# Vernard Jenkins II > VP of Operations, author, and executive coach helping leaders build stronger organizations through disciplined, authentic leadership. Language: en URL: https://vernardjenkins.com/ All pages on this site are available as clean Markdown by adding the header `Accept: text/markdown` to any HTTP request, or via the REST API: REST API: https://vernardjenkins.com/wp-json/mescio-for-agents/v1/markdown?url={page_url} REST API (by id): https://vernardjenkins.com/wp-json/mescio-for-agents/v1/markdown?id={post_id} ## Pages - [Privacy Policy](https://vernardjenkins.com/privacy-policy/) - [Home](https://vernardjenkins.com/): Leadership · Operations · Culture Inner Work Equals Outward Production I coach leaders who have mastered execution but are ready to examine the one variable that shapes every result: themselves. Book a Discovery Call → Featured in Marquis Who’s Who - [About](https://vernardjenkins.com/about/): Vernard Jenkins II VP of Operations, Knight-Swift Supply Chain drv@vernardjenkins.com "First generation everything." My Story I am an operations and supply-chain executive, educator, and leadership developer with a career built on disciplined execution, continuous improvement, and helping people perform at - [Books](https://vernardjenkins.com/books/): Books Books by Dr. Vernard V. Jenkins II Practical playbooks on leadership, soft skills, and the inner work behind outward results. Available Now Ready Before the Title A soft-skills playbook for the leader who's ready for what's next — not - [Contact](https://vernardjenkins.com/contact/): Let's Connect For coaching inquiries, speaking engagements, or to say hello. drv@vernardjenkins.com 469-395-2233 Allen, Texas. - [Media](https://vernardjenkins.com/media/): Media The work, and the conversations around it. The podcast · Weekly Dinner Conversations with Dr. V A podcast about becoming better at home, at work, and within yourself. Honest, practical conversations on the soft skills that shape how we --- # Full Content --- title: "Media" url: "https://vernardjenkins.com/media/" lang: "en-US" type: "page" description: "Media The work, and the conversations around it. The podcast · Weekly Dinner Conversations with Dr. V A podcast about becoming better at home, at work, and within yourself. Honest, practical conversations on the soft skills that shape how we" last_modified: "2026-10-08T15:58:17+00:00" --- # Media Media ## The work, and the conversations around it. ![](https://vernardjenkins.com/wp-content/uploads/Dinner-Conversations-with-Dr-Vernard-V.-Jenkis.jpg) **The podcast · Weekly** ## **Dinner Conversations with Dr. V** A podcast about becoming better at home, at work, and within yourself. Honest, practical conversations on the soft skills that shape how we lead and live. [ Listen on Apple Podcasts](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HKDHFXPL) On YouTube ## Fresh off the channel [ ![🙌🏽 Tag someone who needs this leadership lesson TODAY! If this spoke to your spirit, save it and come back to it all week long. 📖 Real leaders don’t just consume , they apply. Drop a ✅ in the comments if you’re putting this into action. #SoftSkillzSaturday #FaithAndLeadership #ChristianMotivation #viral #explorepage](https://vernardjenkins.com/wp-content/plugins/feeds-for-youtube/img/placeholder.png) 🙌🏽 Tag someone who needs this leadership lesson TODAY! If this spoke to your spirit, save it and ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FK_VjzPOGAA) [ ![🙌🏽 Tag someone who needs this leadership lesson TODAY! If this spoke to your spirit, save it and come back to it all week long. 📖 Real leaders don’t just consume , they apply. Drop a ✅ in the comments if you’re putting this into action. #SoftSkillzSaturday #FaithAndLeadership #ChristianMotivation #viral #explorepage](https://vernardjenkins.com/wp-content/plugins/feeds-for-youtube/img/placeholder.png) 🙌🏽 Tag someone who needs this leadership lesson TODAY! If this spoke to your spirit, save it and ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E9ZR59qrl0c) [ ![Be the flower that grows in concrete! #leadership #growthmindset #personaldevelopment #mindsetmatters #viral](https://vernardjenkins.com/wp-content/plugins/feeds-for-youtube/img/placeholder.png) Be the flower that grows in concrete! #leadership #growthmindset #personaldevelopment ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjXtroUnoZI) [ Subscribe on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRHDDpJI0mwQeAINcxNWovg?sub_confirmation=1) Elsewhere ## More conversations happen on LinkedIn Articles, the Dinner Conversations newsletter, and short videos. [**Follow on LinkedIn** ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vernard-jenkins) ![](https://vernardjenkins.com/wp-content/uploads/Cover-Book-Ready-Before-the-Title.jpg) A Soft-Skills Playbook for Preparing for Your Next Role **Books: Featured Release** ## **Ready Before the Title** A soft-skills playbook for the leader who’s ready for what’s next — not just waiting to be noticed. [Get it on Amazon](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HKDHFXPL) [See All Books → ](https://vernardjenkins.com/books/) Testimonials ## Testimonials “Your mentorship has impacted me both personally and professionally. You’ve encouraged me to use my voice and confidently take my seat at the table – thank you for allowing me to be my true, authentic self.” ### Tiffany M. Texas “Dr. Jenkins doesn’t just teach leadership – he demonstrates it. On the final day of a weeklong leadership seminar, he handed each of us a handwritten note. Mine said: ‘We believe your best is still in front of you.’ That’s who he is: patient, invested, and genuinely committed to the people he leads.” ### James S. Missouri “Vernard was the first person in my professional life to truly give me fatherly advice and openly share his own experiences with me. There’s an understanding I learned in the infantry — when you find a leader whose character has earned your trust, you’re willing to follow them to the depths of hell and back. Vernard has earned that respect from me.” ### Giant L. California “English is my second language, and Vernard noticed it held me back — so he reached out to HR for resources and personally reviewed my emails before I sent them. He wasn’t just helping me in the moment; he was preparing me for when he wouldn’t be there. Years later, he’s VP of the company I work for, and I still use the lessons he taught me every day.” ### Yvonne V. Texas --- --- title: "Contact" url: "https://vernardjenkins.com/contact/" lang: "en-US" type: "page" description: "Let's Connect For coaching inquiries, speaking engagements, or to say hello. drv@vernardjenkins.com 469-395-2233 Allen, Texas." last_modified: "2026-10-08T15:58:19+00:00" --- # Contact Let’s Connect ## For coaching inquiries, speaking engagements, or to say hello. [drv@vernardjenkins.com](mailto:drv@vernardjenkins.com) 469-395-2233 Allen, Texas. Name * Email * Message * Submit Please enable JavaScript to submit this form. --- --- title: "Books" url: "https://vernardjenkins.com/books/" lang: "en-US" type: "page" description: "Books Books by Dr. Vernard V. Jenkins II Practical playbooks on leadership, soft skills, and the inner work behind outward results. Available Now Ready Before the Title A soft-skills playbook for the leader who's ready for what's next — not" last_modified: "2026-10-08T15:58:19+00:00" --- # Books Books ## Books by Dr. Vernard V. Jenkins II Practical playbooks on leadership, soft skills, and the inner work behind outward results. ![Book cover for Ready Before the Title: A Soft-Skills Playbook for Preparing for Your Next Role, by Vernard Jenkins II](https://vernardjenkins.com/wp-content/uploads/Cover-Book-Ready-Before-the-Title.jpg) Available Now ### Ready Before the Title A soft-skills playbook for the leader who’s ready for what’s next — not just waiting to be noticed. 211 pages · Kindle & Paperback [Get it on Amazon →](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HKDHFXPL) Coming Soon Coming Q4 2026 ### To Be Announced (…) Available later this year New titles are added here as they publish. --- --- title: "About" url: "https://vernardjenkins.com/about/" lang: "en-US" type: "page" description: "Vernard Jenkins II VP of Operations, Knight-Swift Supply Chain drv@vernardjenkins.com \"First generation everything.\" My Story I am an operations and supply-chain executive, educator, and leadership developer with a career built on disciplined execution, continuous improvement, and helping people perform at" last_modified: "2026-10-08T15:58:20+00:00" --- # About ![Vernard Jenkins II smiling](https://vernardjenkins.com/wp-content/uploads/about-header-new-photo-square.jpg) Vernard Jenkins II VP of Operations, Knight-Swift Supply Chain [](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vernard-jenkins) [](https://instagram.com/leadershipsoftskillz) [](https://www.youtube.com/@leadershipsoftskillz) [drv@vernardjenkins.com](mailto:drv@vernardjenkins.com) **“First generation everything.”** ## My Story ![Formal professional headshot of Vernard Jenkins II in a navy suit](https://vernardjenkins.com/wp-content/uploads/Vernard-Jenkins-II-about-me.jpg) I am an operations and supply-chain executive, educator, and leadership developer with a career built on disciplined execution, continuous improvement, and helping people perform at their highest level. My journey has taken me from the basketball court at the United States Air Force Academy, to military aviation operations around the world, to leading complex multi-site supply-chain organizations and developing the next generation of leaders. Born in Charleston, South Carolina, and raised in Miami, Florida, I am proud to be “first generation everything” when it comes to education. That foundation shaped my belief that opportunity, preparation, consistency, and accountability can change the trajectory of a person, a family, and an organization. From 1999 through 