This week FedEx hired Ramona Hood as the first Black woman to become CEO in the company’s history; she’s the former VP of operations, strategy, and planning. Hood brings into the position more than 28 years of company experience. In her new role, she will be overseeing the Custom Critical division.

In 1991, she started as a receptionist for FedEx; this was in the company’s beginning when it was known as Roberts Express. At 19, she couldn’t see herself becoming its’ CEO, “I wasn’t thinking this was going to be my career and I’d be here for 28 years,” Hood remarked. “I was a young mother. I wanted a job that had a stable shift, that would allow me to do (college) courses as appropriate.”

Over the years, Hood has been responsible for innovative ideas that made her stand out from her peers. She climbed up the ladder of success in the company from heading subsidiary FedEx Truckload Brokerage, then to obtaining an officer position at FedEx Supply Chain in 2016. Hood then returned to FedEx Custom Critical for an executive position.

Ms. Hood holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Walsh University and Executive MBA from Case Western Reserve University.

In the early days as CEO, Hood is looking to gain useful insight from employees, customers and independent contractors driving for Custom Critical. She has created her famous “Ramona Roundtables,” which she is wrapping up this month and involved her talking with small groups of employees.

“The next thing I’ll be doing is going out and spending time with customers and independent contractors,” Hood said. “I’m defining that as my ‘listen and learn tour.’ She also mentions that under her leadership, Custom Critical will be agile in addressing customer needs and using technology, all while “looking at things in ways we haven’t in the past.”