Real Leadership

Jill Wrobel, EVP & CHRO of Brunswick Corporation, Real Leadership

What happens when a CHRO with an actuary’s mind, a leader’s heart, and a survivor’s grit steps into one of the world’s most complex global marine companies? You get Jill Wrobel — Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer at Brunswick Corporation — and one of the most refreshing voices in modern leadership.
Jill oversees culture, talent, and operating strategy for 15,000 employees across 25 countries and 60 household-name marine brands. Under her leadership, Brunswick has become a magnet for top talent, a recognized Best Place to Work, and an engine of innovation that’s redefining what’s possible on the water. But it’s Jill’s story — from actuary to HR transformation leader to stage-four cancer survivor — that reveals the depth behind her philosophy: gratitude is a strategy, and continuous improvement is a way of life.
In this episode, Jill shares the moments that shaped her—from rolling under cars as a kid to help her dad, to navigating billion-dollar M&A chaos with humor and countdown clocks, to rebuilding her life after a medical miracle. And through it all, she shows why joy, curiosity, and data-driven decision-making might just be the ultimate leadership combination.
In this episode, we cover:
How a math-and-finance brain became a superpower in the people business
Why culture and performance aren’t opposites—they’re accelerators
How Brunswick uses AI and advanced tech to solve real customer pain points
The leadership lesson Jill learned from the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (yes, really)
The power of listening sessions, boat shows, and “what’s something I don’t know?”
How surviving stage-four cancer reframed her leadership, her energy, and her purpose
Why “Next Never Rests” isn’t just a tagline—it’s a mindset
Jill is the rare leader who seamlessly blends analytics and empathy, resilience and optimism, business strategy and human truth. Her philosophy of continuous improvement—at work and in life—offers a blueprint for leaders navigating transformation, uncertainty, or simply the next right step.
This is an episode about boats, yes. But it’s also about courage, culture, curiosity, and what it really means to lead with purpose.
Key Moments
07:36 - The Impact of a Math Background in HR
14:09 - Connecting Employee Experience to Business Success
18:07 - Staying Connected in a Large Organization
20:36 - The Power of Open-Ended Questions
23:03 - Leadership Lessons from the FTC Experience
24:55 - Innovative Leadership and Resilience
26:57 - Lessons from Family: A Father's Influence
31:21 - Overcoming Adversity: A Cancer Journey
38:01 - The Joy of Continuous Improvement
Show Notes
Book - Lives Lost and Leadership Found: https://www.amazon.com/Lives-Lost-Leadership-Found-Somebodies/dp/1032949856/ 
Jill — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teddy-bekele-b48219/ 
Brunswick Corporation - LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brunswick-corporation/ 
Brunswick Corporation: brunswick.com/ 
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 

Teddy Bekele, Senior Vice President & Chief Technology Officer of Land O’Lakes, Inc.

Before Teddy Bekele ever thought about AI or agricultural transformation, he watched his father lose the family farm overnight—a moment that stayed with him from Ethiopia to Italy to an engineering career in the U.S.
That moment didn’t just change his life. It hardwired his obsession with resilience, ownership, and making sure the people who grow our food don’t get left behind in the next wave of “innovation.”
Today, Teddy is Chief Technology Officer at Land O’Lakes, a 100-year-old, farmer-owned cooperative that touches everything from seed and agronomy to animal feed, dairy, and the “invisible” ingredients in your favorite snacks. 
His job? Wire this massive, farm-to-fork system for an AI-powered future without losing the soul of the farm or the voice of the farmer. 
In this episode of Real Leadership, Teddy pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to evolve an iconic co-op —navigating democratic governance, global supply chains, and communities that still depend on rain, soil, and trust…in addition to technology. 
In this episode, we cover:
How Land O’Lakes actually works as a farmer-owned, farm-to-fork cooperative—and why that ownership model changes every tech decision
Teddy’s “four buckets of AI” framework for cutting through the hype and focusing on what actually moves the needle
How generative AI is turning decades of agronomy data into real-time, field-level insight—and giving agronomists superpowers instead of replacing them
Tech-enabled sustainability: cover crops, reduced tillage, and carbon programs that help farmers do right by the planet and stay in business
If you care about where your food comes from, how AI lands in the real world, or what it means to lead when the stakes are literally global food security, this conversation feels less like a tech talk—and more like a front-row seat to the future of agriculture.
Show Notes
Teddy Bekele — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/teddy-bekele-b48219/  
Land O’Lakes — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/landolakesinc/
Land O’Lakes Inc.: landolakesinc.com/ 
Land O’Lakes - recipes and more: https://www.landolakes.com/ 
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 

