For 22 years, Angela Gambell has dedicated her career to Stockwells and, along the way, has developed a leadership approach that is inclusive, inspiring and uplifting.
“On the day I quit my toxic job in the early 2000s, my father called me and said, ‘Angie baby, it’s time you joined the family business. What about sales? You’d be great in sales,’” she tells The CEO Magazine.
That ‘family business’ is, in fact, one of Australia’s largest family-owned freight forwarder company, Stockwells. Closing in on 55 years in operation, it has evolved into a one-stop destination for businesses across all industries seeking safe, reliable and cost-effective international shipping.
Gambell’s father, Brian Stockwell, founded the company in 1971. Under his leadership and the contributions of generations of the Stockwell family for more than five decades, Stockwells has expanded internationally and earned a stellar reputation for its unwavering service, quality and reliability.
Resilience and growth
A week after that phone call with her father, Gambell commenced her journey at Stockwells, starting in sales before expanding to marketing, pricing and process improvement. Now, as Director and Logistics & Supply Chain Consultant on the Gold Coast, she leads a team of young, passionate sales professionals to reach their full potential.
That’s not to say her journey has always been smooth.
“My path was filled with compromises I didn’t want to make, personality clashes and other significant challenges,” she explains.
“These experiences taught me the importance of creating a leadership style that celebrates and empowers others.”
“Raising my four children during this time also added another layer of complexity, but I never missed any important family milestones or celebrations, as my husband and I have worked hard at achieving a good work–life balance.”
Gambell says that these many challenges have all worked to inform her leadership approach.
“These experiences taught me the importance of creating a leadership style that celebrates and empowers others,” she reflects.
“They have taught me to blend resilience with compassion, embrace feedback and lead by example, and each continues to guide me as I navigate the ever-changing landscape of leadership.
“I’ve built resilience through a focus on gut feel, backed by data-driven decision-making. My lessons taught me to be an analytical thinker and to present well-supported ideas with confidence. At the same time, I’ve embraced failure as a stepping stone to success – every misstep has sharpened my ability to innovate.
“By combining analytical thinking with emotional intelligence, I’ve fostered a leadership approach that values inclusivity, creativity and respect – a long way from the toxic environments I experienced early on in my career.”
Inclusivity matters
A strong advocate for women in the workplace, Gambell stresses the importance of ensuring diversity in her teams and actively advocates for greater representation across Stockwells and the wider logistics industry.
“Achieving gender parity requires intentional action to attract and retain female talent. The logistics industry has made strides, but there is more work to be done,” she says.
“In our company, we prioritize mentoring, actively promote diversity of thought by balancing male and female representation and have designed flexible policies to support better work–life balance.”
“Achieving gender parity requires intentional action to attract and retain female talent. The logistics industry has made strides, but there is more work to be done.”
She says she always strives to lead by example.
“Inclusion starts at the top, and our organization exemplifies a family-orientated culture of belonging and support. Our staff see us ‘walk the talk’ – our actions reflect our values,” she explains.
“Inclusion goes beyond mere policy at Stockwells; it’s embedded in our everyday practices. By leading with empathy and transparency, we’ve created a workplace where everyone is valued and empowered to succeed.”
Beyond the workplace, Gambell also advocates for industry-wide awareness campaigns highlighting successful women in logistics.
“Representation matters, and seeing strong female leaders can inspire the next generation to pursue careers in this field,” she enthuses.
“Through mentoring, advocacy and inclusive hiring practices, I’m committed to helping our industry move closer to true gender parity.”
Inspiring future leaders
Gambell says her greatest mentor has been her father, who taught her the value of resilience, fairness and resistance.
“My father built this company from the ground up, and I had the privilege to work with him for 20 years before he passed away. The lessons he instilled in me are still strong today,” she says.
“My dad’s mantra was, ‘The squeaky wheel gets the oil’, which has encouraged me to fight for what I believe in and not to shy away from challenges.”
“I strive to teach resilience, encourage innovation and cultivate a workplace that nurtures curiosity and growth.”
Gambell says she’s also focused on inspiring the younger generation to join the logistics industry.
“Ours is such a dynamic industry brimming with potential, and we desperately need more young people, especially as AI reshapes the logistics landscape,” she says.
“I strive to teach resilience, encourage innovation and cultivate a workplace that nurtures curiosity and growth. Seeing young people embrace the industry with the same passion I have is my ultimate goal.”
Gambell has some sage advice for young people embarking on a fulfilling career path toward leadership.
“Know your path and be true to yourself. Find a strong mentor and learn from failure – but don’t be too hard on yourself,” she says.
“You should also be realistic, resilient and strong – but not pushy. Always listen to feedback and take what you can from it, and keep educating yourself and growing personally and professionally.
“Leadership is about resilience, compassion and the courage to embrace change. I hope my journey inspires others to lead with authenticity, uplift their teams and strive for meaningful impact in their industries. Together, we can create a more inclusive and dynamic future.”
