or listen on
In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, discover how she became the leader of NEMA, a thriving logistics and transportation company, while navigating a male-dominated industry, overcoming imposter syndrome, and leading through unprecedented challenges like COVID-19 and tariff wars.
What You’ll Learn
- How to climb from entry-level to CEO in any industry
- Overcoming imposter syndrome as a leader
- Strategies for diversifying your business during industry disruption
- Leading authentically in male-dominated spaces
- Building systems and processes that scale
- Communicating vision effectively across your organization
- The difference between being liked and being respected as a leader
- How to navigate change management and bring teams along
- Why patience is the secret weapon young professionals need
- Protecting your health while building a business empire
Key Timestamps
- 0:00 – Introduction: Meet Colleen Japuntich
- 3:15 – From Admin to President: The 19-Year Journey
- 8:42 – Overcoming Resistance & Building Credibility
- 12:30 – Imposter Syndrome: Even Successful CEOs Feel It
- 16:45 – Being a Woman in a Male-Dominated Industry
- 22:10 – What Keeps This CEO Up at Night
- 26:35 – Diversifying in a Shrinking Industry
- 31:20 – The Art of Communicating Vision
- 37:50 – Change Management: Bringing Your Team Along
- 43:15 – Leadership Advice for Young Professionals
- 48:30 – Rapid Fire Questions & Final Wisdom
Top Takeaways
- “I want to compete with myself and be better than I was the previous day” – Colleen’s philosophy on success
- Why showing emotions as a female leader can be perceived as weakness (and how to navigate it)
- The importance of doing the “dirtiest jobs” early in your career
- How to build respect without being the loudest voice in the room
- Why diversification saved NEMA during tariff chaos and supply chain disruptions
- The critical difference between being nice and being kind in leadership
About This Episode
Colleen Japuntich is the President of NEMA, a logistics and transportation company specializing in warehousing, drayage, and supply chain solutions. Starting as an administrative assistant, she worked her way through every department— operations, IT, safety, finance—becoming the company’s go-to problem solver.
In 2019, she was named President, leading the company through COVID-19, industry disruption, and economic uncertainty while maintaining profitability and employee retention.
Resources Mentioned
- Dare to Lead by Brené Brown
- EOS (Entrepreneurial Operating System)
- Adam Grant’s article on being nice vs. being kind
Perfect For
- Aspiring CEOs and executives
- Women in male-dominated industries
- Mid-market business leaders
- Logistics and transportation professionals
- Anyone dealing with imposter syndrome
- Leaders navigating organizational change
- Entrepreneurs scaling their businesses
