What helps teams truly connect with work? In the Season 1 finale, General Manager Ernie Smith draws on his experience as a nuclear engineer in the U.S. Navy and nearly a decade in Transportation Operations at Amazon to share how understanding the “why” matters. He and host, Donnie Iorez, discuss leading through change. Learn how to help teams connect to a shared purpose and when to step back, learn, and take a different path.

(00:00) Intro and Meet Ernie

(01:10) Leading Transportation Operations Management

(02:12) Building TOM From Scratch

(03:55) Navy Nuclear Engineer Roots

(06:57) Always Know the Why

(07:32) Intent vs. Compliance

(09:18) Managing From Afar

(10:22) Mastering Disagree and Commit

(13:47) The Regional Driver Pilot

(16:36) Rapid Reflections

(19:29) AI and Chat Agents

(20:31) Season One Wrap-Up

What changes when leaders shift from doing it all themselves to building trust with their teams? Anisa Gogaj, PXT director, shares how feedback, mentorship, and empathy shaped her leadership journey, from leading a single site to leading across multiple sites. She and host, Donnie Iorez, explore what it takes to scale your leadership. Discover how you can create an environment where your team feels supported and empowered to grow.

(00:00) Intro and Meet Anisa

(01:18) Day One Leadership Mindset

(02:58) The Self-Reflection Moment

(04:57) How Motherhood Changed Leadership

(07:50) It's a People Business

(08:52) Letting Go of Control

(11:09) How the Team Responded

(13:09) Learning From Her Team

(14:17) Closing and Thanks

How do leaders earn credibility with their teams? Area Manager Turner Humphrey shares his path from 17 years in the U.S. Marine Corps to Amazon Operations and discusses how communication and consistency have shaped his approach to leadership. He and host, Donnie Iorez, explore what it means to build trust in a new environment. Find out how you can build community through shared experience, and grow as a leader by learning to connect with people in different ways.

(00:00) Intro and Meet Turner

(00:52) From Marines to Amazon

(03:08) Finding Structure and Community

(04:18) The Desire to Lead

(05:42) Leaders Who Shaped Him

(07:35) Stepping Up During 2020

(09:57) Earning Trust Through Communication

(11:57) Leading the Warriors Community

(13:28) Authenticity and Final Thoughts