Mike Oakman, Co-founder of Content Logistix, Real Leadership

What separates a project from a company? And what makes some organizations scale effortlessly—while others stall out under their own ambition?
Few people have lived that question more deeply than Mike Oakman. With three decades of experience spanning startups, private equity-backed growth, and billion-dollar enterprises, Mike has led everything from scrappy engineering teams to 400-person global operations. Most recently, as CTO of RVO Health, he helped unite some of the world’s most trusted health and wellness brands under one mission: making healthcare personal, at scale.
Now, after exiting corporate life, Mike is helping industrial leaders reimagine what’s next—at the intersection of people, process, and intelligent technology. His philosophy is deceptively simple: growth isn’t about more; it’s about better.
In this episode of Real Leadership, Mike and host Jim Weaver unpack the lessons learned from a career spent scaling complexity into clarity.
In this episode, we cover:
Why most startups fail before they even begin—and how to tell if you’ve built a project or a company
The power of knowing your “why” and how purpose becomes a competitive advantage
How to connect 400 engineers around one mission (and why connection beats communication)
Why “boring” companies are often the most effective ones
The four gears of AI adoption—and how industrial companies can finally shift out of first
How technology done right brings leaders closer to their customers, not further away
Listen for: a rare conversation that moves seamlessly from tech strategy to human behavior—from agile frameworks to the art of focus.
Time Stamps
00:03:21 — RVO Health at scale and why consumer trust starts with experience and security.
00:07:56 — Personalization in action: “I’m here—do you see me?” and serving the next best action.
00:11:41 — Team at scale: 300+ engineers, 60 data scientists, and the org around them.
00:13:18 — The Engineering Summit: aligning builders to mission (and why it matters more in remote work).
00:15:02 — From waterfall to flow: a plain-English explainer of agile that leaders actually use.
00:20:26 — Project vs. product vs. company: the hard truth about TAM/SAM/SOM and repeatability.
00:30:31 — Industrial reality check: automation on the line, spreadsheets in the back office—opportunity hiding in plain sight.
00:31:49 — Three questions for leaders: Are we visible, attractive, and responsive when buyers find us?
00:37:52 — The maturity path for AI/automation and how to assess your org—fast.
00:42:12 — Free your customer-facing teams: where automation creates human time that actually grows revenue.
00:44:53 — How to reach Mike (and why leaders are calling him now).
Show Notes
Mike Oakman — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikeoakman/ 
RVO Health: https://www.rvohealth.com/ 
Content Logistix: contentlogistix.com/ 
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 

Greg Ramfos, CEO of DURA - Shiloh, Real Leadership

What happens when a CEO trades the corporate script for a hard hat…and wins?
Greg Ramfos, CEO of DURA Shiloh, is leading one of the boldest turnarounds in the automotive world. With 16 plants, 4,000 employees, and a mission to bring manufacturing back to its roots, Greg’s not following the playbook. He’s rewriting it.
Raised in poverty and foster care, Greg learned early that resilience beats pedigree. By 28, he was a millionaire. By 50, he was rebuilding a global automotive supplier—one plant, one person, one process at a time.
He believes leadership starts where the noise ends: on the factory floor. In this episode, he shares how accountability, honesty, and ownership can turn chaos into a comeback story.
In this episode, we cover:
How to turn around underperforming plants—without massive capital
Why “own it like your name’s on the building” is Greg’s leadership mantra
The lost art of partnership between OEMs and suppliers
How tariffs and regionalization are reshaping the auto industry
Why the next generation of builders—not bots—will drive America’s revival
What it takes to lead with truth, grit, and zero corporate fluff
Time Stamps
05:41 – The state of the auto industry and the EV reality check10:02 – Why manufacturing revival starts with people, not policy16:48 – Building the “Ready to Work” pipeline for the next generation 23:15 – Rebuilding trust and performance, one plant at a time 29:40 – The 10-step playbook for leading a global turnaround 37:22 – From corporate conditioning to entrepreneurial accountability 45:18 – Why real leadership begins on the factory floor
Show Notes
Greg’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregramfos/ 
DURA Shiloh Website: durashiloh.com
DURA Shiloh LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dura-shiloh/ 
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

