Calgary (Rural Roots Canada) – Like crops weathering droughts and downpours, women in agriculture are rising through uncertainty and leading with resilience.

At the recent Advancing Women in Agriculture conference, Dr. Cami Ryan, Senior Business Partner for Industry Affairs and Sustainability at Bayer Crop Science Canada, spoke with Rural Roots Canada about her talk, “The Heat is On! Resiliency and Leadership in Ag.” Ryan said she never planned for a career in agriculture, but stressed that we all have to grow where we’re planted.

“I would have been the least likely person to end up in this space, but I did,” she said. “So, really, the message is, if I can do it, anybody else can do it, too.”

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With a background in social sciences and economics, Ryan focused on resiliency, especially for women entering the ag sector. Her advice? Build strong connections and know when it’s time to grow.

“Get a good mentor, get a good network of people around you, and you have to know when you’ve outgrown those mentors,” she explained. “Always be prepared to find new and exciting opportunities.”

Speaking to the crowd, Ryan spoke about cultivating opportunities in leadership, something that’s not always easy. That’s when resiliency matters most, she said. It requires an ability to manage resources effectively and the courage to push back on biases and break through barriers.

Ryan added that for women, changing the DNA of agriculture and redefining success in a historically male-dominated industry starts with showing up, speaking up and lifting each other up.

The next AWC event takes place in November in Niagara Falls, Ontario. You can visit the website to learn more.