The Matt Waller Podcast

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Michele Meyer about her impressive 30+ year career in the consumer packaged goods industry. Michele held numerous leadership positions at General Mills, culminating in roles leading major operating units. She was able to drive significant growth and transformation throughout her career. When I asked Michele what has contributed most to her success as an...

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Chris Ladd, a seasoned private equity investor and board member. Chris shared insights from his extensive career in corporate development, M&A, and private equity. Here are some highlights: How Chris Identifies High-Potential Companies When considering investments, Chris looks for two key ingredients - a market need/gap, and a solution that can fill...

I recently had the chance to chat with Stefan Sterns, a partner at private equity firm NewRoad Capital Partners, about his extensive career in investment banking and private equity. Stefan spent over 8 years at Barclays Investment Bank in New York, working on M&A advisory assignments and debt/equity capital raises totaling over $200 billion. Some of the most valuable lessons Stefan learned dur...

Discover the transformative world of executive coaching through the eyes of Steve Graves, a seasoned mentor with over three decades of experience. Join us as Steve reveals the secrets behind his dynamic coaching approach that favors impactful, short-term partnerships over long-term commitments. From guiding CEOs of global corporations to advising small family businesses, Steve has honed a method t...

Chris Sultemeier recently sat down for an insightful interview on The Matt Waller Podcast. With nearly 30 years of experience leading supply chain and logistics at retail giant Walmart, Chris has a wealth of wisdom to share. A few key themes around leadership and innovation emerged from the conversation. Humility and Teamwork Despite his many high-level roles, including EVP of Logistics, Chris mai...

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Tracy Black, an accomplished technology executive in the logistics industry and partner at NewRoad Capital Partners. Tracy served as Senior Vice President of Information Technology at J.B. Hunt Transport, leading major technology transformations for the company. She now serves on the boards of several early-stage companies and offers advice to founders i...

Clete Brewer is the founder and managing partner of New Road Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on investing in and scaling companies in the supply chain logistics and retail technology sectors. He has over 30 years of experience leading and advising high-growth companies, previously serving as CEO of staffing company Staffmark and President of Sport Clips. In the interview, Brewer pr...

The balance between supply and demand has a significant impact on pricing and behavior in the trucking industry. During periods of excess capacity, known as soft markets, prices tend to fall as carriers are willing to honor existing contracts, as evidenced by high acceptance rates. However, in tight markets where demand outweighs supply, prices rise and carriers may prioritize more lucrative spot...

I interviewed Gordon Downes, the founder and CEO of NYSHEX, an innovative company providing technology solutions to address major challenges in the ocean container shipping industry. With 80% of the top 10 ocean container carriers and many shippers already using the NYSHEX platform, it has significant implications for reducing expected lead times, lead time variance, safety stock, and out-of-stock...

The venture capital industry in the United States is a crucial driver of innovation and economic growth, providing early-stage funding and guidance to transform ideas into groundbreaking technologies and companies. Recent years have seen record levels of investment and dealmaking, fueling a wave of innovation across the country. However, the industry faces challenges from a complex policy environm...

Today, I spoke with Jared Smith, CEO of Kitestring Technical Services in Bentonville, Arkansas. Jared, who has a PhD in physical chemistry from UC Berkeley, has led Kitestring, a 150-person firm specializing in retail technology, for the past 12 years. Our discussion ranged from the evolution of point-of-sale (POS) systems and the potential of AI in retail to the importance of self-care for entrep...

In a rapidly changing global landscape, managing supply chain risk is crucial. This article explores risk mitigation strategies such as diversification, reshoring, and nearshoring, and examines the impact of legislation and technology on supply chain management. Diversification: The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the vulnerabilities associated with concentrated supply chains. Companies heavily reli...

This podcast episode dissects Walmart's enduring success, drawing on over 30 years of experience with the company. It begins by recommending Sam Walton's autobiography, Made in America , to understand Walmart's origins and principles. Walmart stands out for its agility, adapting to its massive scale with a consistent purpose: "to help people save money and live better." Wa...