SriRaj Kantamneni, EVP & Chief Information & Digital Officer at Schreiber Foods

What does it take to lead real digital transformation—while keeping food on shelves across the globe?
At Schreiber Foods, that question isn’t theoretical. It’s the work of SriRaj Kantamneni, EVP & Chief Information and Digital Officer at Schreiber and the architect behind an ambitious digital overhaul in one of the most critical global industries — food and ag.
But Sri didn’t come up through Silicon Valley. He grew up under the hood of his family’s auto shop in Iowa. That beginning shaped everything: how he leads, what he builds, and why he believes transformation isn’t about chasing shiny tools. It’s about solving the hard stuff: Making food more affordable, more accessible, and more reliable on a global scale.
In this episode of Real Leadership, Sri walks us through how Schreiber is building a digital system that doesn’t break the business—and why food and ag is quietly becoming one of the most advanced tech fields on the planet.
How to balance transforming the core and disrupting through digital without losing focus or breaking the business
What it takes to turn internal tools into market-ready products
How AI is becoming the great equalizer, helping food and ag leapfrog entire tech cycles instead of playing catch-up
Why culture is the make-or-break factor in innovation and how curiosity, hackathons, and fusion teams drive lasting change
Plus: facial recognition for cows and shrimp that signal when they’re hungry—the unexpected edge of food tech that’s getting very real, very fast.
Time Stamps
02:50 - Digital Transformation Vision and Strategy
08:53 - Future of the Food Industry
11:58 - Local vs Global Food Production
15:01- Innovations at Schreiber Foods
17:47 - The Hive: A User-Friendly Software Solution
20:52 - Digital Adoption in Agriculture
23:47 - AI and Technology in Agriculture
26:54 - Fostering a Problem-Solving Mindset
29:59 - AI's Impact on Workforce Dynamics
32:48 - Upskilling and Navigating AI Transition
Show Notes
SriRaj on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sriraj/ 
Schreiber Foods Website: schreiberfoods.com/  
Schreiber Horizon: schreiberhorizon.com 
Contact 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

Chris Condon, Founder and CEO of Aircon

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

Chris Cochran, Founder & CEO of FreightWise

Chris Cochran didn’t set out to disrupt one of the most entrenched industries in the U.S. — he just knew there had to be a better way. Now, as founder and CEO of FreightWise, he’s led one of the fastest-growing logistics tech companies in the country—proving that innovation doesn’t have to come from Silicon Valley to change everything.
In this episode of Real Leadership, Chris shares the story behind FreightWise’s rise, the lessons he’s learned from building in one of the most complex sectors, and why the AI revolution is less about hype—and more about what’s possible when leaders stay focused on value.
In this episode, we cover:
Why small and mid-size businesses are the future of supply chain innovation
The hard truth about AI adoption—and why most projects fail
The freight tech shift that could redefine warehouse productivity
What makes a great client relationship (and what can break it)
How EBITDA became a mindset—and a mission
Time Stamps
02:17 - Understanding FreightWise and Its Market
13:25 - The Future of AI in Logistics
23:15 - Career Guidance in an AI-Driven World
29:14 - Lessons from Entrepreneurial Journey
36:01 - The Value of EBITDA in Business Growth
 
Show Notes
Chris’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisrwcochran/ 
FreightWise: https://www.linkedin.com/company/freightwise-llc/ 
Freightwise LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/freightwise-llc/ 
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, Executive Vice President & CRO of Schreiber Foods

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

Jessica Warnke, President & CEO of Carter Logistics

You don’t have to choose between legacy and innovation. Jessica Warnke is proof — she’s doing both—and doing it exceptionally well.
Jessica grew up in the logistics world—her grandfather started a truck dealership with poker winnings, her father scaled Carter Express from 13 trucks to a national logistics force. 
Today, Jessica is the President & CEO of Carter Logistics, leading a 900-truck operation with global ties and deep family roots.
But taking the reins wasn’t guaranteed—and it wasn’t easy. Jessica had to carve her own path, earn trust, and step into leadership at the intersection of tradition, innovation, and transformation.
In this episode of Real Leadership, Jessica shares her real-world lessons on building culture, driving innovation in a male-dominated industry, and what it really means to lead when the stakes are personal and global.
In this episode, we cover:
🔥 Why chasing “balance” is a myth—and what to do instead 🔥 The hardest part of being a second (and third) generation leader 🔥 How Carter is staying agile amid tariffs, AI, and industry shakeups 🔥 Why women were built for logistics—and how she’s opening doors 🔥 How to protect your culture during growth, acquisition, and change
Time Stamps
06:10: Jessica's Journey into Trucking
12:47: Navigating Second Generation Leadership
14:49: Breaking Gender Barriers in Logistics
18:20: Challenges in the Automotive Supply Chain
22:30: Embracing Technology in Logistics
25:15: The Impact of Global Partnerships
29:01: Building a Strong Company Culture
30:34: Balancing Work and Family Life
Show Notes
Jessica’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-warnke-2863b614/ 
Carter Logistics: carter-logistics.com
Carter Logistics on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/carter-logistics-llc/ 
Jim’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-weaver-36457418/ 
The Ōnin Group: oningroup.com/clients
Real Leadership Podcast: realleadership.oningroup.com 

Andrew Tidwell, CHRO of Wineshipping

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