whether you're managing remote teams, implementing automation, or developing leadership skills, this conversation offers valuable insights about balancing technology and human connection in today's rapidly evolving logistics landscape.

Standing Out is a sales, marketing & leadership podcast powered by BETA Consulting Group, created to highlight best practices from industry leaders with incredible experience and insights! The goal is to entertain, educate & inspire individuals & companies to improve their sales, marketing & leadership development outcomes.

Ever wonder what happens when scientists decide to tackle the chaos of logistics? Annalise Sandu, co-founder and CEO of Chain, joins the Standing Out podcast to reveal how her journey from medical school dropout to freight tech innovator is reshaping broker-carrier collaboration. Annalise Sandu, co-founder and CEO of Chain, shares how their AI-powered visibility platform is revolutionizing freight brokerage operations by automating manual tasks while preserving human relationships. 

Thank you to our sponsor, Salesdash CRM – A CRM for Freight Logistics. Salesdash CRM is built for freight broker & agent sales teams. Manage your shipper prospecting and follow-ups. Organize your carriers and the lanes they run. Learn more at www.betaconsultinggroup.com/standing-out 

Standing Out is a sales, marketing & leadership podcast powered by BETA Consulting Group, created to highlight best practices from industry leaders with incredible experience and insights! The goal is to entertain, educate & inspire individuals & companies to improve their sales, marketing & leadership development outcomes.

After 28 years in the corporate world, Dusty realized his personal mission statement—"to enable success in others"—could have far greater impact if he dedicated himself fully to coaching and mentoring other leaders. Drawing from principles of servant leadership instilled by his early mentors, he's built a practice that helps executives navigate the complexities of their roles without falling victim to the echo chamber that so often limits leadership effectiveness.

Ready to transform your leadership effectiveness? Connect with Dusty on LinkedIn or visit arcusgroup.com to subscribe to their newsletter and learn about upcoming masterclasses.

Thank you to our sponsor, Salesdash CRM – A CRM for Freight Logistics. Salesdash CRM is built for freight broker & agent sales teams. Manage your shipper prospecting and follow-ups. Organize your carriers and the lanes they run. Learn more at www.betaconsultinggroup.com/standing-out 

Standing Out is a sales, marketing & leadership podcast powered by BETA Consulting Group, created to highlight best practices from industry leaders with incredible experience and insights! The goal is to entertain, educate & inspire individuals & companies to improve their sales, marketing & leadership development outcomes.

As technology transforms the industry, Beth discusses how companies must rethink their compensation structures to accommodate productivity shifts driven by automation. Understanding how to adapt to these changes can be the difference between getting it right or falling behind. The conversation also dives into the establishment of the HR Best Practices Group, aimed at providing companies with a forum to share insights and strategies for navigating compensation effectively.

Thank you to our sponsor, Salesdash CRM – A CRM for Freight Logistics. Salesdash CRM is built for freight broker & agent sales teams. Manage your shipper prospecting and follow-ups. Organize your carriers and the lanes they run. Learn more at www.betaconsultinggroup.com/standing-out 

Standing Out is a sales, marketing & leadership podcast powered by BETA Consulting Group, created to highlight best practices from industry leaders with incredible experience and insights! The goal is to entertain, educate & inspire individuals & companies to improve their sales, marketing & leadership development outcomes.

Dive into the world of freight logistics with this exceptional episode, featuring Liz Wayne, founder of Able Transport Solutions. From a lunchtime mishap to leading a successful heavy haul freight company, Liz's journey is filled with inspiring lessons and insights. Discover what it takes to specialize in a niche industry and understand the interplay between the construction sector and freight pricing.

Thank you to our sponsor, Salesdash CRM – A CRM for Freight Logistics. Salesdash CRM is built for freight broker & agent sales teams. Manage your shipper prospecting and follow-ups. Organize your carriers and the lanes they run. Learn more at www.betaconsultinggroup.com/standing-out 

Standing Out is a sales, marketing & leadership podcast powered by BETA Consulting Group, created to highlight best practices from industry leaders with incredible experience and insights! The goal is to entertain, educate & inspire individuals & companies to improve their sales, marketing & leadership development outcomes.

Kurtis Tryber, the dynamic owner and president of SuperSend.io, offers his insights into the delicate balance of entrepreneurship and personal life. Kurtis shares his innovative go-to-market strategies and how his past experiences have influenced the evolution of his company, providing a fascinating perspective on the intersection of sales, marketing, and personal development.

