When Ramona Hood took the podium at Heidelberg University for the Fall 2025 Patricia Adams Lecture Series, she spoke not just as the retired President and CEO of FedEx Custom Critical, but as someone whose life story embodies resilience, gratitude, and faith.
Her keynote address traced a remarkable journey — from a 19-year-old single mother working as a receptionist to becoming the first African American president of a FedEx division. Along the way, she navigated obstacles, setbacks, and triumphs, all while holding onto her values and her determination to create an “environment of possibilities” for her daughters.
Values and determination
Hood shared how her upbringing shaped her drive: “I needed to be twice as smart, work twice as hard and ultimately, reach for the stars,” she said, recalling the encouragement of her family. That mindset pushed her to balance work, school, and motherhood while steadily building a career at FedEx.
From the start, she set clear goals and leaned on three guiding “pillars” that fueled her success:
• Set clear goals and vision and share them. Clarity about goals creates accountability and focus.
• Build a network of support. Her “personal board of directors” — mentors, sponsors, and advocates became her network of support, opening doors and celebrating her growth.
• Get comfortable with the uncomfortable. Hood embraced roles outside her expertise, cross-trained across operations, and sought challenges that made her a stronger, more versatile leader.
“For me to be the best leader I could be, I needed to spend time across 24/7 areas of operation,” she explained. “This showed I was willing to do more than was asked and that I was very curious.”
Setback > breakthrough
Hood candidly recalled one of the greatest disappointments of her career — being passed over for a promotion to senior management despite having the right skill set for the job. Rather than giving up, she used the setback as fuel. She pivoted into sales and marketing, building experience that would enhance her skill set and eventually accelerate her into senior leadership.
Throughout these transitions, she focused on controlling what she could: earning her undergraduate and MBA degrees, raising her daughters, and staying committed to her values.
Breaking barriers
In 2020, Hood reached a milestone: becoming the first African American president of a FedEx division. Her daughters immediately recognized the magnitude of the achievement. “Mom, did you just break the glass ceiling?” her eldest asked. Hood’s response was both humble and purposeful: “I may have been the first, but I did not want to be the last.”
Her leadership was tested almost immediately. Just months into the role, the COVID-19 pandemic swept across the globe. FedEx, as an essential business, had to pivot rapidly. Within three days, Hood and her team transitioned most tasks to remote work while continuing 24/7 operations. FedEx also played a pivotal role in Operation Warp Speed, transporting vaccine ingredients and distributing the first doses of the COVID vaccine.
“It was a ‘be careful what you wish for’ moment,” she said, recalling the staggering responsibility. “But I had confidence in my team. If we broke the infrastructure, we would fix it.”
That same year, the murder of George Floyd sparked a national reckoning. Hood described the anguish of writing a letter, expressing her fears for her daughters and her hopes for change. It was, she admitted, her most vulnerable moment as CEO. Yet colleagues affirmed her leadership: “You are the right leader at the right time,” one told her.
Life after FedEx
After 33 years, Hood retired in 2024, taking time to reflect on the next phase of her life. She realized she wanted to continue shaping organizations through board service, mentoring, and coaching. Today, she serves on several high-profile boards, including the Federal Reserve Bank and the Knight Foundation, where she contributes to strategies in journalism, arts, culture, and community development.
This next chapter “is an opportunity to provide insights and shape strategies in a way that’s important to me,” she said.
Final message
Hood closed her PALS keynote with a message to Heidelberg students that was both practical and inspiring: “I have learned the significance of leaning into joy and having fun, and embracing the playful moments. This is where we find the greatest insights and connections with others. I encourage you to find space for joy and practice gratitude.”
Her words resonated, not just as professional advice, but as wisdom forged through a life of resilience, perseverance, and purpose.