Today we’d like to introduce you to Dione Riley.
Hi Dione, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story isn’t a straight line, but a series of lessons, losses, and second chances that shaped how I lead and why I do what I do.
I started out working with at-risk youth and individuals struggling with addiction. I saw firsthand how systems often fail the people who need them most, and that taught me compassion, structure, and how to lead from the ground level. Over time, I found myself navigating everything from community programs to hospital partnerships, learning how organizations move and where they break.
But the truth is, I’ve also walked in two worlds; from hospital boardrooms to block corners. I built degrees, networks, and companies, but I also carried the weight of growing up in environments where survival came before success. I thought I could live in both lanes forever, but I was wrong. That realization forced me to rebuild with more purpose and focus on impact, not image.
That’s how Medical Logistic Services (MLS) came to life. I wanted to build something that connected care with consistency: Making sure labs, clinics, and patients had what they needed when they needed it. Over time, that vision grew into a company that moves more than medical supplies; we move trust, reliability, and opportunity.
Today, I lead with a mix of humility and hustle. I’ve failed publicly and rebuilt quietly. I’ve learned that real leadership isn’t about titles or trophies, but about service, accountability, and not forgetting where you came from. My story is still being written, but every chapter reminds me that grace and grit can coexist and both are necessary to grow.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Most of my journey has been about learning how to keep going when everything in front of me said stop.
There were moments when I felt like I was building something from nothing; juggling contracts, personal loss, and the reality that not everyone believes in your vision until it’s finished. I’ve faced financial setbacks, partnerships that fell apart, and times when I had to choose between comfort and conviction. Losing my mother was one of the hardest parts of that journey. It forced me to slow down and remember why I was fighting so hard to build something sustainable.
There were also struggles that came from within: learning how to lead people while still healing myself, trying to balance being a father, a partner, and an entrepreneur. The world doesn’t always give grace to Black men building from the ground up, so a lot of this came with pressure to prove myself in rooms where I was often the only one who looked like me.
But every challenge taught me something about patience, faith, and consistency. The setbacks became structure. The pain became purpose. And each time I thought I was breaking, I was really just being refined for the next level.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I run a healthcare logistics company that specializes in connecting clinics, labs, and patients with reliable, compassionate delivery solutions. On the surface, we move specimens, medications, and equipment, but at the core, we move trust. Every delivery we make represents someone’s health, someone’s loved one, or a patient waiting on answers. That’s what makes the work personal.
I’m most proud of how this business was built. Not from investors or a silver spoon, but from consistency, community, and people who believed in second chances. My team is made up of individuals who, like me, come from real life. People who’ve seen hard times and learned how to show up anyway. That energy has become our culture.
What sets me apart is that I lead from experience, not ego. I’ve worked in hospitals, urgent cares, shelters, and on the front lines with at-risk populations. I understand both sides; the system, and the people it’s supposed to serve. So when I built this company, it wasn’t just about logistics; it was about dignity, opportunity, and accountability.
At the end of the day, I’m proud that we’ve built something that serves with heart and hustle. A company that proves you can do good business and do good for people.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Growing up, I was loyal, maybe too loyal sometimes, but that loyalty is what built my character. I was deeply connected to my community. I cared about the people around me, even when the environment was tough. I didn’t always make the right choices, but everything I did came from a place of wanting to protect, provide, and prove that we could make something out of nothing.
I’ve always had leadership in me, even back then. Whether it was organizing, motivating people, or finding a way through situations that didn’t have easy answers. I was that person people came to. I just hadn’t learned yet how to channel that same energy into purpose.
Looking back, I realize that same loyalty that once kept me tied to the block is what now fuels my commitment to my business, my family, and my community today. I still carry that same code: loyalty, respect, and standing on what you say. I just apply it differently now. That’s growth to me.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Medicallogisticservices.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dione-riley-3a7300106
- Other: https://www.cdstrategyconsulting.com/
