The business landscape is in constant flux, a dynamic arena where innovation, resilience, and visionary leadership determine the course of industries. As we look towards 2025, the spotlight shifts to those individuals poised to redefine the contours of commerce. Hannah Testani’s (CEO) journey within Intelligent Audit provided exposure to diverse roles, fostering a comprehensive understanding of its operations. Testani’s vision remained fixed on the CEO position, prompting her to focus on demonstrating her capabilities to the board and leadership team. She understood that proving her readiness was paramount to earning their trust.
From Aspiring Leader to Industry Trailblazer
As a young professional, Testani harbored ambitions of becoming a CEO. Initially drawn to finance, she envisioned leading Lehman Brothers, recalling her days at Goldman Sachs and the inspiring sight of the Lehman headquarters. Despite Lehman’s eventual collapse, her ambition to lead persisted.
Testani acknowledged the challenges of being a young, female leader in a traditionally male-dominated industry. At 32, she was significantly younger than her peers. To address concerns about her readiness, she proactively engaged with customers, building relationships and demonstrating her sales acumen. She embraced mistakes as learning opportunities, contributing to the company’s record revenue growth in 2019.
This track record solidified her credibility, convincing the executive team and board that she was the ideal candidate to lead the company forward. Her proactive approach and demonstrable results paved the way for her appointment as CEO in 2021.
People-Centric Leadership
Hannah Testani emphasized that while many companies offer similar outputs, it’s the unique input and methodology that distinguishes her organization. She outlined four core values that underpin the operational philosophy of Intelligent Audit.
Firstly, they are problem-solvers, focusing on solutions. When confronted with challenges, whether customer-related or internal, they encourage a collaborative approach, urging everyone to contribute innovative solutions. Hannah stressed the importance of diverse perspectives, noting that their executive board comprises individuals with varied expertise rather than solely logistics backgrounds. Intelligent Audit prioritises assembling bright individuals who are willing to take ownership and implement solutions.
Secondly, innovation is paramount. Intelligent Audit is committed to continuous improvement, even in well-functioning processes. Recognizing the potential of technological advancements like AI, they strive to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Thirdly, they are people-obsessed, demonstrating a deep commitment to customers, carriers, and employees. Hannah highlighted the importance of collaborative problem-solving, encouraging constructive challenges and a relentless pursuit of solutions. Intelligent Audit values authenticity, approachability, and humble confidence, fostering an environment where everyone, regardless of their position, feels heard and valued.
Lastly, Intelligent Audit believes in balancing hard work with personal enjoyment. Hannah advocates for giving 100% at work while encouraging employees to fully embrace their personal lives. She believes that this balance leads to increased productivity and overall well-being. The organization prioritises fostering a culture where employees can resolve complex problems effectively while enjoying a positive work-life balance.
Staying Ahead of Industry Trends
Hannah Testani discussed the strategic adaptations Intelligent Audit has implemented, emphasizing their proactive approach to industry evolution. She explained that their success stems from their ability to anticipate future trends rather than dwelling on past practices. This foresight has been crucial, as the industry has undergone significant transformations in recent years.
Hannah highlighted her commitment to listening to customers and observing industry trajectories. This has allowed them to remain ahead of the curve, particularly in embracing technological advancements. She pointed out that the logistics sector, unlike industries like banking for example, has been slow to adopt technology, with many businesses still relying on manual processes.
Recognizing the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence, Intelligent Audit began leveraging AI technologies, including machine learning, several years ago, well before they became mainstream. The company has also started integrating large language models like ChatGPT into their operations. This early adoption has positioned them as industry leaders, willing to take risks and challenge conventional practices.
AI has proven its value, particularly in areas like invoice loading, carrier communications, and anomaly detection, which provides customers’ shipping operations with an extra layer of protection against “bad behavior” (fraud, typos, incorrect service selections, and more).
Internally, the organization is exploring how AI can enhance efficiency and productivity. Instead of solely relying on increased headcount to support growth, they are leveraging AI as a “superpower” to optimize their operations. Intelligent Audit fosters a culture of continuous innovation, proactively seeking opportunities to integrate AI into every aspect of their business.
Leveraging Machine Learning
Hannah Testani elaborated on Intelligent Audit utilization of artificial intelligence, particularly machine learning, in its various forms. She explained that they have been employing machine learning for several years, recognizing its capacity to process and analyze vast datasets, thereby providing valuable insights to their customers.
