Her Story
About Darlene
Darlene (Valentina) B. is a logistics and operations leader with more than 15 years of experience driving growth, efficiency, and strategic partnerships within the transportation and supply chain industry. She currently serves as Executive Director of National Accounts at Unified Logistix Group, where she oversees more than 70 delivery partners across the United States. In her role, she manages relationships with clients and delivery teams, leads hiring initiatives, and develops standard operating procedures and onboarding strategies that support the company’s expanding network and service offerings.
Darlene has been a key part of Unified Logistix Group’s growth journey, joining the organization when it was a small team of just a few employees and helping guide it through significant expansion. Her work focuses on operational excellence, client satisfaction, and building strong partnerships across the logistics ecosystem. Prior to joining Unified Logistix Group, she held leadership roles in operations and logistics, including Director of Logistics at The Saatva Company, where she strengthened supply chain operations for a fast-growing brand.
Earlier in her career, Darlene gained experience in finance, retail management, and executive administration, which helped shape her well-rounded leadership style. She attended Long Island University with a focus on business management and has built her career on a foundation of hard work, adaptability, and respect for others. Passionate about leadership and mentorship, she is especially committed to empowering women in the logistics industry and believes strongly in creating opportunities for others to grow and succeed.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Darlene
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say a lot of what shaped me started with my mom. She was a single mother and always incredibly independent, hardworking, and resilient, and growing up watching her really instilled those qualities in me. I’ve always wanted to reflect that same strength and work ethic in my own career.
I would also say that a huge part of my success is attributed to my boss, our CEO, Scott. Without him, I truly would not be in the position I am today. Beyond the fact that it’s his company, he believed in me, motivated me, and gave me the tools and knowledge to grow into the professional I’ve become. He completely changed my work ethic and helped shape the way I approach both leadership and business. I give him a tremendous amount of credit for the person I am professionally today.
And honestly, none of it would have been possible without my husband’s constant support. Having someone who continuously believes in me, encourages me, and stands beside me through everything has made all the difference. His support has been such an important part of my journey and who I am today.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Follow your dreams and trust your heart. If someone tells you that you can’t do something, use that as motivation to prove them wrong. Success doesn’t come without challenges, and I’ve been knocked down more times than I can count, but the key is to never stay down.
I truly believe resilience is everything. If you fall ten times, you get back up eleven. Every setback teaches you something, makes you stronger, and pushes you closer to where you’re meant to be. As long as you keep believing in yourself and continue moving forward, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Be strong and be confident. I truly believe confidence is one of the most important things a person can have. You have to believe in yourself, even during the moments when others may doubt you or try to bring you down.
I think, especially for women, confidence can sometimes be challenging because we’re often conditioned to question ourselves or listen to outside opinions more than we should. But the moment you truly believe in your own value, your abilities, and what you bring to the table, everything changes.
Confidence doesn’t mean being perfect, it means trusting yourself, owning your strengths, and continuing to push forward despite obstacles. When you believe in yourself, other people will start believing in you too
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Working in a predominantly male industry has definitely come with challenges, especially when it comes to communication and constantly having to prove yourself. However, I will say the industry has evolved a lot over the years, and I’ve seen positive changes firsthand.
One of the biggest challenges in logistics overall is that everything is extremely fast-paced, and no matter how quickly you move, it can sometimes feel like it’s never fast enough. In this industry, customer satisfaction is always the top priority, and while we strive to provide the best possible service 100% of the time, there are situations where expectations can be difficult to meet despite everyone’s best efforts.
For me personally, that can be the most challenging part because I genuinely care about our customers, our clients, and the experience we provide. I always want people to feel supported and taken care of, so when situations arise where we can’t completely satisfy everyone, it can feel defeating. At the same time, those experiences continue to motivate me to improve processes, strengthen communication, and find better ways to support both our clients and our team.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say one of my biggest values, both personally and professionally, is respect. I truly believe that treating people with kindness, professionalism, and respect goes a long way in every aspect of life.
Especially in today’s world, I think respect is something that can sometimes be lacking, particularly in professional environments. No matter the situation, I always try to approach people with understanding, patience, and professionalism because that’s the type of environment I want to create for both my team and the people around me.
To me, respect is the foundation of strong relationships, effective leadership, and long-term success.
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