All week, we are revealing the people whom you said are redefining leadership in the seed industry.
A Management Maverick tends to break away from conventional expectations, showing creativity and originality. This trait can be especially valuable in a seed industry that requires innovation and fresh perspectives. Mavericks are usually unafraid to forge new paths or to challenge the status quo, making them pivotal in driving change and progress in their environments.
We asked our readers to nominate leaders in North America with these characteristics. Now, we’re unveiling those who go beyond the ordinary, those who champion employee well-being and inclusion, those who nurture a culture of mentorship and those who excel in talent retention and career development. In alphabetical order, these are the Top Management Mavericks of North America. Next up, the rest of the eight U.S. honorees.
Doug Hubner, President, Hubner Industries
Attributes: Strategic, Inspirational, Innovative, Coach, Humble
Nominators said:
Doug Hubner demonstrates a strong commitment to the long-term sustainability of the seed industry. He pioneers new paths and innovations in agricultural technology and tools, which are set to advance and transform the industry. Doug is deeply invested in mentoring youth interested in agriculture, 4-H, and FFA, and is dedicated to leadership within seed industry organizations. His commitment extends to his local community, where he actively engages in various initiatives to support and uplift those around him.
Doug sets the strategic direction and drives the culture at Hubner Industries. He deeply cares about his team, always encouraging and supporting individual and team growth and development. Doug encourages learning through ongoing development, actively participating in his team members’ growth journeys. He fosters an inclusive and collaborative work environment that is also enjoyable and fun through recognition and team-wide events.
Doug’s prioritizes purpose, team and community. He emphasizes serving others, creating an environment where the team can thrive and do their best work. Doug ensures his team understands the company’s purpose and their role in achieving it. He deeply cares for his community, engaging in initiatives to build a thriving local environment. He encourages youth to pusue agriculture careers, supports FFA and 4-H, hires interns and offers facility tours to elementary students. When a local company’s production unit shut down, Doug reached out to displaced employees, encouraging them to interview with Hubner Industries. His leadership in seed industry organizations has helped set strategic directions for the industry.
More About Doug:
Doug Hubner graduated from Purdue University and joined the family seed business as a third-generation seedsman. His goals are employee and customer growth, being a lifelong learner, and improving service, product quality and innovation. His career began at the ground level in production and retail, progressing to roles such as district sales manager and brand lead.
In 2021, Doug returned to Hubner Industries, leading its growth as a premier contract production company serving the corn belt. Under his leadership, the company has seen tremendous growth and expansion, adding new production sites and warehousing facilities. Doug enjoys spending time with his family and serving on the church council at Trinity Lutheran Church in Danville, Illinois.
Jay Hulbert, President and CEO, Ag Alumni Seed, Inc.
Attributes: Forward-Thinker, Protector, Developer, Creative, Original
Nominators said:
Jay Hulbert demonstrates a unique understanding of market sensitivity and human consumption trends. He has a desire to explore futuristic ideas driven by creativity, originality and fresh perspectives. Jay forges new paths by investing in future-focused innovations while protecting current interests. Because of his leadership, an innovation involving the nanobiotechnology of cereal crops is currently under examination at Purdue. Jay’s keen eye for opportunities and his proactive approach to seizing them have elevated Purdue’s agricultural business sector, particularly with novel traits and varieties like short corn and his support for nanobiotechnology.
Jay positively impacts the work environment by consistently supporting innovative opportunities and nurturing advancements. He connects with people on a personal level, building strong relationships and fostering a sense of belonging and aspiration. Jay creates an environment where employees feel valued and motivated to contribute their best efforts. His visionary approach and dedication to future growth inspire the entire team to strive for excellence.
Jay’s leadership has led to significant innovations at Purdue, including advancements in nanobiotechnology for cereal crops. His forward-thinking approach ensures that opportunities are not overlooked, allowing the organization to stay ahead of the curve. Jay’s success with novel traits and varieties, such as short corn, showcases his ability to support and drive groundbreaking projects. His proactive and creative management style continually elevates the organization.
More About Jay:
Jay is a seasoned executive leader with more than three decades of experience in agribusiness. He began his career at his family farm, Hulbert Farms, Inc., and has since held national and international roles in production, mergers and acquisitions, strategic planning, sales, marketing and senior leadership. With more than 15 years of experience as a CEO, he has a proven track record of driving growth and innovation. Jay served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Washington.
