WeDriveU took the stage at the 2026 Conference of Minority Transportation Officials (COMTO) National Meeting in Washington, D.C., where leaders shared their journeys, industry insights, and commitment to advancing mobility in transportation contracting for public- and private-sector customers.

Bringing Fresh Leadership Approaches From Adjacent Industries

WeDriveU leaders and COMTO local chapter members Keyshana Jackson, General Manager in Austin, TX; Seyi Osiyemi, General Manager in Charlotte, NC; and Chrishaun “Chris” Hollins, General Manager in St. Louis, MO, were featured as panelists during the session, “Fresh Perspectives, Stronger Transit.”

Christina Villarreal, Executive Director of LIT, served as moderator, guiding the conversation on how private transportation contractors and mobility providers benefit from hiring leaders who bring experience from adjacent industries such as hospitality, logistics, municipal government, customer service and corporate operations.

Unique Leadership Journeys Add Value

Each panelist shared personal stories of transition, leadership turning points, and lessons learned while navigating new organizational cultures and transportation environments. Attendees also gained insight into how cross-industry leadership strengthens workforce culture, improves talent retention, enhances customer experience, and drives organizational adaptability.

Genuine Connections

Here’s what the team shared about their time at COMTO 2026.

Keyshana highlighted the impact of seeing the audience connect with their personal leadership journeys:

“One of the most memorable moments from the panel was seeing the audience genuinely connect with our stories. As each panelist shared their unique journey into transportation, it became clear that while our career paths were different, we were united by a shared purpose of creating opportunities and making an impact. The thoughtful questions and conversations that continued after the session reminded me that authentic leadership is often about sharing experiences that inspire others to see what’s possible.”

Moderator Christina Villarreal touched on the power of networking:

“Thank you to WeDriveU for the opportunity to moderate such a meaningful conversation. One of the most rewarding parts of the session was that I had never met any of the panelists before we took the stage, yet by the end it felt like we had been colleagues for years.”

Christina added, “Their stories of coming into public transportation from other industries brought fresh perspectives, honest lessons, and inspiring examples of leadership. They demonstrated not only why diverse experiences make our industry stronger, but also what authentic leadership looks like in front of a live audience. I truly enjoyed every minute of the discussion and am grateful to WeDriveU for trusting me to help tell these important stories.”

Principle-Based Leadership

Seyi, who oversees WeDriveU’s contract for Bus Operations at Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) in North Carolina, added:

“I’m grateful to COMTO HQ for the opportunity to share the stage with my colleagues from WeDriveU, and reflect on our leadership journeys in the transit industry; the challenges we have faced, the resistance we have overcome, and the principles that define our leadership philosophy.”

In a post on LinkedIn, Seyi remarked that his experiences managing transit systems around the world have reinforced an important lesson.

“Operational excellence matters, but our greatest responsibility is helping people access opportunity through safe, reliable transportation.”

Chris Hollins agreed with fellow panelists, noting, “I had the privilege of returning as a speaker, sharing my leadership journey and offering fresh perspectives alongside an amazing panel of colleagues.”

She concluded, “This experience was absolutely incredible and I’m so grateful that I was able to do it with such amazing colleagues by my side.”

We can’t think of a better reflection of WeDriveU’s passion for connecting people to everything that matters in their lives, and we thank Seyi, Keyshana, Chis and Christina for sharing these enlightening insights at COMTO.

Learn More

Explore career opportunities to join these amazing WeDriveU leaders and shape transportation solutions of the future.

Visit COMTO’s website to learn more about what their organization has to offer.