Leigh Barnard, COO of Cooler Logistics, was named a recipient of the 2025 Women in Supply Chain Forum™ Award, presented by Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive, and sponsored by Let’s Talk Supply Chain, in the Rising Stars category.
Barnard joined the logistics industry in 2011 as the first female floor employee at Load Delivered Logistics. She began in customer operations and eventually collaborated with leadership to create the company's first account management role, where she worked with wholesale and distributor customers, growing business by focusing on relationship development and operational excellence.
After two years of mastering the operational side of logistics, Barnard’s dedication to operational excellence and relationship-building skills made her a natural choice to help establish a role focused on growing existing customer accounts. She collaborated with leadership to define the responsibilities, performance metrics, and mentoring expectations for this new position. Under this model, new operations representatives worked under account managers, gradually developing the skills needed to step into the role themselves.
In 2018, Load Delivered was acquired by Capstone Logistics, and she was tapped to serve as senior manager, where she oversaw a team of six, serving the company’s small and medium-sized business partners. In 2022, the original founder of Load Delivered reached out with a new opportunity to join his latest venture, Cooler Logistics, from the ground up. Now serving as COO, Barnard draws on her extensive experience in account and people management while embracing new challenges in HR and marketing. Working closely with Cooler’s CEO, Michael Cherney, a recipient of Food Logistics’ Rock Stars of the Supply Chain award, Barnard has spent the last 18 months laying a strong foundation.
Barnard maintains a unique ability to bring the team together by asking the right questions. While being the only woman at the executive table can be daunting, she never hesitates to dig deeper into an issue and uncover the “why” behind each ask or situation. Her ability to view things from multiple perspectives allows her to guide the team in considering a broader range of viewpoints, ultimately leading to better solutions and more effective processes. She refuses to sign off on anything until it has been thoroughly vetted and thoughtfully considered, something she achieves by consistently asking the right questions at the right time.
Barnard sat down with Sarah Barnes-Humphrey, founder of Let's Talk Supply Chain podcast and Blended Pledge program, both presenting sponsors of the Women in Supply Chain Forum™ Award, to talk about standing firm in your convictions and why progress happens when women show up fully.
CLICK HERE to read the interview.
CLICK HERE to learn more about this year's Women in Supply Chain Forum™ Award winners, presented by Food Logistics and Supply & Demand Chain Executive.
This series would not be possible without the collaboration and partnership between Food Logistics, Supply & Demand Chain Executive and the Women in Supply Chain Forum™ with Let's Talk Supply Chain and Blended Pledge. This partnership celebrates the transformative impact women leaders have on the supply chain industry, driving innovation, resilience, and inclusivity. These awards shine a spotlight on trailblazers who are breaking barriers and shaping the future of supply chain management. And the Forum fosters meaningful conversations, networking, and collaboration to empower the next generation of leaders. By recognizing and amplifying these achievements, this initiative inspires progress across the industry. Join us in celebrating these extraordinary women and championing diversity—nominate a leader, attend the forum, and be part of this powerful movement shaping the future of supply chains.