2003, I played basketball at the United States Air Force Academy, where I remain in the program’s all-time top ten for assists and steals. The experience taught me lessons that continue to guide my leadership today: success is rarely individual, preparation matters, and the best teams are built through trust, communication, and an unselfish commitment to the mission. After graduation, I served eight years in the United States Air Force, rising to the rank of Captain. As an Air Weapons Officer on the E-3 AWACS, I operated in high-accountability environments where sound decisions, situational awareness, teamwork, and precision were essential. My assignments took me from Panama City and Fort Walton Beach, Florida, to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and ultimately Misawa, Japan. Those years broadened my perspective, strengthened my ability to lead under pressure, and reinforced the importance of serving something larger than yourself. Following my military service, I transitioned into operations and supply-chain leadership, where I have led complex warehouse, logistics, fulfillment, transportation, inventory, safety, quality, and workforce-performance initiatives. My work centers on building scalable operating systems, creating meaningful scorecards and KPIs, improving execution across multiple sites, and developing leaders who can sustain results long after a project or initiative is complete. ![](https://vernardjenkins.com/wp-content/uploads/vernard-jenkins-strongman-competition.jpg) I also bring an entrepreneur’s mindset to leadership. From 2011 through 2019, I owned a gym and competed in CrossFit. That chapter deepened my appreciation for discipline, resilience, coaching, community, and the power of consistent daily habits. Whether in fitness, military operations, or business, I believe the same principle holds true: meaningful results come from doing the fundamentals exceptionally well, repeatedly, and with purpose. Today, I combine my operational background, military leadership experience, doctoral-level education, and passion for people development to help organizations create stronger cultures, improve performance, and build leaders who are prepared for the next challenge. I believe leadership is not defined by title, it is demonstrated through service, clarity, courage, accountability, and the ability to bring out the best in others. **“Where sustainable performance begins.”** ## Inner Work = Outward Production The quality of your outward results is shaped by the quality of your inner life. Before a leader can consistently produce trust, discipline, clarity, accountability, excellence, or meaningful impact in an organization, they must first cultivate those qualities within themselves. ![](https://vernardjenkins.com/wp-content/uploads/vernard-jenkins-throwback-photo.jpg) The quality of your outward results is shaped by the quality of your inner life. Before a leader can consistently produce trust, discipline, clarity, accountability, excellence, or meaningful impact in an organization, they must first cultivate those qualities within themselves. _Inner Work = Outward Production_ is the belief that sustainable performance does not begin with a dashboard, a title, a strategy session, or a motivational speech. It begins with self-awareness. It begins with the daily decisions no one applauds: managing your mindset, honoring your commitments, confronting your blind spots, protecting your discipline, strengthening your character, and taking responsibility for the energy you bring into every room. In operations, we understand that results are produced by systems. In leadership, the most important system is the person leading. When the internal system is disorganized—when a leader lacks clarity, emotional discipline, humility, courage, or consistency, the outward organization will eventually reflect it. Confusion becomes culture. Avoidance becomes the standard. Low accountability becomes accepted. But when leaders do the inner work, they create an environment where people can operate with confidence, ownership, and purpose. My perspective has been shaped by the court, military service, entrepreneurship, fitness, education, and executive leadership. Basketball taught me that individual talent only matters when it serves the team. The Air Force taught me that preparation, precision, and trust are non-negotiable when the mission matters. Owning a gym and competing in CrossFit reinforced that progress is earned through disciplined repetition, not occasional intensity. Leading in supply chain and operations has shown me that the strongest results come from leaders who can build systems, develop people, and remain steady under pressure. **“The daily decisions no one applauds.”