Testani emphasized that each customer’s dataset is unique, regardless of their industry. Intelligent Audit aggregates diverse shipment data, spanning air, ocean, truckload, LTL, intermodal, rail, and parcel, allowing for comprehensive analysis. Machine learning excels at organizing this data, creating distinct patterns within each customer’s dataset.
The system intelligently categorizes shipments based on unique attributes, identifying unique characteristics to create patterns. Within these patterns, the system develops expertise in each customer’s shipment characteristics. When new data is introduced, the model first determines the appropriate pattern for the shipment. Subsequently, it assesses whether the shipment aligns with the expected characteristics of that pattern.
Testani highlighted that the system’s ability to detect anomalies is crucial. When a shipment deviates from the expected pattern, it is flagged as an anomaly. This capability empowers customers to identify and address discrepancies, enhancing efficiency and accuracy in their logistics operations.
AI’s Role in Fraud Detection
Hannah Testani explained how their machine learning system functions similarly to fraud detection in the credit card industry. By analyzing vast amounts of shipment data, the system identifies patterns and flags deviations. These deviations often point to fraud, technical issues, or unexpected operational changes.
She detailed how the system detects fraudulent activities when unauthorized shipments occur. Technical issues are revealed when sudden, unpredicted patterns emerge. Additionally, the system identifies deviations caused by operational changes, such as new system implementations or carrier deployments, that result in unexpected cost variations.
Hannah Testani then transitioned to discuss the use of large language models, particularly in processing carrier invoices. Recognizing that many carriers still rely on paper invoices, Intelligent Audit has moved beyond ineffective OCR scanning. Large language models now enable them to extract data from these invoices, filling in gaps and ensuring accuracy. This has led to improved invoice processing, GL-allocation, and audit accuracy.
Furthermore, they are using large language models to automate email responses, significantly reducing response times. Hannah highlighted their goal of providing rapid and accurate customer service.
Hannah Testani’s Leadership and Life Philosophy
Hannah Testani expressed gratitude for the recognition of her work. She conveyed that her career at Intelligent Audit spans nearly two decades. The aspiration to become CEO served as a constant source of inspiration, driven less by childhood dreams and more by a desire to demonstrate her readiness to lead.
- Embrace Boldness:
- Pursue goals others deem impossible.
- Avoid simply following established paths.
- Navigate Challenges:
- Expect and accept failures as learning experiences.
- View challenges as inherent to growth.
- Cultivate Supportive Relationships:
- Surround yourself with people who elevate you.
- Ensure personal and professional support systems.
- Filter Advice Wisely:
- Critically evaluate advice received.
- Don’t accept “no” as a final answer; explore “what if.”
- Learn from Setbacks:
- View failures as essential for growth.
- Find value in overcoming difficult experiences.
- Enjoy the Journey:
- Use the metaphor of hiking a mountain.
- Celebrate small victories along the way.
- Recognize the fleeting nature of reaching the “summit.”
- Learn from the downs, enjoy the ups.
- Find Joy in Challenges:
- Acknowledge the difficulty of leadership.
- Recognize that challenges make the journey rewarding.
Building a Legacy of Adaptability
Hannah Testani expressed her desire to build a company that would endure beyond her tenure. She acknowledged that the company’s future form would inevitably differ from its present state, driven by the evolving needs of its customers. She emphasized that a company that ceases to adapt to changing problems risks obsolescence.
Hannah values being distinct. She finds gratification in moments when individuals at trade shows acknowledge her unique presence and confidence amidst her peers. She hopes to inspire others, regardless of their background, to pursue their ambitions without fear of being different.
She urges individuals to undertake bold actions and challenge conventional thinking. This includes achieving a balance between professional and personal life. As a mother of three, she draws parallels between her role as CEO and her role as a parent. Both require setting a vision, establishing achievable goals, navigating difficult conversations, and finding enjoyment in life.
Hannah believes that an exclusive focus on work or an exclusive focus on leisure is not ideal. She encourages individuals to pursue what they believe is right, to challenge themselves, and to savor life’s experiences. Her core belief is to find a balance between professional goals and personal happiness.
6 Key Takeaways from Hannah Testani’s Leadership:
- Emphasis on collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Fosters a supportive and inclusive environment.
- Strong focus on customer needs.
- Forward-thinking approach, particularly in AI and machine learning.
- Anticipates industry trends and integrates technology early.
- Enhances operational efficiency through technological adoption.
