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16SEEDWORLD.COMOCTOBER2014everystepoftheway.ImsurewewomenprobablybringalittlebitdifferentperspectiveonthingsDemasiacknowledges.Anddif-ferentisgoodanytimeyouoryourorganizationbroadenyourthinkingyoulearn.WhileDemasisaysitsgreatbeingthefirstwomantositatASTAsboardroomtableshesneverfeltthathervoicewasdiffer-entthananyoneelsesthere.Therearemoreandmorewomenallthetimeintheindustryinamyriadofrolesactiveroleswithintheirorganizationslargeandsmallshesays.InanagewherebookssuchasMenAreFromMarsWomenAreFromVenusarepopularreadingmaterialDemasiisntsosuremenandwomenarereallythatdifferentfromoneanotherwhenitcomestotheirinfluencewithintheseedindustry.Itseasytogethunguponthevari-ousreportsyouseeinthemediaaboutthedifferencesbetweenmenandwomenbutIthinkget-tingboggeddowninthatisahindranceratherthanahelpshesays.Idratherthinkaboutthepotentialandtheopportunitiesthatexisttoday.MonsantosRashetagrees.TheU.S.rowcropsmanufacturingqualityleadhasbeeninvolvedintheindustryforthepast14yearsandfeelsanimportantqualitywomenbringtotheindustryisadesireforinclusivity.Ithinkwomenhavebeenrepre-sentativeofgoodleadershipinallsectorsnotjusttheseedsectorRashetsays.Weveseenalotofcompaniesreallyworktomakeadifferenceandmakechangestofosteramorediverseenvironmentbeingmoreinclusivetowomen.Ithinktheindustryisreallyawareofthatandtryingtobolsterwomeninleadershiproles.RashetwhoservesonASTAsSeedIndustryRelationsCommitteeandPhytosanitaryCommitteeisalsosomeonewhodidntinitiallyimagineher-selfworkinginagriculture.ShemajoredinSpanishatWashingtonUniversityinSaintLouisandearnedherexecutivemastersdegreeininternationalbusinessfromSaintLouisUniversity.GlobalPerspectiveRashetsaysthathavingsomefemaleleadershiphelpsseedcompaniesoperatebetterfromaglobalperspective.Ialwayswantedtobeininternationalbusi-nessshesaysaddingthatbeingawomanintheseedindustryhashelpedherfulfillthatdream.Havingthatfemalevoiceatthetablecanbringanimportantper-spectivewhenitcomestotalkingaboutthevaluetheseedindustryhasacrosstheworlditsespeciallyimportantwhenyouretalkingwithmothersandMillennialsandsomeofthemorefood-mindedfolkswetendtocallfoodies.Wolinskiagrees.Ithinkhavingwomeninleadershiprolesgivescompaniesanopportunitytoapproachdecision-makinginadif-ferentway.Fromaconsumerper-spectiveforexamplewomenstillmakealotofthenutritiondeci-sionsintheirownhouseholdsandthatperspectivemighthaveinflu-enceinaboardroom.Companiescanonlybenefitfromthat.TheinfluencewomenbringtotheirrespectiveorganizationsisgettingnoticedDemasipointstowomenlikeKarenWithersofOregonsPenningtonSeedCompanywhowasnamedYoungSeedsmanoftheYearatthe2013WesternSeedAssociationcon-ventionasproofthatwomeninseedtheseedindustryarebeingrecognizedfortheircontributions.Anytimeyougetsomeoneinanewgroupwithauniqueper-spectivethatsabenefitDemasisays.IgetcaughtupinmyownwayofthinkingbutthelargermynetworkingcirclegrowsthemoreopportunitiesIhavetobeexposedtonewideasandapplythemtowhatImworkingonsoIcanbreakthatcycle.Thatsnotuniquetowomenbuttoanyoneworkinginacomplexindustry.SWSUCCEEDINGINSEEDWhatdoesittakeforawomantosucceedintheseedindustryAccordingtoGrasslandOregonfoundingpartnerandASTAfirstvicechairRisaDemasitheroadtosuccessisgenderneutral.Hardworkisarequirementforsuccessshesays.Ittakesalotofworktosucceedinthisindustry.Listeningisanother.Weallhavetwoearsandonemouthusingtheminthatratioisbeneficial.Hardworkandlisteningenableyoutorecognizeopportunitiesandseizethem.ButIbelievethebiggestthingisjusthavinganunwaveringdesiretosucceed.Nooneisgoingtohandyousuccessonasilverplatter.JenniferRashetU.S.rowcropsmanufacturingqualityleadforMonsantoagrees.Womenwhohaveastrongfocusonrelationshipsandnetworksastrongvoiceandareveryresults-driventendtobethemostsuccessfulones.AhealthyamountofconfidencegoesalongwayforLaurieWolinskidirectoroftheUniversityofDelawaresExtensionRiskManagementEducationNortheastCenter.Confidenceisahugenecessityandastrongpassionfortheirworkshesays.BothRashetandDemasiemphasizetheimportanceofthestrongrolemodelstheyhadgrowingup.Demasisfatherisacattlefarmerwhomshegreatlyadmiresforhisethics.IgottoseefirsthandhowmuchworkgoesintoitandthatsprobablywhyItriedsomethingelseoutsidetheagindustrytobeginwithshesays.Ienjoyedgrowinguponthefarm.Therewereseedfarmsallaroundusagricultureisa247vocation.Itwashermusicalmotherthoughwhotaughtherwhatastrongwomaninaleadershiprolecouldlooklike.Demasismomownedherownmusicschoolteachingvoiceandpianoandtravelinginternationallyasaconcertpianist.SheledtheOregonMusicTeachersAssociationandwasinlinetoleadtheNationalMusicTeachersAssociationwhenshepassedawayin2006.ShewasagreatinfluenceonmeDemasisays.RashetsfatherisaretiredphysicianandhermotheraphysicaltherapistwhoinherretirementyearshasdevelopedtheSt.ClairCountyGreenspaceFoundationanIllinoisgreenspacefoundationthatworkstopreserveforestsintheMidwesternstate.WatchingherleadthatefforthasbeengreatRashetsays.ForDemasithereexistsonelastrequirementforwomentosucceedintheseedindustrythedesiretocontinuetheireducation.Youalwayshaveanopportunitytolearnneverstoplearning.