SUMMARY:

Steve Zambo, CEO and founder of AGL, shares his background and journey in the freight industry. He grew up in a logistics household and interned at a freight forwarding company before exploring other industries like marketing and telecom. Eventually, he decided to start his own company and moved to Los Angeles to open a branch for an IT recruiting organization. During this time, he learned the importance of effective communication and building relationships. He successfully grew the branch from zero to a million dollars in gross profit by selling to major companies like Disney and Paramount. Steve shares his experience of starting and growing AGL, a logistics company, and navigating challenges such as bankruptcies and the COVID-19 pandemic. He emphasizes the importance of founder-led sales and the need to continuously generate revenue to sustain and scale a business. Steve discusses the expansion of AGL's services, including domestic brokerage and customs brokerage, to provide a comprehensive supply chain solution for clients. He also highlights the value of building a strong team and fostering a collaborative and supportive work environment. Steve's future ambitions include scaling AGL and making a positive impact through charitable donations.

TAKEAWAYS:

• Growing up in a logistics household shaped Steve's perspective and priorities in life.
• Internships in different industries helped Steve gain valuable experience and insights.
• Moving to a new city and starting a branch for an organization taught Steve the importance of effective communication and building relationships.
• Steve's ability to adapt and learn quickly contributed to his success in growing the branch and selling to major companies. Founder-led sales are crucial for sustaining and growing a business
• Continuous revenue generation is essential for business sustainability and scalability
• Diversifying services can provide more value to clients and increase business opportunities
• Building a strong team and fostering a collaborative work environment are key to success
• Navigating challenges and learning from them is crucial for personal and professional growth
• Future ambitions include scaling the business and making a positive impact through charitable donations

CHAPTERS

• 00:00 Introduction and Background
• 02:11 Early Life and Internship Experiences
• 08:05 Starting a Company and Opening a Branch
• 14:32 The Power of Effective Communication and Building Relationships
• 27:38 Starting and Growing AGL
• 33:04 The Value of Founder-Led Sales
• 38:16 Building a Strong Team
• 44:05 Navigating Challenges
• 49:07 Diversifying Services and Future Ambitions

EPISODE CREDITS:

Host, Will Jenkins

Creative Director, Erin Sweeney

Edited and mixed by Keenan McCarthy

Music licensed through Envato

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ABOUT THE JOURNEY PODCAST: 

Welcome to The Journey Podcast, where we talk freight, sales, tech, the market and everything in between. Hosted by Will Jenkins, CEO and Founder of Journey, this show pulls from years of building & scaling freight brokerages along with the work our team does with hundreds of clients. We break down how brokers grow, how teams sell, how leaders hire, and what it takes to perform at a high-level in this industry.