Building what comes next: Dianne Barnett on leadership, mentorship, and railroading’s impact

At the League of Railway Women’s annual symposium in Atlanta, Norfolk Southern’s Dianne Barnett delivered a keynote address this week grounded in experience, perspective, and purpose.

Barnett, AVP Mechanical and Chief Mechanical Officer and the LRW’s 2025 Woman of the Year, drew on nearly three decades in railroading to connect leadership to something more fundamental than titles or roles: the work itself. The work that keeps trains moving, communities connected, and the economy on track.

Her message was simple but powerful: The work we do today builds what comes next.

Built on the work behind every move

Barnett brought her message to life through a reality every railroader understands. The work of laying track is physical, precise, and often unseen. It happens mile by mile, often without recognition, yet nothing moves without it.

Trains cannot run unless someone is building ahead.

That truth extends far beyond the track. It applies to how people lead, how they mentor, and how they invest in those coming behind them.

As Barnett told the audience, “You are the story behind the work, and that story is still being written.”

Progress depends on what we pass on

Throughout her remarks, Barnett returned to a central idea: progress is not just about what we accomplish, but what we prepare for others.

Careers are not isolated paths, but shared journeys. People enter at different points, grow through experience, and eventually step into roles where they help others do the same. In those moments, impact is measured not only by personal performance, but by how effectively knowledge, experience, and opportunity are shared.

That consistency in passing forward what we’ve learned is what sustains momentum.

Leading without a clear signal

Barnett also acknowledged a reality familiar across the railroad: the signal is not always clear.

Leadership rarely comes with perfect conditions. It requires moving with intention, drawing on experience, trusting the work, and understanding that each role contributes to something larger.

As she put it, “every journey has purpose beyond what we can see.”

That perspective matters in an industry that continues to evolve, where each action plays a role in shaping what comes next.

What we build now shapes what’s next

For Barnett, the takeaway is practical and deeply human.

Leading means building ahead. Mentoring means creating opportunity. And the work — whether visible or not — carries meaning far beyond the moment.

Because ultimately, what we build and pass on today shapes what’s possible for those who come next.

By Brett Willi, Senior Communications Manager

Brett Willi leads internal communications for Norfolk Southern, focusing on safety, compliance, operational excellence and employee engagement. He also oversees communications for Engineering and Mechanical. Brett joined NS in 2025, with 20 years of strategic communications, digital content, and analytics expertise.