Dear Colleagues,
This month’s CEO Spotlight shines a light not on a single leader, but on the extraordinary partnership between Andrew Smith and Bob Hall, Tuck alumni and co-founders of Outrider. Their story is a testament to the profound impact that shared experiences and mutual trust can have on building and leading transformative businesses.
Andrew and Bob’s journey began as classmates at the Tuck School of Business and was solidified during adventures far from any boardroom – navigating rugged trails in the Himalayas and braving sub-zero temperatures in the wilderness. These experiences laid the foundation for a relationship built on grit, trust, and a deep understanding of each other’s decision-making styles.
Years later, that bond would become the cornerstone of Outrider, a company at the forefront of automating yard operations for logistics hubs. Andrew, who previously founded and sold AT Dynamics, saw an opportunity to revolutionize the trucking industry with a subscription-based model and cutting-edge autonomous technology. When he approached Bob to join as COO, Bob’s trust in Andrew’s vision and leadership, coupled with his own entrepreneurial expertise, made the decision clear.
Their partnership illustrates how a shared history and aligned values can supercharge innovation and execution. Together, they’ve grown Outrider into a trailblazing organization with a team of over 100 employees, two-thirds of whom are engineers tackling complex challenges in automation and logistics.
As Andrew aptly notes: “The first time you build a company, you spend 10 percent of your time on the team and 90 percent on everything else. The second time, it’s the reverse.”
This lesson resonates deeply. Leadership is not just about strategy and vision—it’s about assembling and nurturing a team capable of realizing those ambitions. Andrew and Bob’s story reminds us that trust, collaboration, and the right people can turn bold ideas into reality.
For those of you who were able to attend the Denver Council on Foreign Relations meeting this week on Supply Chain with Jack Buffington, Ph.D., you heard about Outrider. For those who missed it, here is a YouTube video you will want to watch: COVID broke the global supply chain. Here’s how we fix it
Respectfully,