Turning Gears: Business Management Podcast

My guest today is Frits Bisschop, Managing Director at Districon. Districon is a management consulting firm that specializes on supply chain optimization, logistics facility design and transportation networks. Based in Netherlands, Districon counts many airports, logistics providers and airlines globally as its clients. Frits and I start our conversation with his early career, Districon’s most notable projects, impact of e-Commerce on airport operations, and decision-framework for automating operations. We spend the second half of our discussion on soft aspects of the business, such as tactics for managing stakeholders in complex projects, power of listening and hiring philosophy – aspects that are crucial for success in any environment. Please enjoy my conversation with Frits. 

My guest today is Patrick Nangle, CEO of Modo Coop, based in Vancouver. Modo is the second oldest car-sharing co-op in North America and the largest in Canada. Under Patrick’s leadership and focus on innovation, Modo has been growing at the fastest pace in the last 20 years. In our conversation, we discuss Patrick’s learnings from his international experience, why car-sharing works for some people and not the others, innovations in this area, key metrics and Modo’s highly aligned governance model. For some of the most exciting developments and to get a better understanding of how urban transportation may be different in the future, tune in and enjoy.  

My guest today is Jim Peeples, President and Chief Operating Officer at Challenger Motor Freight – one of the largest trucking companies in Canada. He started his career at Michelin Tire and spent his time both in quality management and operations. As he transitioned to Purolator Courier, Jim has proven himself a true leader and ran operations, air network, and even Sales, always driven by the same principle – no challenge is impossible, if everyone’s aligned. Jim’s ability to effectively communicate and focus on putting people first has not only earned him enormous respect in the industry, but helped Challenger become one of the most successful carriers and sought out employers. In our conversation we discuss the value of polyvalent career path, the importance of choosing the right customers, framework for capital allocation, impact of autonomous vehicles, transition to people-centric culture, and key hiring principles for building a strong team. Jim’s focus on people, while unconventional in the trucking industry, is already paying its dividends.  With increasing shortage of talent, Challenger’s ability to attract and retain people is certain to become a competitive advantage. I hope you enjoy my conversation with Jim as much as I did.