Lifting as she climbs: how mentorship shaped Carlisha Walls’ career in logistics

 

“What do I need to do to get that role?” 

That was the question Carlisha Walls asked while working as a temporary associate at a CEVA Logistics warehouse in 2011. A simple question that sparked a 14-year journey from the warehouse floor to a leadership role in Customer Success. 

It’s also a question that speaks to her character: curious, ambitious and determined – but humble. Because Carlisha would be the first to tell you that she didn’t do it alone. Along the way, she had mentors who challenged her, supported her, and provided the tools to navigate the transition from entry-level to leadership. Now, she pays that forward, ensuring others can follow in her footsteps. 

 

An unintentional path to logistics

A lover of the arts—"Stevie Wonder and Quincy Jones and R&B and hip hop! And I can’t leave out musicals and plays!”—Carlisha didn’t plan to work in logistics. But looking back, every step in her journey seems to have led her here. 
While in high school in Lancaster, Texas, she joined her local junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC), acting as the supply chain officer. Though, at the time, she had no idea it would become her career. 

Meanwhile, her first job—at just 15—introduced her to customer success. “I took a role in customer relations at Hurricane Harbor, a waterpark owned by Six Flags,” she recalls. “I was one of the youngest people in that role, and it was a big responsibility.” 

These formative roles developed her skills in communication, problem-solving and leadership long before entering the industry – skills that she draws on today. “So, you could say I’ve been doing this for longer than many have,” she laughs. 

Her early jobs also reinforced what would become a core principle in her career: customers are absolutely vital to business success.

 

A champion for customers and teams

As Customer Success Manager at CEVA Logistics, Carlisha wears many hats. But if you were to sum her role into one word, it might be “champion.” 

Her position involves being the liaison between the company and its customers, ensuring their concerns are heard and their needs are met. “We are the voice of our customers,” she explains. “My primary responsibility is to cultivate and maintain strong relationships both externally and internally. Having good cross-functional relationships means that I can support our customers to expand and address challenges when they come up.”  

She extends this same philosophy to leadership, too. “A goal of mine is to be a good leader. It’s important for me to ensure that I’m fostering an environment that’s conducive to growth, and making sure that my team is happy as well as our customers,” she says. 

Carlisha’s belief in the power of advocacy comes from personal experience. While working as a temporary associate at a CEVA warehouse in her early career, she noticed a woman in a leadership role speaking with a manager. Curious, she asked her own manager who the woman was and what she did. That moment marked a turning point, opening her eyes to career paths in logistics far beyond the warehouse floor.

Determined to advance her career, Carlisha made her ambitions clear. And so, her managers supported her to transition into a permanent position – her first steps toward a long-term career in logistics. “It started with me expressing my goals,” she says. “But I also had a great team that listened to me.” 

That support system—and her ability to advocate for herself—has been a defining theme throughout her career.

 

Mentorship that made a difference

From the moment Carlisha secured a permanent role, she actively sought opportunities to expand her knowledge, take on new challenges and work toward leadership. And at every stage, she found mentors who recognized her potential – and helped her reach it.

One of her earliest and most influential mentors was Linda McClure, a leader in CEVA’s Contract Logistics program. Linda provided guidance on workplace challenges and professional development, helping Carlisha refine essential skills as a young woman new to the industry. 

“She helped me improve my emails, my communication, and just overall professionalism. She never solved problems for me, but she helped me think through solutions. That’s something I’ve carried with me,” she recalls. “She was also someone I really trusted – someone I could go to when I was facing challenges.”

Another mentor, Antoinette Waters, wasn’t even a CEVA colleague – she was a customer who, at the time, was based on-site at CEVA facilities. The two struck up a conversation, and over time, she became an invaluable source of advice. “She provided guidance on navigating corporate America,” Carlisha explains. “She helped me figure out how to balance my college education and career when I was still working in the warehouse. That kind of advice is so important when you’re trying to find your way and you are overwhelmed by it all.”

She has also been fortunate to have managers who doubled as mentors. "She's a wonderful person to talk to and bounce ideas off, and an AMAZING manager," Carlisha says of Kristen Schroeder, her most recent mentor. 

Her previous manager, Lydia Bouaricha, also played an instrumental role. “Over the last three years, she helped me make major jumps in my leadership style and really pushed me to grow,” she says.

 

Leading with adaptability 

When asked how she would describe her leadership style today, Carlisha laughs, saying, “I’m a Libra, so I’m all about balance!” But her approach is actually rooted in pragmatism rather than astrology: “I don't have just one leadership style. I adapt based on the situation."

Ultimately, she believes that effective leadership in logistics requires five essential qualities. "First, clear communication on our vision so we can all align toward the same goal. Second, maintaining ethical standards and accountability. Then there's motivation, and fourth, problem-solving – being able to adapt quickly. In logistics, nothing is set in stone. We have to be flexible, and pivoting is part of our day-to-day."

Her leadership philosophy is also deeply connected to her career beginnings. Having worked in the warehouse, she has a unique perspective on how decisions affect everyone in the supply chain. “I understand how what we do directly impacts different teams and verticals,” she explains. "That’s why I encourage my team to own their customer relationships. Because when they understand the full picture, they make better decisions.”

The flexibility and empathy central to Carlisha's leadership approach naturally extends beyond her immediate team. She's passionate about using her position to ensure others have access to the same career ladders she climbed – particularly those whose voices might otherwise go unheard.

 

Creating pathways for others

Having benefited from strong mentors who guided her journey, Carlisha is now committed to supporting the next generation of women in logistics. Being a woman in a male-dominated industry hasn’t always been easy. Carlisha admits that she has struggled with imposter syndrome at times, feeling the need to constantly prove herself. 

Today, keenly aware of the importance of representation and mentorship, she is intentional about giving back the kind of support she has received. “I make it a point to go out to the warehouses and connect with associates. Because I was somebody working on the warehouse floor,” she says. “And I want them to see someone that looks like them, that’s from their community, that has transitioned from warehousing into a customer-facing leadership role. They need to see that there is a career path in logistics.” 

CEVA has also made strides in supporting women’s development, including mentorship programs and leadership initiatives. “There has been a shift,” she says. “There’s effort being made, and I see that CEVA is investing in different programs that support career development.”

 

Be your own advocate

For Carlisha, the milestones she has reached are validation of both her own efforts and the support system that helped her succeed. "It's a testament to my hard work and it's a testament to everybody that supported me. All the different mentors – their time with me meant something,” she reflects.

But while her journey in logistics proves that mentorship can transform a career, she has one final piece of advice for those in the industry: be your own biggest advocate. “A closed mouth doesn’t get fed,’” she says. “You have to be able to speak up on what you're looking for and where you want to go in your career.”