Kate Hintz Davies

I attribute my success to my support system and the values they instilled in me. My parents came from humble beginnings, and watching them work tirelessly to create a better life taught me the importance of hard work, resilience, and perseverance.

I also attribute a great deal of my success to my husband. He is one of the most supportive people I’ve ever met. He balances me, encourages me to pursue my goals, and provides the support that allows me to perform at my best both personally and professionally.

Finally, I attribute my success to my children. They give me a greater sense of purpose and motivate me to continue growing, improving, and building a life filled with opportunities for them to pursue their own dreams.

The best career advice I’ve ever received was to take the mask off.

Early in my career, I felt like I had to have all the answers. As a woman, especially when you’re often the only woman at the table, there’s sometimes a feeling that you have to prove you belong. That can create a lot of pressure to appear confident, capable, and in control at all times.

What I’ve learned is that true leadership isn’t about pretending to know everything. It’s about being humble enough to admit what you don’t know and confident enough to ask questions. It’s okay to be vulnerable. It’s okay to say, “I don’t know the answer right now, but I’ll find it.”

So many people struggle with imposter syndrome and feel the need to hide their weaknesses. But the best leaders I’ve worked with aren’t the ones who always have the answers—they’re the ones who are authentic, willing to learn, and able to bring people together to figure things out. Taking the mask off allows you to grow, build trust, and lead with genuine confidence.

The career advice I would give to young women entering my field is to be intentional about building relationships, seeking mentorship, and preparing yourself for opportunities before they arrive.

One of the books that had a significant impact on me is Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg. One of the key ideas she discusses is that if we want more women in leadership, we need more women supporting and advocating for other women. Too often, there’s a perception that we’re competing against one another when, in reality, there is room for all of us to succeed.

I would also encourage women to learn the dynamics of their organization and be willing to meet people where they are. Go into meetings prepared. Know your business, your numbers, and your value. Take the time to build genuine connections with the people around you. Whether it’s sports, industry trends, or shared interests, relationships are often built through common ground.

At the end of the day, leadership opportunities often come from being in the right rooms and having the right conversations. Position yourself to be in those rooms by consistently delivering results, building strong relationships, and showing that you’re ready for the next opportunity before it’s formally offered to you.

One of the biggest challenges AND opportunities in our industry is always navigating constant change. Transportation is heavily influenced by economic conditions, market cycles, regulations, and shifting customer needs. The landscape looks very different today than it did when I first entered the industry, and organizations have to adapt quickly to remain competitive.

At the same time, I see any challenge as opportunities. Periods of uncertainty force us to think differently, innovate, and find new ways to create value for our customers. Many of the strategies that worked five or ten years ago aren’t as effective today, and that’s okay. Growth happens when we’re willing to evolve.

I also believe that challenging times create strong leaders. When conditions are easy, it’s difficult to distinguish yourself. But when the market becomes more complex, leaders are forced to become more resilient, creative, and adaptable. The individuals and organizations that embrace change rather than resist it are the ones that ultimately come out stronger.

In sales and transportation, you can never become complacent. Success requires staying curious, staying agile, and continuously looking for new solutions to meet the demands of an ever-changing industry.

The values that are most important to me, both personally and professionally, are actually the same values we used when we opened our office. We created an acronym called DRIVE, which is fitting for the transportation industry, and it has become a framework for how I lead my team and live my life.

Discipline is about doing what needs to be done, even when you don’t feel like doing it. Success isn’t built on motivation alone; it’s built on consistent actions and having the emotional intelligence to stay committed to your goals, especially when things get difficult.

Respect means treating everyone with dignity, regardless of their role, title, or background. Whether it’s a customer, competitor, colleague, or team member, I believe all people deserve respect.

Integrity is about being impeccable with your word and doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. It’s not only about ethics—it’s about accountability. If I say I’m going to do something, I believe it’s my responsibility to follow through.

Vision is the ability to think beyond today. I encourage people to view themselves as the CEO of their own career. Every decision, every interaction, and every result contributes to your personal brand. Like any entrepreneur, you have to be willing to stay focused on your long-term goals, even when there isn’t immediate gratification.

Enthusiasm is often misunderstood as simply being positive. To me, it’s much more than that. It’s bringing energy, passion, and perspective to challenges. It’s having the ability to remain optimistic while also being realistic, critically evaluating situations, and finding opportunities for growth even during difficult times.