Join hosts Harshida and Ninaad as they explore 3PL growth strategies with Peter Davis, VP and GM at WSI. Discover how WSI has growth 500% in four years without debt, using strategic acquisitions and a people-centered approach. This episode is packed with practical insights to help logistics leaders build resilient, adaptable operations while balancing technology with a strong team culture.

What You’ll Learn

• Debt-Free Growth: Expand logistics capacity without taking on debt.
• People-First Leadership: Build a cohesive team culture with empathy and strong values.
• Strategic Acquisitions: Insights for choosing acquisitions that add technological value.
• Tech & Human Balance: Integrate automation and AI without losing the human touch.
• Operational Resilience: Key principles for navigating change in the supply chain.

Highlights

• [00:01:00] – WSI’s 500% growth journey without debt
• [00:13:00] – Acquisitions for tech enhancements, including Shipping Tree
• [00:17:00] – Integrating acquisitions with a people-first approach
• [00:27:00] – Adapting to specialization and versatility in 3PL
• [00:44:00] – Using AI for demand forecasting and operational efficiency

Quotes

• [00:03:00] “You quickly realize that people at all levels bring incredible value. Empathy is crucial to leading in logistics.” – Peter Davis
• [00:10:00] “Spend time on the floor with your team—not just observing processes but connecting with the people.” – Ninaad Acharya
• [00:17:00] Peter Davis: “Listening is the first step to successfully integrating a new team after an acquisition.” – Peter Davis
• [00:33:00] “If you’re disregarding culture and team, you’re missing the heart of the business.” – Peter Davis

About the Guest

Peter Davis is the VP and General Manager of Fulfillment & Chemical at WSI, a logistics leader focused on sustainable, customer-centered growth. With a background in private equity M&A and legal strategy, Peter offers a unique perspective on scaling 3PL operations. His leadership emphasizes a long-term, strategic approach that combines operational excellence with a commitment to a strong team culture.

Connect with Peter on LinkedIn

Learn More about WSI

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Chris Sultemeier is an Operating Partner at NewRoad Capital Partners. Chris has over 30 years of experience in leadership and supply chain operations. Chris served as President & CEO of Walmart Transportation and EVP of Logistics at Walmart, where he was responsible for over-the-road trucking, global shipping and warehousing. In his time at Walmart, Chris developed an extensive network of industry executives across transportation, third-party warehouse distribution and fulfillment and retail companies. In 2007, he was awarded the prestigious Sam M. Walton Entrepreneur of the Year Award on Sustainability. Chris currently serves on the Board of Directors for Duke Realty and Logistics Innovation Technologies. Chris holds a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. He was an Army Airborne Ranger and received his professional engineering license in Civil Engineering.

HIGHLIGHTS

[00:04:00] - Scaling Walmart’s logistics network from $20 billion to $500 billion.

[00:17:00] - The role of AI and sustainability in transforming supply chain operations.

[00:22:00] - Key leadership strategies for navigating supply chain growth and innovation.

[00:28:00] - Doubling fleet efficiency through sustainable logistics initiatives.

[00:35:00] - Practical applications of AI in improving logistics, from picking processes to reverse logistics.

QUOTES:

[00:28:00] - "Sustainability has to have an ROI. It can't be just a hobby; it has to pay back." – Chris Sultemeier

[00:35:00] - "AI gets me excited when I see it used in ways that deliver real payback, like improving picks per hour by 40 to 45% in a fulfillment center." – Chris Sultemeier

[00:22:00] - "Your career doesn’t just go upward. You need to move laterally, gain breadth of experience, and that makes you a better leader." – Chris Sultemeier

[00:29:00] - "Efficiency in logistics is key to sustainability. It's about doing more with less, which is what leads to long-term success." – Ninaad Acharya

[00:17:00] - "If you blend technology like AI with real industry experience, that's when logistics innovation happens. You can’t just Silicon Valley this thing." – Ninaad Acharya

FIND MORE ABOUT THE GUEST:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-sultemeier-263363120/

New Road Capital Partners: https://newroadcp.com/

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ABOUT THE GUEST:

Bill Gibson is a seasoned executive in the technology and supply chain industries. He earned his MBA from the University of Virginia's Darden School of Business and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Gibson’s career began in 1993 as an account executive at Manugistics, a leading supply chain software provider. Over the years, he has held significant positions, including Managing Partner at The Albermarle Group, a venture capital firm, and leadership roles at Grotech Ventures. Gibson is currently the CEO of Deposco, a cloud-based supply chain software company that offers solutions for retailers, distributors, and 3PLs. Under his leadership, Deposco has grown significantly and has been recognized multiple times, including making the Inc. 5000 list for several years. Notably, Gibson was honored as one of the Top 50 SaaS CEOs by The Software Report, highlighting his influence and success in the software as a service (SaaS) sector.

HIGHLIGHTS:

[00:03:00] Inception of Deposco and the gap in the market.

[00:07:00] Evolution of e-commerce and 3PLs, noting how brands struggled with operational challenges.

[00:19:00] The importance of real-time, cloud-based solutions for 3PLs.

[00:28:00] Peak season preparation and the common pitfalls brands face during this time.

[00:33:00] Importance of forward-looking planning vs. driving operations based on historical performance.

QUOTES:

[00:28:00] - "Mike Tyson had a quote at a point in time about ‘You got to plan until you get punched in the face,’ right? It's the same at peak seasons—it's the punch in the face for everybody every year." – Bill Gibson

[00:31:00] - "How do you not have your real-time fulfillment system tied into your front-end commerce system? If you can’t supply the order, why are you booking the business?" – Bill Gibson

[00:22:00] - "The future is about how we as practitioners make it easier, faster, and less expensive to achieve the outcomes. It’s not just about the software, it’s about aligning strategy and operations." – Bill Gibson

[00:25:00] - "We’re co-creating. It’s not about the AI toolkit, it’s about how we apply AI to solve real problems in commerce." – Bill Gibson

[00:36:00] – “In logistics, the digital and physical sides of the business need to be joined at the hip. When they’re not, you get failures that damage customer trust.” – Ninaad Acharya

FIND MORE ABOUT THE GUEST:

LinkedIn: Bill Gibson

Website: Deposco

Twitter: @Deposco

Subscribe and Keep Learning!

If you’re a logistics leader looking to scale sustainably, don’t miss out! Subscribe for more expert strategies on tackling modern supply chain challenges.

Be sure to follow and tag the eCom Logistics Podcast on LinkedIn and YouTube