Her Story
About LaRissa
LaRissa Pullen serves as Senior Executive of Freight Solutions at Feste Logistics in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She has five years of experience in the logistics and supply chain industry, with a focus on drayage freight solutions. Pullen began her higher education in the nursing program at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville but pivoted during COVID to car sales as a sales and leasing consultant. She then entered logistics at Steam Logistics in the drains department, gaining experience in freight brokering, before joining Feste Logistics. She is currently enrolled at WGU pursuing a bachelor's degree in Supply Chain and Operations Management, which she expects to complete in May, and plans to pursue a master's degree at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. During college, Pullen served as president of her Living Learning Community and mentored students through the Volunteer Bridge program. She previously volunteered with the Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga and the Ronald McDonald House while acting as a liaison for underprivileged children and families in Knoxville. She was also previously involved with the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with LaRissa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say my grandparents. My grandparents, I like to say they kind of saved me. My mom and dad were really young when they had me, and they didn't necessarily have their lives together. And having that care and love of a grandparent, I don't think, can ever be matched, and especially when they want you to see the world as different than your situation. So I would say my grandparents and God, because without those two, I don't know where I would be.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I would say to not compare yourself to everyone else. You're exactly where you're supposed to be in the timing. I'm a Christian, so in the timing of God. I know in today's day and age, social media has a heavy influence on everybody, so it's easy to go on there and see, well, somebody's doing this, or they're doing this, or they're able to buy this. And just because that's their journey, doesn't mean that it's your journey. So definitely focusing on yourself and trying not to let the outside noise get to you.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say that it's never too late. I think that I got into logistics. Obviously, it wasn't my plan, or it wasn't my path. But it kind of leans on that, what I was saying is don't follow everyone else... it's never too late to pivot your career, it's never too late to pick up a textbook and decide you want to do a different course of study or anything like that. Life's short, but life's also really long.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would just definitely say the world of freight is crazy right now, because gas prices are high, capacity's leaving the market, we're having to be way stricter on our rules and regulations on which carriers that you're able to bring... as of about 2 months ago, we're no longer protected, and if I drive we were to hire a driver, and he was to go out and kill a family, or wreck, or cause some serious damage, now, as a broker, we can be named in that lawsuit, so that makes our vetting process more strict, and it makes who you're able to use as far as capacity and trucks, it makes the pool even smaller.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I would say Value-wise. I value my community. community, I value my relationship with God. And I would say just honesty is a big one, especially in my world of logistics. And making sure you do what you say you're gonna do. If you tell me you're gonna do it, then I expect you to do it, because I'm gonna do the same.
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