Working On The Right Problems with Jeremy Groeteke

The Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast

Jeremy Groeteke is a seasoned professional in the agricultural business sector and currently serves in a leadership role at Syngenta, focusing on computational agronomy.

With a background rooted in practical farm experience, Gretecke has risen through the ranks to lead cutting-edge data science initiatives within one of the largest agriculture companies in the world. His tenure at Syngenta and past experiences, including a significant project launch at Pioneer, highlight his proficiency in driving innovative solutions within agribusiness.

In this insightful episode of the Intentional Agribusiness Leader podcast, host Mark is joined by Jeremy Groeteke of Syngenta to delve into the nuances of intentional leadership within the complex and ever-evolving landscape of agribusiness. The conversation touches upon the critical aspects of decision-making, action-taking, and the importance of cultivation within workplace culture.

As the discussion unfolds, it's clear that intentionality in leadership is not just about setting goals, but aligning actions to meet objectives. Treating talent retention as a top priority, Jeremy sheds light on how leaders' decisions have a direct impact on team engagement and productivity. Moreover, he emphasizes the vital role of culture in retaining talent, sharing an internal case study that demonstrates the value of investing time into building a strong, unified team culture.

Key Takeaways:

• Intentional leadership necessitates empowering team members and ensuring clear communication to execute decisions effectively.
• Talent retention hinges on employees working on meaningful projects that lead to actual results and seeing their hard work come to fruition.
• Cultivating a deliberate organizational culture can significantly boost team engagement and satisfaction.
• Change management is identified as a major hurdle in leadership, with the need for continuous adaptation and guiding teams through transitions.
• Vulnerability and openness to failure are crucial for fostering an environment where teams can innovate and pivot when necessary.

Notable Quotes:

• "To me, change management is the hardest one...it's hard to get people to see your point of view, because not everybody comes from the same context." - Jeremy Groeteke
• "Biggest thing is making sure that the talent is working on the right problems. When talent tends to work on problems that don't get to market...the talent gets frustrated and they leave." - Jeremy Groeteke
• "If you don't tell your story, somebody will make it up for you." - Jeremy Groeteke, on the importance of communication in leadership and projects.
• "The ultimate goal [is]...seeing some of my team members grow and pass me, maybe in talent and skillset." - Jeremy Groeteke
• "We really have to invest the time...to your point, many people will put up two or three powerpoints of these are our values...But they don't spend time in meetings and in one on one sessions with their teams to implement that." - Jeremy Groeteke

Resources:

• Book: "The Infinite Game" by Simon Sinek
• Book: "Greenlights" by Matthew McConaughey
• Syngenta Digital's Cropwise product suite

As we wrap up this episode, we encourage our audience to dive into the full conversation for a deeper understanding of the transformative power of intentional leadership. Tune in to gain valuable insights that can pivot your approach to leadership within agribusiness and beyond. Stay with us for more enlightening content from the Intentional Agribusiness Leader podcast.