Launching Something New: Brand, Community, and Momentum at Manifest with Whitney Cowell

Seven thousand people, endless noise, and a brand reveal...without the press release. We sit down with Whitney Cowell, Revenue Marketing Manager at Knight-Swift Supply Chain, to unpack how a soft launch at Manifest turned a crowded floor into a focused pipeline moment. Instead of chasing flash, Whitney shares how her team shifted the story from warehousing to end-to-end supply chain, refreshed the visual identity with intent, and set up simple systems to make every conversation count.

We dig into the mechanics that matter: aligning with seasoned sales pros, treating the booth as a routing hub, and using clear criteria to move high-intent leads straight to reps while nurturing the rest with message-consistent follow-up. Whitney explains why narrowing your audience expands your impact, how a single color change can signal strategic direction, and when to keep legacy elements so customers aren’t left behind. The theme is discipline over spectacle, measure what moves revenue, then build brand equity around those wins.

Beyond tactics, we explore community as strategy. Whitney helped launch TMSA’s GiveBack program, turning service projects into low-pressure networking that actually connects people. She makes the case that purpose-driven culture attracts talent, strengthens partnerships, and drives the kind of word-of-mouth money can’t buy. We close with practical advice for first-time launch leaders: master budgets in context, know when to pivot, say no with grace, and avoid imposing a marketer’s checklist. Not everyone needs a new website or a TikTok, but the right move, at the right time, changes everything.

If this conversation sparks ideas for your next launch, share it with a teammate, leave a quick review, and hit follow so you never miss what’s next.

Check out the Transportation Sales and Marketing Association (TMSA) website or engage with us on LinkedIn.