In this episode of the “Future of Ground Transportation” podcast, Daniel Perez interviews special guest Kristina Bouweiri, CEO of Reston Limousine. Kristina shares her journey in life, from being born in Japan to living in various countries due to her parents' work in the foreign service. She talks about her initial plan to join the Foreign Service herself but ended up working for a non-profit in Somalia instead. Kristina describes the challenges she faced living in Somalia, including the lack of electricity and the cultural norms she had to adhere to as a woman. Tune in to hear more about Kristina's incredible journey and how it led her to her current role as CEO.

Here are some power takeaways from today's conversation:

• Unconventional Journey to Success 

• The Beginnings and Growth of Reston Limousine 

• Surviving and Thriving During the Pandemic 

• The Role of Women in Transportation

• Networking and extroversion are key

Episode Highlights:

[00:00:56] Unconventional Journey to Success: 

Kristina's unique life experiences, from being born in Japan to living in various countries due to her parents' work in the Foreign Service, shaped her unconventional path to becoming the CEO of Reston Limousine. Her initial intention to join the Foreign Service took a different turn when she experienced the challenges of working in Somalia, leading her to explore opportunities in the business world.

[00:02:18] The Beginnings and Growth of Reston Limousine: 

Kristina's introduction to Reston Limousine began with a sales role, but she quickly transitioned into the ground transportation business. She shares how Reston Limousine expanded its services, initially focusing on wedding transportation and later diversifying into government contracts, hospital services, and university transportation.

[00:04:51] Surviving and Thriving During the Pandemic: 

The COVID-19 pandemic posed significant challenges for Reston Limousine. Kristina discusses the difficulties faced, including mass layoffs and the need to refund customer deposits. Despite the challenges, strategic decisions, participation in government relief programs, and a focus on becoming more efficient allowed the company to weather the storm and emerge even stronger.

[00:10:52] The Role of Women in Transportation:

As a successful woman leader in a male-dominated industry, Kristina discusses how her perspective and leadership style have been assets in the transportation business. Women excel in transportation logistics. Kristina discusses how women's skills in managing multiple responsibilities and juggling various tasks make them well-suited for the transportation industry.

[00:23:17] Networking and extroversion are key:

Kristina shares her personal experience and how networking played a crucial role in growing her business. She mentions that being an extrovert has been helpful for her as she actively networked at least four events a week for 20 years. This consistent networking allowed her to build a strong database of clients and networking colleagues, which contributed to the recognition of her brand in Washington, D.C.

Resources Mentioned:

• "Mastering the Rockefeller Habits" by Verne Harnish 

• "Never Eat Alone" by Keith Ferrazzi

Reach out to Kristina Bouweiri via email at kristina@restonlimo.com.

About the Guest

Kristina Bouweiri is the CEO of Reston Limousine and has a remarkable journey in the ground transportation industry. With a background in international affairs, Kristina joined Reston Limousine after selling an ad to the owner, eventually marrying him and taking over the company. She navigated the challenges of the pandemic, adapting the business and finding new opportunities for growth. Kristina is known for her networking skills, marketing expertise, and commitment to creating a caring and family-oriented company culture.