Lulu Rodriguez, Iowa State University’s Seed Science Center (SSC) Global Programs Lead
Attributes: Inclusive, Strategic, Empathetic, Innovative, Supportive
Nominators said:
A year ago, Lulu Rodriguez stepped into the role of interim director of the Iowa State University Seed Science Center. Despite the challenges of this pivotal moment, Lulu demonstrated exemplary leadership that ensured a smooth transition. Her natural leadership style, characterized by clarity, empathy and decisiveness, made a time of uncertainty and stress much more manageable for everyone involved. Under her guidance, the Seed Science Center not only maintained its high standards but also thrived, setting a new benchmark for excellence and innovation.
Lulu’s inclusive leadership fosters a collaborative environment, driving innovation and efficiency. She has streamlined operations, enhanced research initiatives and strengthened industry partnerships. Her clear vision and strategic initiatives have ensured continuity and growth in transition. Lulu’s empathetic and supportive approach boosts team morale, encouraging professional development and fostering a culture of excellence.
Lulu is a distinguished leader and academic. With a background in agricultural communications and a deep understanding of seed science, Lulu brings a unique blend of expertise and passion to her role. Lulu leads with grace and confidence. Her natural leadership style, characterized by inclusivity, strategic vision and empathy, immediately put the staff and stakeholders at ease.
She successfully streamlined operations, strengthened research initiatives and industry partnerships and solidified the center’s reputation as a leader in seed science. Lulu is also a mentor and an advocate for professional development. She encourages her team to pursue continuous learning and innovation, creating a culture of excellence and growth. Her ability to inspire and motivate others makes her a beloved and respected figure.
More about Lulu:
Lulu also serves as an adjunct agricultural communication professor in the ISU Department of Agricultural Education and Studies. She works with national and international agencies, governments, research centers, universities, institutes and non-government entities to develop activities to improve global seed and food security.
Rodriguez earned a bachelor’s degree in development communication from the University of the Philippines at Los Baños, a master’s degree in communication from Cornell University, and a Ph.D. in mass communications at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Lulu was the director of graduate education for the ISU Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication before joined the University of Illinois in 2013 to become director of the Agricultural Communications Program. There, she held the nation’s first endowed faculty appointment in agricultural communications.
Her research focuses on understanding the effects of science and risk communication interventions on public knowledge, attitudes, and behavior, and evaluating and improving media performance in communicating science and risk.
Ponsi Trivisvavet, Inari CEO
Attributes: Empowering, Collaborative, Compassionate, Motivating, Visionary
Nominators said:
Ponsi’s vision, commitment and expert industry knowledge guide Inari in making significant strides towards its mission to address food security and sustainability through nature-positive seeds. She dedicates her life’s work to tackling some of the world’s biggest, most vexing challenges, but her people-first approach really sets her apart. She is a servant leader who fosters an inclusive and supportive environment. Ponsi leads with humility, empathy and integrity.
She approaches every day by asking herself, “How can I help others today?” Ponsi forgoes music and podcasts during her morning commute to deeply consider this question before beginning each workday. With this as her North Star, Ponsi guides the success and health of the organization from the inside out – helping employees feel valued and recognized, ensuring Inari has the resources and tools it needs to be successful and building a culture of open communication, innovation and collaboration.
After an important company milestone, Ponsi wrote dozens of personal, handwritten thank-you notes to each of the employees involved. She expressed her genuine gratitude for their specific efforts, making the team feel valued and appreciated.
She champions a uniquely innovative way of collaborating at Inari: no silos. She leads the charge on encouraging employees from diverse backgrounds and professional experiences to tackle projects together. Under her leadership, the company put together a protein engineer, physicist, computer scientist, and plant geneticist, leading to a major joint realization: they could tap into existing machine learning methods from a completely different field to guide the engineering of proteins that Inari uses to edit crop genetics.
More About Ponsi:
Ponsi’s broad management expertise in global agriculture has helped her build Inari into the cutting-edge SEEDesign™ technology company. Through her deep experience, she leads the organization toward achieving its vision of building a more sustainable global food system in the face of climate change. Prior to joining Inari, she held several leadership roles, including president of North America Seeds with Syngenta after earning her MBA from Cornell University and working with McKinsey & Company.
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