What Does it Take to be a Leader? Start with the Leadership Workshop at WIA Summit 2025
- Michelle Pelletier Marshall
- Aug 19
- 3 min read
By Michelle Pelletier Marshall, Women in Agribusiness Media (August 19, 2025)
For generations, agriculture has been shaped by the hands and minds of women. Today, women are not only running farms and agribusinesses, but steering ag innovation, influencing policy, and building resilient food systems. Thriving at this level demands extensive expertise, the ability to forge powerful connections, and the grit to push through every barrier along the way.
What does it take to be one of these leaders and reimagine what leadership in agriculture looks like? Look no further than the upcoming Women in Agribusiness Summit (September 22-24 in Orlando) to help you build your vision to not just feed the world, but transform it through your own brand of leadership!
Start with the pre-event workshop on Monday, September 22 from 8 a.m. to noon: Leading Change: Essential Skills for Current and Future Agribusiness Leaders
This four-hour interactive workshop is brought to WIA attendees by Syngenta and facilitated by Brandon Bell, talent & culture lead, Syngenta Group & head of ED&I Syngenta North America, and Kelsey Lakamp, regional head of talent acquisition, North American, Syngenta.
Leaders themselves at providing guidance to lift others to that standing, Bell and Lakamp have designed this workshop exclusively for women who want to advance their careers with authenticity, clarity, and confidence.
As Bell explains it, “we start with a look into your own values and purpose then provide tools that help you lead in a way that allows your values, purpose and strengths to operate in alignment.” With a focus on interactivity, including worksheets, a workbook, group coaching exercises, feedback from peers and facilitators, and insight from key Syngenta leaders who will share their lessons, tips and outlooks on leading, this workshop promises to better align and capitalize on your unique persona for success in leadership.
Three fundamentals will be covered:
1). Authenticity and Personal Leadership Philosophy – During this discussion, attendees will work to (re)identify core values and strengths; understand the importance of self-awareness in leadership; and develop strategies to lead with authenticity. They also will leave with a personal leadership statement that reflects their vision and values – a roadmap for success!
2). Strategies for Intentional Career Development – It might seem that putting in time and hard work will grow one’s career, but more is needed. In this session, emphasis will be placed on taking charge of one’s career path and making strategic decisions for professional growth. Covered topics include setting clear, achievable goals; navigating challenges and barriers in the workplace; and aligning your career aspirations with your personal brand.
3). Networking: Building and Leveraging Professional Relationships – Networking may seem as easy as talking but there are ways to be more effective and present in networking to build one’s career opportunities. Attendees will be asked to think of common challenges and how to overcome them, to make a plan to leverage social media and digital platforms for networking, and to practice effective communications skills in networking scenarios with others in the workshop.
“We believe that the key to being a successful leader is experiential, so we have designed this workshop not to tell you how to be a leader, but help you discover your personal leadership skills, potential and style, and empower you with the tools to use to shape the career that you want,” said Bell.
Learn more about the workshop in the WIA Summit agenda. Note that for a limited time – until August 29 – there is a discount on the workshop cost, $220 instead of $275. Register here.
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Also, don’t miss these other leadership sessions at the 14th annual Women in Agribusiness Summit next month:
Leading Change: Essential Skills for Current and Future Agribusiness Leaders
With speakers from Kincannon & Reed – Sally Day, managing director, leadership services, and Lisa Johnson, managing director, this session will speak to developing the essential skills needed to thrive as an agribusiness executive in today's rapidly evolving landscape. Skills addressed include how to build AI and digital fluency while maintaining strong leadership fundamentals, integrating sustainability practices into business strategy, and leveraging soft skills to drive meaningful change.
Dialing in Your Leadership Thermostat: Mastering Boundaries & Mindset
In this session, facilitated by Jacqueline Langlois, founder & CEO of Gen D Consulting, attendees will learn how to build mental guardrails, reframe self-talk, and adopt a proactive leadership posture that protects their most precious resource: time. Langlois will illustrate how through the power of clear communication, realizing and developing leadership habits and mindset changes, and reframing situations to build trust and expertise, one can achieve greater leadership skills and boundary-setting abilities.
See you soon at #WIAS25 in Orlando!
