Leadership and Development Opportunities Abound at Inaugural Women in Agribusiness Summit

BOSTON, July 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Women from across the agricultural value chain who gather at the Women in Agribusiness Summit in New Orleans, Sept. 16-17 will be swept up into the whirlwind of professional development and leadership learning opportunities at this first-ever event. 

Intimate and highly-participatory breakout sessions will be led by distinguished women in ag, such as Mary Shelman, Director of the Agribusiness Program at Harvard Business School and President of the International Food and Agribusiness Management Association (IFAMA), and Rhonda Caughlin Werner, Partner and Agronomy and Seed Recruiting Consultant at Ag1 Source. Sessions will address capturing career opportunities in agribusiness, as well building an effective network of ag business associates to call upon as advisors when striving to achieve career goals.

Michelle Smith, of Dow AgroSciences, will speak to how Dow develops leadership skills in their female employees through its leadership coaching program.  Discussion will be focused on implementation, lessons learned and successes achieved.

"The range and depth of the experience of our presenters and attendees provide the perfect background for phenomenal discussions on career development and leadership opportunities," said Frances Pratt, co-chairwoman and event director of the Women in Agribusiness Summit, which is hosted by HighQuest Partners, a leading global agricultural consultancy. "In addition, we are excited to act as a mentor in presenting this dynamic, forward-thinking dialogue to attendees who are students, recent graduates and high-potential women interested in ag career opportunities."

The leadership and development theme of the event will be complimented by sessions on navigating the growing global agro-economy, transportation and infrastructure, and managing volatility in a high-priced commodity market.  These sessions will be directed by industry experts such as Elizabeth Hund, Senior Vice President at U.S. Bank Food Industries, and Mary Ellen Hennessey-Jones, President of Solera Capital LLC.

Keeping the event lively and interactive will be keynote speaker Michele Payn-Knoper, a global "agvocate" who travels the world helping people understand the path from farm gate to the consumer plate. 

The Women in Agribusiness Summit is the prelude to the Soy & Grain Trade Summit for domestic and international soybean, oilseed and grain commodity buyers and their suppliers, which runs through Sept. 19 at the same venue.  Join us at LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter to follow the latest updates on these events.

Contact: Michelle Pelletier Marshall
978.887.8800, [email protected]

SOURCE HighQuest Partners LLC