Top Influential Dairy Women Talk Leadership
Exploring leadership challenges that women encounter as they navigate careers in the dairy industry and prepare for future success was a conversation recently discussed in a recent National Milk Producers Federation (NMFP) Young Cooperator program webinar.
Moderated by Laura Daniels with Hitch Pin Consulting, three female panelists joined the conversation to talk about a handful of questions, including the most important qualities a successful leader illustrates.
Krysta Harden, president and CEO of U.S. Dairy Export Council, says there are a lot of qualities a good leader has and they don’t only pertain to women. Harden talks about the three C’s: character, commitment and curiosity, of which she says being curious has helped her the most.
“For me, it’s the three C's. One is character. You know who you are and how comfortable you are with being that person. And are you going to make decisions based on fairness and ethics and honesty,” she says. “I look for that when I'm hiring and when I'm looking to a leader to admire the commitment to your calls to your mission, to yourself, to your family, to your faith, whatever it might be that combination of commitment. And the third is curiosity. Always look for someone who doesn't think they know it all and that they're still asking questions. They're still curious about who else is involved. What else should they know? Asking questions, learning, growing, stretching still, even if at the highest level.”
Jackie Klippenstein, senior vice president with Dairy Farmers of America, says she looks to see how people are including others and the more you include others, the more you hope they include you.
“Also, how are you communicating? Are you afraid to self-assess, and pivot?” she questions. “I think asking yourself tough questions and asking your team questions about those around you is really important for you to be seen as a leader in your organization.”
North Carolina dairy farmer, Karen Jordan, milks 80 cows alongside her husband and is also one of the very first women in North Carolina to conduct large animal medicine veterinary work. Jordan says the one thing she would add alongside the comments Harden and Klippenstein shared is to also really listen and let your passion show.
What Gets in the Way?
Daniels then questioned the panelists, asking what is one thing that you think gets in the way of women who have the potential to be great leaders.
“Men perceive things and women perceive things and men will just go do it and women have to really gather all the information together and really work on it and really have everything in line before they will launch forward,” Jordan says. “Anytime I find myself hesitating, I just do it. Don’t hesitate.”
Klippenstein shared that while she is often surrounded by so many brilliant people, she must remember why she was brought in. “I have a role and while I can't do what they do, they can't do what I do,” she says. “But as a team, we're really strong.”
Harden shared on the webinar that she declined opportunities when she felt it wasn’t sincere.
“I think the sincerity of the ask and the involvement is vital,” she says. “Not just say we need more women.”
To learn more about future NMPF Young Cooperator webinars, go to nmpf.org.
