GARTHHODGES Strategy lead canola Bayer Crop Science Canada 24 GERMINATION.CA JULY 2018 DREAM BIG Garth Hodges says dreams are like seeds — they start small, you plant them into the minds of people, you nur- ture them and don’t give up on them. One of his dreams was Bayer Crop Science’s pod shatter reduction technol- ogy, which went into development in 2000 and launched 14 years later. “Through sheer persistence of scientists and breeders and people like myself, we never gave up despite many challenges and obstacles. We’re still discovering how important that idea was and is to farmers. The success wasn’t the technology itself, but the persistence of the team who believed in that dream,” says Hodges, strategy lead canola at Bayer’s Crop Science division based in Calgary, Alberta. After a long career in agriculture that had its roots during his youth growing up in South Africa and serving in the military there, he has worked in Canada since 2002 when he assumed the role of general manager for Bayer’s global canola seed business. In his current role, he is leading the proposed divestment of the InVigor Canola seed business to BASF by doing the following. Keep Forging Ahead “The biggest challenge or dream I have now is recogniz- ing InVigor’s responsibility as a leader in our segment, and how do we move our seeds business into a new cor- porate environment and make what has been a successful business into something that continues to be a leader in the industry.” Be a Team Player He credits his military service with shaping him into the leader he has become, guiding the Bayer seed business into a new future. “In the military you learn principles of interdepend- ency, discipline and leadership, but more importantly you learn to appreciate people and how each one contributes and how to bring out the best in those people.” Never Quit Hodges is well equipped to lead his teams into uncharted corporate waters — something that comes from persever- ing and seeing projects to fruition. “When you’re in the business long enough, you get to see some of your dreams come true.” TOP 20INFLUENCERS