USPOULTRY’s Women’s Conference Addresses Skills for Success

US - Successful women in the poultry industry gave advice to others on mentorship, leadership and communication skills at USPOULTRY's recent Women's Leadership Conference.
calendar icon 16 September 2015
clock icon 3 minute read

“In order to grow as a leader, it’s important to gain a variety of experiences throughout your career and to develop and mentor others.

"Most of all, do not be afraid to speak up. You have something to contribute,” said Jeannell Goines, sales manager at Aviagen, speaking to attendees at the conference in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

In her presentation, “Profiles of Industry Women in Leadership Roles,” Ms Goines, an alumnus of the USPOULTRY College Student Career Program, provided a personal account of learning experiences during her path to career success.

Mentorship in an organisation is important in building strong leadership skills and provides a knowledge transfer that fosters connections among women in various roles in the industry.

In the panel discussion, “Mentoring Young Professionals. What Matters to Them,” Gracie McGarity, business analyst, Fieldale Farms; Candice Schroepfer, senior food technologist, Perdue Farms; and Caitlin Linden, director of McDonald's Business Unit, Keystone Foods, provided unique mentee perspectives. They noted that mentoring relationships allow young leaders to gain many advantages, such as confidence, guidance and professional development assistance.

In order for the relationship between mentor and mentee to work effectively, however, Ms Schroepfer stated: “Mentees should listen, respect their mentor’s time and always be prepared when attending meetings.”

In her presentation on “The Power of a Woman: Turning Challenges into Achievements,” Martha Lanier, CEO of IGNITE Your Potential, Inc., shared an empowering message of overcoming personal obstacles.

Ms Lanier, who is both a breast cancer and heart attack survivor, an Iron Girl Triathlete, an author, skydiver and a business owner, knows a few things about resilience and turning adversity into hope. Ms Lanier remarked to attendees that they should make themselves their number one priority.

She confided: “I have learned that as women, we have more internal stress, but it is up to us to identify and control it.”

She also noted: “As people pleasers, it is natural to become bombarded with many priorities. Sometimes it is okay to say no in an effort to control stress levels.”

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