Thank you to our sponsor, Salesdash CRM – A CRM for Freight Logistics. Salesdash CRM is built for freight broker & agent sales teams. Manage your shipper prospecting and follow-ups. Organize your carriers and the lanes they run. Learn more at www.betaconsultinggroup.com/standing-out 

Standing Out is a sales, marketing & leadership podcast powered by BETA Consulting Group, created to highlight best practices from industry leaders with incredible experience and insights! The goal is to entertain, educate & inspire individuals & companies to improve their sales, marketing & leadership development outcomes.

Join us for Standing Out with Charley Dehoney. Charley shares his journey from struggling with working capital as a freight broker to launching Upwell, a company dedicated to transforming logistics finance. The discussion highlights the importance of innovative technology and collaboration in addressing common financial challenges in the industry.

Thank you to our sponsor, Salesdash CRM – A CRM for Freight Logistics. Salesdash CRM is built for freight broker & agent sales teams. Manage your shipper prospecting and follow-ups. Organize your carriers and the lanes they run. Learn more at www.betaconsultinggroup.com/standing-out 

Standing Out is a sales, marketing & leadership podcast powered by BETA Consulting Group, created to highlight best practices from industry leaders with incredible experience and insights! The goal is to entertain, educate & inspire individuals & companies to improve their sales, marketing & leadership development outcomes.

Join us for a special episode with the one and only, Kara Smith-Brown! From maximizing trade show experiences to celebrating female entrepreneurial success, this episode is packed with practical advice and inspiring stories. Trey Griggs and Kara emphasize the importance of strategic post-show follow-ups and highlight the success of LeadCoverage's international expansion, even without external funding. Kara's journey is a testament to the power of perseverance and community support, offering a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for anyone aiming to achieve significant milestones in business.

Thank you to our sponsor, Salesdash CRM – A CRM for Freight Logistics. Salesdash CRM is built for freight broker & agent sales teams. Manage your shipper prospecting and follow-ups. Organize your carriers and the lanes they run. Learn more at www.betaconsultinggroup.com/standing-out 

Standing Out is a sales, marketing & leadership podcast powered by BETA Consulting Group, created to highlight best practices from industry leaders with incredible experience and insights! The goal is to entertain, educate & inspire individuals & companies to improve their sales, marketing & leadership development outcomes.

Eric Kruger, CEO and co-founder of Navix, shares his inspiring journey from the world of logistics to leading a company that revolutionizes cash flow management in the freight brokerage industry. Discover how timely cash collection and payments not only maintain but strengthen relationships with carriers and clients, especially during challenging market conditions. Eric introduces us to the innovative ways Navix uses AI and automation to streamline processes and make a significant impact on logistics service providers, shippers, and carriers.

The Word on the Street powered by BETA Consulting Group is a weekly transportation show with industry professionals known as the #StreetCrew and one special guest. We chop it up about supply chain issues, sports, politics, religion and whatever else comes up. Come hang out with us. 

Thank you to our sponsors Greenscreens.ai and Highway for their support and helping us make this show possible! 

#transportation #supplychain #logistics #freightbrokers #truckloadcarriers #wordonthestreet #podcasting

Standing Out is a sales, marketing & leadership podcast powered by BETA Consulting Group, created to highlight best practices from industry leaders with incredible experience and insights! The goal is to entertain, educate & inspire individuals & companies to improve their sales, marketing & leadership development outcomes.

Join us for Standing Out with Timothy Dooner! Trey Griggs and Timothy Dooner discuss and explore the intersections of creativity, mental health, and the transformative power of play. Dooner discusses his journey as a podcaster, shares candid reflections on his struggles with social anxiety and mental health, and highlights the importance of maintaining joy during life’s challenges.

Thank you to our sponsor, Salesdash CRM – A CRM for Freight Logistics. Salesdash CRM is built for freight broker & agent sales teams. Manage your shipper prospecting and follow-ups. Organize your carriers and the lanes they run. Learn more at www.betaconsultinggroup.com/standing-out 

Standing Out is a sales, marketing & leadership podcast powered by BETA Consulting Group, created to highlight best practices from industry leaders with incredible experience and insights! The goal is to entertain, educate & inspire individuals & companies to improve their sales, marketing & leadership development outcomes.