Name, Title, Organization: David Ahlem, President & CEO, Hilmar Cheese Company, Inc.
Education: My earliest, and maybe most important, education came from the family dairy farm. That’s where I learned lifelong lessons about hard work, persistence, and creative problem solving. My formal education includes a B.A. in Philosophy from Westmont College, and an M.B.A. from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
Favorite Quote: Early in my career I heard it said, “Define reality as it is, not as you wish it to be.” As leaders, I think we are continually challenged to name and confront reality. I remind myself of that often because it’s easy to avoid facts we don’t like.
Most Valued Books on Business: There have been many influential books over the years, but I find myself often returning to “Good to Great” by Jim Collins and “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni. Both offer timeless lessons about the role of humility in leadership, the importance of getting the right people in the right seats, and the attributes of high functioning teams.
Describe your career path? I began my work at Hilmar on the plant floor during the summers while I attended college. It is there where I learned to love the pace, the complexity, and the people. I then continued my education at Cal Poly. After studying business, I worked for a large agribusiness firm in several locations across the United States before returning to Hilmar, where I held a variety of positions in both California and Texas that prepared me well for my current role.
What are your key responsibilities? At Hilmar we say our purpose is to Improve Lives Together. For me that means that our products create value for our customers, and that we cultivate an environment and culture where employees can thrive and deliver value to the dairy farmers who supply us. It’s really easy to say, but much harder to do. Thankfully I’m surrounded by 1500+ great employees who know how to get it done each and every day.
What is your connection to farming? I’m the son of a second-generation dairy farmer and grew up helping on the farm. While I’m no longer involved in the family dairy farm, I haven’t strayed too far. Every day, I get to work with an amazing team who are unlocking the potential of dairy proteins and sharing the joy created by cheese around the globe!
What business lessons have you learned that could be applied to farmers? It has been said that culture eats strategy for breakfast. I believe this to be true. That’s why we must invest in and cultivate an exceptional culture. If you don’t have people who are engaged and operating and collaborating as a team, even the best formulated strategies and tactics will be dead on arrival. I think this is true for any business!
What is a leadership lesson that you’ve learned in your career? It’s not about me! I don’t have to know the answers or solve the problems. My role is to shepherd a process and empower the organization to face challenges for which there are no easy answers. When we understand that those who surround us are the heroes of the story, we can go further together. As leaders, when we empower others, great things happen!
What is your leadership philosophy? I aspire to serve the needs of others as we work together to achieve the higher goals of the organization. My hope is that I will always make decisions based on values and act with integrity, meaning the inside always matches the outside.
What is your biggest challenge as a leader? Staying focused on how we do business today and not the outcomes of tomorrow. While outcomes are certainly important, as I’ve matured, I’ve found paying attention to ‘how’ we do things is a surer way to live out our values and sustain results over time.
