Real Leadership

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

Chad Wiegand didn’t follow a corporate blueprint. He built a leadership model designed for complexity. From pharmacy school to law, from boardroom legal counsel to global strategy, Chad built his career by stepping into uncertainty—and bringing clarity. Today, he’s EVP and Chief Risk Officer at Schreiber Foods, an $8 billion, employee-owned food giant. He oversees everything from legal and audit to food safety, regulatory, compliance, and culture. But Chad will tell you: his impact isn’t about saying no. It’s about helping leaders make better decisions in the gray. In this episode of Real Leadership, Chad shares the pivotal moments that shaped his philosophy—from learning how to lead through risk to discovering why vulnerability might be a leader’s sharpest edge. In this episode, we cover: 🔥 The “Red Team / Green Team” structure that takes ego out of strategy 🔥 The surprising KPI that actually matters for legal leaders 🔥 How vulnerability can build more trust than confidence ever could 🔥 Why in-house legal teams must stop being seen as a cost center 🔥 What it really looks like to lead through chaos—with clarity Time Stamps 05:47 - Attributes of a Great In-House Legal Program 12:05 - Negotiation Styles in Legal Interactions 18:02 - Chad's Evolution at Schreiber Foods 25:14 - Risk Management and Decision Making 30:37 - Nose In, Hands Out Leadership 35:43 - The Impact of ESOP on Culture 42:10 - The Power of Vulnerability Show Notes Chad’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadwiegand/ Schreiber Foods: schreiberfoods.com/ Schreiber Foods’ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/schreiber-foods/ 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

Andrew Tidwell has never followed the traditional HR playbook. With a background in labor negotiations, international chaos, and what he calls “solving difficult people problems,” Andrew built a career by saying yes to the messy stuff—and figuring it out mid-flight. Today, he’s CHRO at WineShipping, where he’s helped transform a fast-scaling logistics company into a culture-first, award-winning workplace. But ask him how he got there, and he’ll tell you: It wasn’t by being the smartest guy in the room. It was by being the most useful. In this episode of Real Leadership, Andrew shares the moments that shaped his leadership style—from giving away a beat-up Jeep to settle a dispute in Mexico to building HR teams that operators actually trust. In this episode, we cover: 🔥 The myth of “don’t bring me problems” — and what to say instead 🔥 The overlooked leadership skill that builds trust instantly 🔥 Why HR needs to stop being “nice” and start being necessary 🔥 How to coach when you’re the boss (and everyone’s guarded) 🔥 The power of ownership—and how it rewires an entire company culture Time Stamps 06:53 – The Mexico City Jeep story: creative problem-solving in action 11:42 – HR as a driver, not a speed bump 14:20 – Speaking finance: how HR wins credibility in the boardroom 16:30 – The coaching haiku that changed Andrew’s leadership 21:22 – “It’s not your sandbox—it’s our sandbox”: the case for ownership 26:15 – What AI and robotics can’t replace in warehouse work 32:17 – Habits that help HR leaders scale with the business 34:54 – The problem with passing the message up the chain 36:26 – Who WineShipping is hiring—and what kind of talent fits Show Notes Andrew’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewtidwell/ Wineshipping: https://wineshipping.com/ Wineshipping LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wineshipping-com-llc/ Jim Weaver 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

What keeps a logistics company thriving for nearly six decades? Plenty of companies throw around words like trust and transparency, but few actually walk the talk. Even fewer know how to turn these values into a competitive edge. In this episode, Paul shares what most leaders overlook when it comes to building a resilient, high-performing organization—whether you're leading a logistics team, navigating an acquisition, or thinking about long-term growth. 🎙️ Inside this episode, you’ll discover: ✅ Why trust is a competitive advantage—and how to build it at every level of your organization ✅ The art of straight talk—how honesty (done right) fuels accountability and better decisions ✅ Acquisitions: Make or break? The hidden factor that determines if an acquisition will soar or sink ✅ Beyond growth: The long-term playbook—why sustainable success is about more than just expansion ✅ Career velocity vs. career mastery—why ambitious professionals should slow down to speed up Whether you're a seasoned executive or a rising star in logistics, this episode is packed with real-world leadership lessons that will challenge the way you think about trust, growth, and success. Timestamps [07:00] The technology shift that will make or break logistics companies [12:30] Why acquisitions are the key to long-term industry dominance [18:00] How Paul’s leadership philosophy is driving billion-dollar success [23:00] The unexpected risk that could crash the industry overnight [27:30] What supply chain leaders must do now to prepare for future disruptions [34:00] The AI and automation revolution—Paul’s game-changing perspective [40:00] The number one leadership trait every great executive needs Show Notes WSI Website: wsinc.comPaul Simmons on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/paul-simmons-4674428The Advantage by Patrick Lencioni: LinkJim Weaver on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jim-weaver-36457418The Ōnin Group: oningroup.com/clientsReal Leadership Podcast: realleadership.oningroup.com

