In this episode of Critical Moments, host Mark Josephson talks with Cristina Miller, former COO of Goldbelly, about a critical moment in her career that tested her resilience, leadership, and problem-solving skills.

Goldbelly, a rapidly growing food marketplace, faced a logistical nightmare during the peak of the holiday season: 70,000 packages at risk of not being delivered due to shipping delays caused by COVID-19 vaccine distribution. Cristina shares the high-stakes decisions, the scramble to escalate the issue with UPS, and the leadership lessons she took away from navigating this career-defining challenge.

Key timestamps and insights include:

• [01:06] Cristina introduces Goldbelly and her role in scaling the company during the pandemic.

• [02:17] The meteoric rise: 5–6x sales growth as Goldbelly became a lifeline for food makers.

• [07:04] The crisis unfolds: A phone call from UPS with devastating news about holiday shipments.

• [10:53] High-stakes logistics: The challenge of delivering perishable goods at massive scale.

• [16:00] Critical moment: Strategizing solutions while battling time constraints.

• [22:40] Escalating the issue: Reaching UPS CEO Carol Tomé to resolve the crisis.

• [31:55] The outcome: How leadership, collaboration, and swift action mitigated the disaster.

• [35:43] Leadership takeaways: Staying calm, escalating effectively, and delivering bad news with a plan.

• [38:00] The value of relationships: Building goodwill with partners for when you need them most.

This episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how leaders tackle unexpected challenges, make tough calls, and ensure success in the face of adversity. Cristina’s insights are invaluable for anyone building businesses, managing teams, or navigating high-pressure moments.

Listen now on Apple Podcasts or Spotify and join us for real stories from leaders making critical decisions that shape careers and companies.

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