** ## Inner Work Looks Like ![](https://vernardjenkins.com/wp-content/uploads/vernard-jenkins-community-church-candid.jpg) Holding yourself accountable before holding others accountable. Choosing discipline over convenience. Responding with emotional control instead of reacting from frustration. Seeking feedback without becoming defensive. Leading with humility while maintaining high standards. Building habits that align with the person and leader you want to become. Doing the hard work of healing, learning, reflecting, and growing. Serving people without lowering expectations for performance or character. ![](https://vernardjenkins.com/wp-content/uploads/inner_work_progression_horizontal.svg) Outward production is what people experience because of that work. It is the culture you create, the trust you build, the standards you establish, the people you develop, and the results your team delivers. It is not simply what you accomplish is what becomes possible around you because of how you lead. I believe the greatest leaders do not ask others to carry standards they are unwilling to live themselves. They understand that real influence is earned in private before it is recognized in public. When the work inside is intentional, the work outside becomes more focused, more consistent, and more impactful. ## Ready to build leadership that lasts? Let’s talk. No pitch — just a conversation about fit. [Book a Discovery Call →](https://vernardjenkins.com/contact/) --- --- title: "Home" url: "https://vernardjenkins.com/" lang: "en-US" type: "page" description: "Leadership · Operations · Culture Inner Work Equals Outward Production I coach leaders who have mastered execution but are ready to examine the one variable that shapes every result: themselves. Book a Discovery Call → Featured in Marquis Who’s Who" last_modified: "2026-10-08T15:58:21+00:00" --- # Home Leadership · Operations · Culture # Inner Work Equals Outward Production I coach leaders who have mastered execution but are ready to examine the one variable that shapes every result: themselves. [Book a Discovery Call →](https://vernardjenkins.com/contact/) [Featured in Marquis Who’s Who](https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/537864/marquis-whos-who-honors-dr-vernard-jenkins-ii-for-expertise-in-leadership-development-and-operations-strategy) Named a 2026 Leader to Know, Black Leaders Network · VP of Operations, Knight-Swift Supply Chain ![](https://vernardjenkins.com/wp-content/uploads/Cover-Book-Ready-Before-the-Title.jpg) From the books ## A Growing Library of Soft-Skills Playbooks Starting with Ready Before the Title, with new titles publishing throughout the year. For the leader who’s ready for what’s next, not just waiting to be noticed. [Explore the Books →](https://vernardjenkins.com/books/) Who I help ## Built for leaders at three different points ### Operation leaders under pressure Scaling execution without losing the culture that makes people want to stay. ### Organizations mid-transformation Where old habits, blame cycles, and low accountability are already showing up in turnover and missed numbers. ### New or rising leaders at any stage in their career Ready to turn potential into a track record. How it works ## A process built on discipline, not guesswork ### **Assess** A thorough review of bottlenecks and root causes within the operation or culture. ### **Build the Plan** Align intentional leadership habits with operational moves to create synergy. ### **Execute & Sustain** Change that holds after the engagement ends. ## Kind words ## [All Testimonials →](https://vernardjenkins.com/media/#Testimonials) “You’ve encouraged me to use my voice and confidently take my seat at the table.” TIFFANY M. · TEXAS “He doesn’t just teach leadership – he demonstrates it.” JAMES S. · MISSOURI About ## Leadership shaped by discipline ![Vernard Jenkins II smiling](https://vernardjenkins.com/wp-content/uploads/about-header-new-photo-square.jpg) I’m a VP of Operations who spent eight years in the Air Force and four before that on a basketball court that taught me the same lesson twice — nothing works without trust. That’s carried into every team I’ve run since, and into how I coach the leaders I work with now. I don’t separate the operational side from the leadership side; in my experience, they were never two different jobs. [Read my Story →](https://vernardjenkins.com/about/) ## Want a team that runs like this? Book a discovery call, or subscribe for weekly insights on leadership and operations. [Book a Discovery Call →](https://vernardjenkins.com/contact/) [Subscribe on LinkedIn →](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vernard-jenkins/) --- --- title: "Privacy Policy" url: "https://vernardjenkins.com/privacy-policy/" lang: "en-US" type: "page" last_modified: "2026-10-08T15:58:22+00:00" --- # Privacy Policy ## Who we are **Suggested text: **Our website address is: https://vernardjenkins.com. ## Comments **Suggested text: **When visitors leave comments on the site we collect the data shown in the comments form, and also the visitor’s IP address and browser user agent string to help spam detection. 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