LEADERSHIP
IL: How would you describe your leadership style? It’s servant leadership, inclusive, and opportunity-driven. I don’t claim to be the smartest guy in the room. I rely on all the smart, hard working people around me, and my role is to make sure they have the resources they need. I also consider myself a champion for diversity in the workplace. Diversity of perspectives, of opinions, comes from having people with diverse backgrounds and life experiences. I come from a diverse background myself. I think that sort of variety creates strength in an organization. IL: What qualities do you look for in people who report to you? Work ethic, honesty, and integrity are at the top of the list. We can always learn new skills, but some qualities are innate to a person. I also value the ability to communicate with others. IL: What advice would you give to your 18-year-old self? Don’t be afraid to dream big. Anything’s possible. I never shied away from anything back then, but maybe I’d tell myself to focus more on school work. IL: Outside of work, how do you like to spend your time? Mostly I like to spend time with my family, doing whatever they’re doing. That could mean going on a trip, or just watching a movie together. I’m a people person, and I love to be with friends and family all the time. n Be Prepared Attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, drought in the Panama Canal, a pandemic—there’s no shortage of emergencies that can disrupt a port’s operations. “It’s important to always be ready to mitigate the risk of these bumps we experience,” John Moseley says. Case in point: the pandemic. “Port Houston was the first U.S. port to report someone sick with COVID-19,” Moseley says. “Having to respond to that while keeping our business moving, doing our part to feed, clothe, and supply the regional population, was huge.” Port Houston’s operations affect 20% of Texas’s gross domestic product, so keeping cargo moving in and out, and keeping factories supplied with materials they needed, was crucial. “We had to get creative, rolling up our sleeves and working some late nights when necessary, putting in protocols to keep our people safe and working,” Moseley says. It’s also crucial to prepare in advance, financially and operationally, for any number of potential disruptions, Moseley says. Luckily, Houston has had lots of experience to draw upon. “We’re used to disasters here, such as hurricanes,” he says. “We don’t spook easily in Texas.”
It was always people who made me feel good or bad, who provided opportunities and mentored me. You can’t be successful without other people. That has been a valuable lesson, and I’ve always tried to give back. Helping younger folks—providing guidance, mentoring, and suggestions—has been a tremendous source of pleasure throughout my life. IL: Since you became CCO at Port Houston, what have been your most important initiatives? Moving us up to become the number 5 container port in the country was huge. Working on communications and messaging for stakeholders was new to me and very important, as was creating communications for finance packages to support the expansion of the Houston Ship Channel. The foreign trade zone is another big one. And then there are the economic development initiatives. The real estate piece of my responsibility has been a lot of fun; it is one of the cornerstones of my role during the past five years. IL: Which of your current responsibilities do you find most exciting? Developing our intermodal product is a big, fun project. I also enjoy leveraging our real estate to prepare for the kind of capacity we’ll need in the future. IL: Which aspect of your job is the most fun? It’s the interaction with people. I like to be outside, engaging with people, doing new things. I’m all about putting people together to find successful outcomes. I’d say relationship management is my super power. IL: If we followed you around at work during a typical week, what would we see you doing? You’d see me on my phone and going in and out of meetings. I constantly communicate with people through all sorts of channels. I like to get a quick answer and keep things moving, and I treat other people the same way. Sometimes I need a little help being that responsive, but fortunately I have a team that helps me manage things.
June 2024 • Inbound Logistics 11
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