The Matt Waller Podcast

Reflecting on the Power of Industry Collaboration this Thanksgiving As Thanksgiving approaches, I'm taking a moment to reflect on the incredible journey I've had in academia and industry. This season of gratitude has me thinking about the meaningful partnerships with people and companies that have enriched my work and opened doors to so many new possibilities. I am genuinely thankful for the collaborations that have shaped my career and continue to inspire me every day. I am deeply grateful for the engagements I have had with industry leaders over the past 30 years like Walmart, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc., ArcBest, Stephens, Dillard's Inc., Accenture, HP, General Mills, and many others. These engagements have provided invaluable insights and resources, enabling research and teaching that drives real-world impact. The synergy between academia and industry has led to high-impact publications and enriched our academic discourse with practical, actionable insights. It also continues to enrich the education of our students. This Thanksgiving, I’m also reflecting on how these industry collaborations have fueled my research publications. Without these partnerships, many of my studies would not have been possible. In addition to research papers, my industry collaborations have been the foundation for several books. Here are two examples: • "Purple on the Inside: How J.B. Hunt Transport Set Itself Apart in a Field Full of Brown Cows" (co-authored with Mr. Kirk Thompson, the retired Chairman of the Board of J.B. Hunt Transport, Inc.) — exploring the unique strategies that set J.B. Hunt apart. • "The Definitive Guide to Inventory Management" (co-authored with Dr. Terry Esper, Ph.D.). I am truly thankful for the industry engagement that has shaped my approach to teaching. Bringing real-world case studies, guest speakers, tours, and projects into the classroom through partnerships with many different companies has prepared students to meet the demands of today’s workforce. As I reflect on the past year, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on boards, such as Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and the Walton Arts Center and Walmart AMP. My involvement with NewRoad Capital Partners has been an incredible journey, providing insight into the intersection of investment, technology, and logistics. I am thrilled about my latest industry partnership with Kitestring Technical Services. Kitestring is a leading tech enabled consulting agency, bringing 26 years of experience to retail and supply chain customers. I am especially excited about the transformative potential we can unlock in the logistics and SCM industry. By leveraging strategic thinking and technology, we will help businesses navigate the complexities of supply chain optimization, reduce costs, and enhance operational efficiency. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with such a forward-thinking team, and I am eager to see innovative solutions driving sustainable growth.

This past week, I had the great opportunity to visit the Walmart Regional Distribution Center in Bentonville, Arkansas! From the sheer scale of operations to the innovative technology powering everything, it is clear why Walmart is a global leader in retail logistics. Huge thanks to Matt Waller for arranging the tour as part of my Integrated Supply Chain class. Professor Waller's expertise in the field and passion for engaging freshman students is evident.

A huge thank you to Jabo Floyd for the incredible tour of the Walmart Regional Distribution Center 6094 in Bentonville. Jabo has been generously sharing his expertise with my students for decades, and I truly appreciate his dedication. I also want to extend my gratitude to Amanda L W. and Jennifer Bull at Walmart for coordinating this amazing experience. Many of my students from the Introduction to Supply Chain Management class had the opportunity to explore the distribution center. These are first-semester freshmen in the Sam M. Walton College of Business. So far, these University of Arkansas Honors College students in the University of Arkansas ­- Sam M. Walton College of Business have toured a distribution center, attended the NWA Tech Summit, and listened to guest lectures from Michael Newcity and Brandon Oliver. Next week, they'll dive into using Walmart Data Ventures Luminate. And to think—they’re just freshmen! These students are truly wonderful, and it's an honor and blessing to teach them.

A huge thank you to Jabo Floyd for the incredible tour of the Walmart Regional Distribution Center 6094 in Bentonville. Jabo has been generously sharing his expertise with my students for decades, and I truly appreciate his dedication. I also want to extend my gratitude to Amanda L W. and Jennifer Bull at Walmart for coordinating this amazing experience. Many of my students from the Introduction to Supply Chain Management class had the opportunity to explore the distribution center. These are first-semester freshmen in the Sam M. Walton College of Business. So far, these University of Arkansas Honors College students in the University of Arkansas ­- Sam M. Walton College of Business have toured a distribution center, attended the NWA Tech Summit, and listened to guest lectures from Michael Newcity and Brandon Oliver. Next week, they'll dive into using Walmart Data Ventures Luminate. And to think—they’re just freshmen! These students are truly wonderful, and it's an honor and blessing to teach them.