I'd like to share the inspiring story of LockStop, a startup founded by Clayton Woodruff and Mike Burton, who are both alumni of the executive MBA program at the Walton College. Their venture stands as a testament to the power of innovative thinking in solving everyday problems — in this case, enhancing urban mobility by simplifying bike security. The Problem and the Innovative Solution Imagi...

In our latest episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Omid Moghadam, a seasoned innovator and entrepreneur whose career has spanned impressive stints at major companies like Eastman Kodak and Intel, and who holds over 40 patents. Omid's journey is particularly fascinating due to his involvement in spawning companies directly from within Intel—a testament to his unique blend of creativity...

The retail landscape is changing faster than ever. Customers demand speed, convenience, and above all, a seamless experience. This puts immense pressure on supply chains, especially with the rise of omnichannel retail. As this complex world is navigated, one thing is clear: AI is not just a buzzword; it's the key to unlocking a new era of quality and efficiency. Captur, a company at the inter...

Ever wondered how the retail industry has evolved in response to technological advancements and global crises? Join us as we explore these seismic shifts with Professors Travis Tokar from TCU and Henry Jin from Miami University of Ohio. Discover how the leap from 3G to 4G and the proliferation of smartphones have reshaped consumer expectations and driven traditional retailers to adopt omnichannel...

Eric's Journey into Transportation and Logistics Investing Eric enjoys the privilege of a highly engaging career. His primary responsibility involves exploring the breadth of the investment landscape to identify attractive strategies that have the potential to enhance his clients' portfolios. As a generalist, his search extends globally. His interest in transportation and logistics stemm...

Deming explains that fossil fuels will likely remain the world's main energy source for decades to come. This poses a tremendous dilemma that we must grapple with. Claiborne explained that global temperatures have risen about 1.8°F since pre-industrial times, coinciding with increased burning of fossil fuels as countries have industrialized. Simply stopping fossil fuel use is extremely diffic...

What's the real story behind the recent turmoil in the supply chain industry? Join us as we uncover the truth with Jason Miller, a full professor at Michigan State University. This episode kicks off with Jason's riveting analysis of a Census Bureau graph showing dramatic shifts in manufacturing plants' material supply since 2021. By leveraging economic theory and robust data, Jason...

Customer Journey Orchestration: Where Technology Meets Empathy Human Interaction: At Build-A-Bear, 10-year-old girls reported higher satisfaction when they experienced genuine human interaction, highlighting the importance of empathy in customer engagement. Virtual Prototyping: Build-A-Bear used digital video and green screen technology to create a virtual store prototype, allowing for cost-effect...

In a recent interview, entrepreneur Josh Stanley announced the launch of FieldBook, a new venture studio in partnership with High Alpha. FieldBook aims to boost the startup ecosystem in Northwest Arkansas by building startups from scratch, providing funding, and offering a supportive environment for founders to focus on product development and customer engagement. Unlike incubators and accelerator...

As the host of the Matt Waller Podcast, I have the privilege of engaging with some of the most insightful and innovative minds in the world of business and entrepreneurship. Recently, I had an enriching conversation with Jeremy Wilson, a seasoned entrepreneur and the co-founder of NewRoad Capital Partners. This dialogue not only shed light on his personal journey but also provided invaluable lesso...

In my career, I have been privileged to engage with some of the most knowledgeable and strategic minds in the domains of logistics, supply chain management, and retail operations. Recently, I had the opportunity to speak with Tracy Rosser, a seasoned professional with over two decades at Walmart, where he held the position of Senior Vice President of Transportation and Supply Chain. Tracy's e...

Gregoire Lehmann has had an interesting journey to becoming a principal at NewRoad Capital Partners, the Arkansas-based private equity firm. Originally from France, Lehmann was recruited to play tennis for the University of Arkansas, where he excelled as both a student-athlete and a student, earning degrees in finance and economics. After getting a taste for entrepreneurship by scaling a business...