In logistics, what you can’t see can hurt you. Every moment a package is unaccounted for between scans represents a blind spot, a gap in the story of its journey. For a global leader like FedEx, operating at a scale of millions of packages a day, these gaps create operational friction and prevent the kind of flawless visibility their customers expect. How do you find a way to see everything, everywhere, all at once?

As a communications strategist, I live for a great story. I recently had the distinct pleasure of hearing five incredible ones during a special CRN Women of the Channel podcast. The conversation with Zebra’s 2025 honorees brought to life a theme I see playing out across the tech industry: we achieve so much more together. Our relentless pursuit of innovation finds its greatest expression through the power of our leading ecosystem, a truth our guests illustrated with powerful real-world examples.

It was a privilege to welcome back former NFL linebacker, entrepreneur, and philanthropist Brandon Copeland to our latest episode of Chalk Talk. While many know him for his impressive 10-year career in the league, it’s his profound impact off the field that truly defines him as a leader.

In our conversation, Brandon shared the powerful story behind his foundation, Beyond the Basics, which he co-founded with his wife, Taylor. It was born from a desire to be a "beacon of light" and a realization that one-off visits aren’t enough to change a child’s environment. This commitment is powerfully embodied in their flagship "December to Remember" event, where each year, Brandon and his NFL colleagues host shopping sprees for children who believe they are attending a community service event to help others.