Progress, not perfection: I have very ambitious goals for Acumen Logistics, but I’ve learned that I can’t achieve my ultimate vision in one fell swoop. Instead, I focus on taking the next “baby step” that brings me closer to my goal, rather than getting bogged down by trying to achieve perfection right away.
As part of my series about “individuals and organizations making an important social impact”, I had the pleasure of interviewing Alfred Indome.
Alfred Indome, a Ghana-born supply chain expert, is dedicated to empowering minority-owned small businesses by enhancing their efficiency and competitiveness in the marketplace. With a deep expertise in designing scalable internal mechanisms that optimize supply chain costs and improve delivery quality, Alfred launched Acumen Logistics to address the unique challenges faced by underrepresented businesses. His company provides comprehensive supply chain audits, customized fulfillment strategies, training programs, and ongoing support, all with the goal of fostering operational excellence and job creation in underserved communities.
Driven by a passion for inclusivity, Alfred is particularly focused on supporting Black-owned businesses and diversifying the supply chain management field, where only 7.6% of African Americans hold leadership roles. Through mentorship, education, and advocacy, he works to elevate diverse voices and talents, making a significant impact on the national supply chain landscape.
Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series! Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?
Working in operations at a power plant in Ghana early in my career gave me a strong foundation in supply chain management and logistics. However, I wanted to deepen my expertise, so I decided to pursue a Master of Engineering Management at Duke University, with a focus on operations management. This opened the door to an opportunity with Amazon’s Pathways Operations leadership development program, where I gained invaluable experience as an operations Manager at a delivery station in Virginia. This in part inspired me to launch Acumen Logistics — a venture dedicated to providing specialized fulfillment and supply chain consulting services to empower small-scale entrepreneurs and drive economic growth in underserved communities.
It has been said that our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about the funniest mistake you made when you were first starting? Can you tell us what lesson you learned from that?
Early on in my role as an Operations Manager at the Amazon delivery station, I made some operational assumptions that led to us falling short of our volume processing goals on one shift, with around 7,000 packages left un-dispatched to customers. This experience taught me two key lessons. First, it reinforced the importance of using data to drive decision-making as much as possible, rather than relying solely on assumptions. Second, it showed me the value of actively seeking out and leveraging the perspectives of my team members, especially those with more experience. By embracing their insights, I was able to identify gaps in my own understanding and make more informed, effective decisions going forward.
Can you describe how you or your organization is making a significant social impact?
I am making a significant social impact through Acumen Logistics by providing Black-owned businesses with specialized fulfillment and supply chain consulting services. By addressing inefficiencies, reducing startup failure rates, and promoting diversity in the supply chain field, Acumen Logistics aims to optimize operations, reduce costs, and improve the success rates of these enterprises. This, in turn, will foster economic growth, create job opportunities, and promote inclusivity in underserved communities, ultimately benefiting the U.S. economy and society.
Can you tell us a story about a particular individual who was impacted or helped by your cause?
[I do not have a specific story to share currently]
Are there three things the community/society/politicians can do to help you address the root of the problem you are trying to solve?
1. Increase funding and access to capital for Black-owned businesses, particularly startups and SMEs, to help them invest in optimizing their supply chain operations.
2. Implement targeted tax incentives and government procurement programs to encourage larger corporations to partner with and source from minority-owned suppliers, driving demand for Acumen Logistics’ services.
3. Promote supply chain management education and training programs in underserved communities, helping to build a diverse talent pipeline and address the industry’s lack of representation.
How do you define “Leadership”? Can you explain what you mean or give an example?
I define leadership as a service-oriented mindset, where the primary focus is on helping others who are not able to help themselves or who need that final push to achieve their goals. An example of this would be my work as a Pathways Operations Manager, where I was responsible for coaching and developing a team of 300 associates. My role was not to dictate orders, but to empower them, remove obstacles, and provide the resources and guidance they needed to excel in their own roles. By adopting this servant leadership approach, I was able to drive significant improvements in site metrics and foster a more engaged, productive team.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started” and why. Please share a story or example for each.
1. Progress, not perfection: I have very ambitious goals for Acumen Logistics, but I’ve learned that I can’t achieve my ultimate vision in one fell swoop. Instead, I focus on taking the next “baby step” that brings me closer to my goal, rather than getting bogged down by trying to achieve perfection right away.
2. Embrace your unique background, and not always seeking to fit in, is what makes you special. Over the years, I’ve learned to appreciate the power of diverse teams and perspectives.
3. You belong, you are capable: Early on, I sometimes doubted my abilities and felt out of place, but I’ve realized that I truly do belong in this industry and have the skills and knowledge to make a meaningful impact. Embracing this confidence has been crucial to my success.
4. Begin with the end in mind: This may sound cliché but could not be more accurate. Keeping the end goal in focus is tremendous for making the right decisions.
5. Have fun along the way: Work, including entrepreneurship, can be stressful. I’ve learned to embrace the journey and find joy in the process. Don’t forget to celebrate the small wins!
You are a person of enormous influence. If you could inspire a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. 🙂
If I could inspire a movement, it would be one focused on improving financial literacy. Personal finance is not taught well enough in schools, and as a result, many people struggle to manage their finances efficiently. If we could empower individuals to run their personal finances with the same rigor and optimization that we help businesses apply to their operations, it would have a transformative effect on people’s lives and financial well-being.
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?
My favorite life lesson quote is “Progress, not perfection.” This has been incredibly relevant to me as I’ve worked to launch Acumen Logistics and achieve my ambitious goals. I have a clear vision of where I want the company to be, but I’ve learned that I can’t reach that end point in a single leap. Instead, I focus on taking the next “baby step” forward, celebrating small wins along the way. This mindset has helped me stay motivated, avoid getting bogged down by setbacks, and steadily make progress towards my ultimate objectives.
Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would like to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this, especially if we tag them. 🙂
Jeff Bezos. I am truly inspired by how he was able to build and grow the tech giant that Amazon is today. I would love to get some golden nuggets of advice from him as I continue my own entrepreneurship journey.
How can our readers further follow your work online?
acumen-web.com
This was very meaningful, thank you so much. We wish you continued success in your great work!
Social Impact Heroes: Why & How Alfred Indome of Acumen Logistics Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.