With a 20-year history of championing inclusivity in senior human resources roles, LaQuenta Jacobs joined XPO Logistics in 2018 as the head of HR for the company’s last-mile and intermodal and drayage business units, jumpstarting her career in the transportation industry. Since then, her success has promoted her to chief diversity officer, furthering her commitment to making real change.
“When I joined XPO, I had no idea about the journey that was ahead of me,” Jacobs said. "I have learned so much about the essential role we play in ‘moving the world forward.’”
In her position, Jacobs provides leadership and advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the cultural development of XPO’s workplace. Collaborating with her colleagues, those internal to the company and within the industry, “consistently challenges me to think about leveling up my game, what am I doing to contribute to the industry, and how is the work I’m doing driving value.”
In February 2021, Jacobs was named a voting member to the board of directors of Soles4Souls, a nonprofit organization that distributes donated shoes and clothing items to various programs around the world to help those in need. This appointment came after Jacobs spearheaded the effort to collect more than 110,000 pairs of shoes from XPO employees worldwide.
“LaQuenta joining the Soles4Souls board is another critical step in the evolution of our organization,” Buddy Teaster, president and CEO of Soles4Souls, said. “Her professional expertise, ties to the logistics industry, and personal passion for service means we will be able to grow and serve more people in need around the world.”
Learning to be resourceful
Early in her career, Jacobs noted that she had an incorrect impression that it was better to be right than to appear as if you didn’t know something.
“In my mind, I viewed this as a strength when, in fact, it was more of a derailing quality than a strength,” Jacobs explained. “The support, council, and personal investment from mentors, coaches, and colleagues taught me differently; it taught me that it is far better to be resourceful, have good personal and professional relationships, and partner with colleagues who can help you drive initiatives than it is to be right.”
As a member of various organizations within the trucking industry, such as Supply Chain Professionals, the American Trucking Associations as an advisory board member, and the Women In Trucking Association, Jacobs has surrounded herself with a support group that encouraged her and opened her eyes to all of the possibilities the trucking industry has to offer.
“One of the challenges I’ve faced was choosing to pursue a role of greater responsibility, after being told by my leadership team at the time that it wasn’t in the cards for me,” Jacobs explained. “I had to make a personal decision to step away from a culture and environment where I was very comfortable and pursue a role where I felt like I could contribute in bigger way.”
Jacobs is a firm believer that the logistics and trucking industries weave into our everyday lives, directly and indirectly.
“There is something energizing about logistics—connecting people with goods and services—that continues to excite me,” Jacobs said. “There is so much momentum in our space, whether it’s the investment in virtual reality, robotics, or AI. We have an opportunity to continue to drive our commitment to increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion through all of these spaces in trucking.
“We have the chance to share this industry, as a career option, earlier in the lives of those entering the workforce and removing barriers for entry by expanding scholarships toward education, partnerships with colleagues, and universities that focus on women and diverse talent, as well as institutions that focus on building a trade,” Jacobs urged. “The industry has proven its ability to make a meaningful impact, and I think the industry will continue to grow both domestically and internationally.”
Jacobs’ advice for those just starting out in their careers: Be a student of your practice and never stop learning.
“Build professional relationships with people that you admire,” Jacobs concluded. “Seek the counsel of a mentor or advisor. From a leadership perspective, get out of your head and lead from a place of empathy and investment in others. Take on the tough challenges and deliver on those commitments. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are critical to creating a sense of belonging. The ceiling is ours to break. Let’s choose to create a path for generations to come.”
