Shawntell Kroese, managing partner at Russell-Kroese Partners, 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 Trailblazers category.
Kroese is a results-driven commercial leader and general manager with over two decades of experience leading transformation, growth, and innovation across the transportation, logistics, and energy sectors.
Known for her unique blend of analytical acumen and emotional intelligence, she has led cross-functional teams, managed a $1.3 billion P&L, and played pivotal roles in company integrations, business development, and strategic operations.
As managing partner at Russell-Kroese Partners, she leads strategic initiatives for clients across the transportation, logistics, and energy sectors and partners with organizations to drive growth, operational transformation, and commercial innovation. In addition, she is a sustainability executive for Werner Enterprises, where she helps lead the strategy for reducing their carbon footprint and works closely with customers to help achieve Scope 3 emission reduction goals. She also serves as a professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Prior to this, she was AVP of sustainability and sales operations at Werner Enterprises, where she played a key role in advancing ESG initiatives, leading corporate reporting, and managing national sales operations. Kroese also spent nearly 24 years at Union Pacific Railroad, where she was instrumental in transforming the company’s commercial strategy. She was involved in a company-wide effort to improve the customer experience at UP, led the successful merger of all commercial subsidiaries and helped launch Loup Logistics, where she served as VP, spearheading the merger of four Union Pacific subsidiaries into a unified brand and strategy, managing multibillion-dollar portfolios and championing customer experience enhancements.
After her railroading career, Kroese transitioned into academia, becoming a professor at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, where she brought her real-world experience into the classroom, teaching both undergraduate and graduate supply chain courses in the College of Business. She’s now stepped into entrepreneurship as the managing partner of her own consulting firm, advising clients across industries while creating new opportunities to teach, mentor, and influence the future of supply chain leadership at the highest levels.
Kroese 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 award, to talk about thriving through change and why strong mentors make all the difference.
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.
