The color green is green whether it’s a green tablecloth or a green tractor. There may be different shades and hues, but at the end of the day green is still green.
The same can be said about a good leader. No matter what environment they are in or where they came from, a good leader is a good leader.
Critical leadership skills such as the ability to communicate effectively, plan strategically and think critically aren’t specific to the food-ag value chain. Knowing that exceptional leaders are in every industry and sub sector across the globe, how can organizations in food and ag get them to take notice of the opportunities within?
Deep conversations centered on this topic are occurring across the value chain, including a recent one with K&R Managing Partner Phillip Osborne and Independent Director Nicki Anderson.
Both Osborne and Anderson agreed a key question that needs to be asked when referring to attracting top talent to the food and ag industries is how businesses are positioning themselves.
“I think one of the things that needs to be taken into account is how organizations sell themselves,” Nicki said. “How do we reframe the conversation about what we do, because let’s face it, these sectors are putting food on the table around the world.”
Positioning not only the purpose of the role within an organization, but also to position the organization within the sector matters now more than ever. There are few things more noble than feeding the world, something members of the food-ag value chain need to remember as they build their teams.
Nicki Anderson has spent 25 years working with retailers and consumer goods manufacturers across Oceania, Asia, Europe, and America. Her leadership experience includes roles with the likes of Dr. Pepper Snapple, Coca Cola Amatil, Powerforce, Cadbury Schweppes, Nestle, and Kraft among others. During her tenure with those organizations, her focus centered on sales, marketing, strategy, innovation, and customer experience. Nicki currently sits on several boards of directors including being a member and former Chair of the Monash University Advisory Board for the marketing faculty.
K&R Managing Partner Phillip Osborne works with clients in the agribusiness, beverage, food & food ingredients, and FMCG sectors across the APAC region. Read more about his experience here.
