Illustrating Leadership Lesson: The Importance of Company Culture

In this episode of the Illustrating Leadership Podcast, I sit down with Marianna Kinnee, founder of Might in Motion and Director of Facility Implementation at Vector. Marianna’s career journey—from internships in manufacturing to leadership in the tech startup and supply chain space—illustrates the power of diverse perspectives, intentional mentorship, and data-driven decision-making in shaping modern leadership.

Learning from Internships and Early Lessons

Marianna’s leadership story began with two pivotal internships. At a paper mill, she discovered that while chemical engineering wasn’t the right fit for her, she witnessed a powerful leadership lesson: engineers regularly deferred to a longtime worker who knew the plant inside and out. This experience taught her that diversity of thought goes beyond gender or background—it’s about valuing different experiences and perspectives at the table.

Later, an internship riding with truck drivers in Oklahoma challenged her assumptions about who enters the profession. She found drivers with advanced degrees who chose the freedom and independence of the road. Their joy and dedication inspired Marianna’s deep connection to the supply chain industry, a passion that continues to shape her career.

The Role of Mentorship and Feedback

Throughout her career, Marianna has benefited from leaders who invested in her growth. She credits one of her most influential mentors, with helping her think strategically and candidly about her leadership. Their one-on-one conversations weren’t just project updates—they were opportunities to talk about vision, strategy, and how to use data to tell a compelling story.

This mentorship reinforced the importance of leaders continuing to pour into others, especially when team members may feel stagnant after years in the same organization.

Building Diverse and Complementary Teams

Marianna believes effective leadership requires intentionally building teams with complementary strengths. She compares it to constructing a sports team: not everyone can play the same position, but together the team can succeed.

For her, the foundation is culture. At Vector, she works to cultivate a “customer-first” culture. She emphasizes that hiring decisions should focus less on similarities and more on whether individuals will add to the team’s strengths and align with cultural values.

Strategy, Data, and Decision-Making

While emotions provide useful signals, Marianna has learned the value of balancing intuition with fact-based decision-making. At Vector, she and her team use practical tools like staffing calculators and complexity scores to remove subjectivity and guide customers through clear, data-driven choices.

This approach ensures alignment and fosters collaboration by grounding conversations in facts rather than opinions—an essential practice in both startups and established organizations.

Mentorship, Growth, and Giving Back

Marianna’s passion for mentorship and professional development inspired her to create Might in Motion, a podcast and book designed to support leaders as they transition from individual contributors to people managers. Her message to leaders is clear: don’t navigate your career alone. Seek out mentors, coaches, and resources that will support your growth and help you expand your impact.

Connect with Marianna Kinnee

You can connect with Marianna on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube where she shares her work with Vector, her podcast, and her book. She regularly engages with her network and offers insights into leadership, culture, and supply chain innovation.

Your host, Jessica Wright, is a Life & Career Development Coach for Leaders and the Founder of Wright Life Coaching, LLC. You can connect with and follow her on LinkedIn.