From transforming a struggling division into a $6 billion powerhouse to tackling the unprecedented challenges of modern warfare, Matt Milas, President of Defense & Space at Honeywell Aerospace, knows what it means to lead under pressure. His journey is a masterclass in turning obstacles into opportunities, and he shares it all on this week’s episode of Real Leadership. With 20+ years in aerospace leadership, Matt has held executive roles at L3Harris, Raytheon, and Spirit AeroSystems. Now, he’s leading one of the most critical sectors in global defense, driving innovation in AI, automation, and advanced military technology—all while navigating supply chain bottlenecks and the rapidly evolving battlefield. In this episode, Matt dives into how Honeywell is shaping the future of defense, the leadership principles behind scaling a multi-billion-dollar business, and the bold decisions required to stay ahead in an increasingly complex industry. With candid insights, battle-tested strategies, and a deep understanding of what it takes to lead high-performing teams, Matt’s story is packed with valuable lessons for leaders across all industries. Episode Highlights: 🔹 The Changing Face of Warfare: How drones, AI, and autonomous systems are redefining military strategy—and what leaders need to know.🔹 Leading Through Growth & Constraint: The inside story of how Honeywell’s Defense & Space division grew by $1.4 billion in two years—and why supply chain resilience is key.🔹 Fixing What’s Broken: Matt’s turnaround playbook for reviving underperforming businesses and building a culture of execution and trust.🔹 The Future of AI in Defense: What’s next for AI-powered systems, autonomous warfare, and digital transformation in aerospace.🔹 The Leadership Mindset for High-Stakes Industries: How Matt stays energized, focused, and ahead of the curve while leading at the highest level. Timestamps: ⏱ 00:02:15 – How Matt’s aerospace career prepared him for leading in defense⏱ 00:10:36 – The asymmetric cost of war: Why the U.S. is adapting to low-cost threats⏱ 00:19:57 – The supply chain crisis in defense: Why capacity is the #1 challenge⏱ 00:27:57 – The future of AI & automation in military applications⏱ 00:31:59 – Matt’s leadership philosophy: The #1 trait he looks for in his team⏱ 00:45:45 – How Matt stays on top of his game as a leader 💡 Loved this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe to Real Leadership for more candid conversations with executives who make, move, and process. Stay inspired—follow us on LinkedIn for updates on upcoming episodes and actionable leadership insights. Show Notes Honeywell Careers: https://careers.honeywell.com/us/en Connect with Matt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/milas/ Connect with Jim: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-weaver-36457418/ The Ōnin Group: https://oningroup.com/clients/ Explore staffing resources: https://oninstaffing.com/staffing-questions/ Real Leadership Podcat: https://realleadership.oningroup.com/

From navigating a high-stakes maternity leave during the pandemic to stepping in as interim CEO during a health crisis, Chrissy Dunlap, Chief Revenue Officer at BirdieBox, knows what it means to lead with heart and grit. Her journey is a masterclass in balancing personal adversity with professional leadership, and she shares it all on this week’s episode of Real Leadership. From her start in the sports industry to leading one of the most innovative players in a $250 billion gifting industry, Chrissy’s story is packed with insights for leaders across all sectors. In this episode, Chrissy dives into how BirdieBox scaled its unique gifting model, built partnerships with industry giants like the Dallas Cowboys, and navigated pivotal moments, including the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. With humor, candor, and actionable insights, Chrissy shares stories about overcoming challenges and building a people-first company culture. Episode Highlights: The Power of Personalization: How BirdieBox is redefining corporate gifting by blending psychology with curated, high-end products. Leadership in Crisis: Chrissy’s journey navigating COVID-19, balancing maternity leave with professional responsibilities, and leading a team through uncertainty. Scaling with Intention: The pivotal moments that propelled BirdieBox from a small startup to a leader in corporate gifting, including a key partnership with the Dallas Cowboys. Sales with a Purpose: Chrissy’s philosophy on active listening, staying curious, and creating authentic connections in sales. Timestamps: 00:01:47 – Chrissy’s serendipitous start in the sports industry and her rise to leadership. 01:28:57 – What makes BirdieBox a standout in the $250 billion gifting industry. 14:10:24 – How BirdieBox pivoted during COVID-19 with “COVID care packages.” 25:03:79 – A meeting with the Dallas Cowboys that changed everything for BirdieBox. 35:12:70 – Chrissy’s advice for leaders on active listening and staying curious. Call to Action: Love this episode? Don’t forget to subscribe to Real Leadership for more candid conversations with leaders who make, move, and process. Stay inspired—follow us on LinkedIn for updates on upcoming episodes and actionable insights. Connect with Chrissy Dunlap on LinkedIn or explore BirdieBox’s unique gifting solutions at BirdieBox.com.