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.