Such an amazing experience at the Walmart Distribution Center in Bentonville, AR. Thank you for this amazing experience Matt Waller

Dr. Matt Waller, dean emeritus of the University of Arkansas ­- Sam M. Walton College of Business, visited with our faculty and staff. Author of The Dean's List, Dr. Waller shared his insights on how he led the Walton College of Business to unprecedented growth during his eight years as dean. The College nearly doubled its enrollment and secured over $200 million in philanthropic gifts during his tenure. To learn more about Dr. Waller's extraordinary accomplishments, visit https://lnkd.in/eve7mym6 #LBJCOB #deanslist #FacultyAndStaff

Learning from a Leader: An Interview with Michele Meyer For those on a quest to scale and grow their business, Michelle Meyer is a beacon of inspiration and a fountain of wisdom. With over three decades of experience in the unforgiving world of retail and a remarkable story of transforming Small Planet Foods from 100 to 300 million in sales, Michelle is indeed a powerhouse to learn from. Join us for this riveting discussion, where we tap into her insights on leadership, teamwork, and trust in the process of success. Full episode available now: https://lnkd.in/g6ei3r5P Matt Waller | Michele Meyer | General Mills | NewRoad Capital Partners | PodcastVideos.com

Learning from a Leader: An Interview with Michele Meyer The retail industry is a fast-paced and challenging landscape, but with the right leadership, it presents incredible opportunities for growth. In our latest podcast episode, we had the pleasure of discussing this with retail powerhouse, Michele Meyer. With over three decades of experience, she has successfully navigated the industry, transforming Small Planet Foods, Inc. from 100 to 300 million in sales. Michele highlights the importance of leadership, teamwork, and trust in the process of success. She emphasizes that businesses cannot thrive on a single person's effort but instead require the combined strengths of a well-aligned team. It's about finding people who amplify your strengths and compensating for your weaknesses, creating a powerful and cohesive unit that can weather the industry's challenges. Full episode available now: https://lnkd.in/g6ei3r5P Matt Waller | Michele Meyer | General Mills | NewRoad Capital Partners | PodcastVideos.com

Learning from a Leader: An Interview with Michele Meyer 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 executive, she shared some valuable lessons from her time at General Mills. One key lesson was to "trust the process." She realized that career paths don't always follow a perfect plan, and there are opportunities to learn along the way. Another lesson was finding her strengths and gifts, excelling in those areas, and focusing less on trying to be excellent at everything. This allowed Michele and her teams to operate at their highest level. Michele also stressed the importance of humility and teamwork. It took her time to understand that the team is as important as any individual. When everyone contributes, the overall result is greater than what any one person could achieve alone. She found success by valuing diverse perspectives on her teams. As the leader of General Mills' Small Planet Foods division, Michele helped grow the business from $100 million to over $300 million in sales in a short period. A big part of her strategy was trusting and learning from acquired brand founders like Gene Kahn of Cascadian Farm. She brought their valuable perspectives into General Mills’ approach. Michele realized General Mills could learn as much, if not more, from smaller companies they acquired. This helped shift General Mills' marketing approach to be more complex, intimate and relationship-driven. Full episode available now: https://lnkd.in/g6ei3r5P Matt Waller | Michele Meyer | General Mills | NewRoad Capital Partners | PodcastVideos.com

Insights from Private Equity Veteran Christopher Ladd A few key takeaways from my conversation with Christopher are as follows: 📈 Focus on market gaps and solutions core to the customer 📈 Provide structure/strategy frameworks to early-stage companies  📈 Technology will drive productivity and efficiencies 📈 Private equity access is democratizing for individual investors 📈 Success requires tremendous effort and lifestyle habits like fitness Get insights from Christopher Ladd on the transformative impact of emerging technologies on private equity and the importance of physical and mental wellbeing in business. Tune in now! #BusinessPodcast #PrivateEquity #InvestorInsights Full episode: https://lnkd.in/gAGXzdfd Matt Waller | Christopher Ladd | NewRoad Capital Partners | PodcastVideos.com