WiSPER LOUD

Join the Women in Seed Production Network as we sit down with Daphne Ramsbottom for a candid conversation on career growth, resilience, and the power of stepping outside your comfort zone. What started as something “a little outside” her norm quickly turned into an authentic reflection on the moments that shape a career—and the mindset shifts that move us forward. We explore her journey through ag...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for a special episode of the WiSPER Loud podcast. In this episode our hosts lead a candid panel discussion with guests Flo Kesselheim and CJ Shank focused on navigating the journey of allyship. CJ defines allyship as intentionally leveraging one's privilege and access to support others, famously simplified by his daughter’s advice. The conversation exp...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network as we talk to Paige Thomsen-Russ, who shares insights from her 25-plus year career in the agriculture industry. Paige discusses her journey from being a collegiate athlete to helping build a biological soil health company and eventually returning to seed production, where she now manages the "adrenaline rush" of crop planning and grower contracti...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for another exciting episode with our guest, Dr. Denise Bouvrette. As we walk through Denise’s professional journey, she shares how she tackled big transitions including moving up in the hospitality industry, going back to school later in life, falling in love with genetics, and, subsequently, leaving academia. She describes how skills she learned early on...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network as we sit down with Amy Sanders, the Head of Digital and Data Enablement, to explore her nearly 30-year journey from chemist to leadership roles. Amy shares her insights on navigating major career shifts, emphasizing that transferable skills like problem-solving and driving change are far more valuable than technical expertise alone when moving up the ladd...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for an exciting 50th episode to kick off 2026! Our guest in this episode is Tracy McKay, a seasoned leader with over 30 years of experience across the agriculture, automotive, and food industries. The central theme of this episode is Tracy's mindset of embracing discomfort, as she emphasizes that leaning into "scary" or "awkward" changes is often where the...

In this year-end episode we reflect on a season of candid conversations about career progression, tough choices, and motivation faced by women in seed production. We celebrate the WISP Network’s 10year anniversary and underscore the episode’s central message: the power of community and a strong professional network. Key themes included taking ownership of your career (insights from  Cheryl Werner...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for a candid conversation with Angie Black, a US Navy veteran and mother with 24 years of experience in agriculture, who shared profound insights on career progression and challenges faced by women in seed production. Angie detailed her career journey through two segments: the intense "prove it" phase, rooted in proving value by working long hour...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for an insightful conversation with Melissa Phillips, the North America Laboratory Research Lead. In this episode, Melissa shares her inspiring journey from working a seasonal part-time position while reevaluating her career trajectory, to earning her Registered Seed Technologist accreditation and pursuing advanced degrees in agriculture. She highlights ho...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for another special podcast episode celebrating our 10-year anniversary featuring additional insights from Kate McQueen, VP of North America Row Crop Production, three years after her first appearance. This episode includes a re-listening to her originally aired podcast, now enriched with new content and reflections. Kate emphasized her fundamental message...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network as we commemorate the 10th anniversary of Women in Seed Production (WISP) by bringing together a vibrant panel of women. They will reflect on past episodes and delve into valuable advice and examples that have shaped their own journeys in career advancement and life within seed production. This celebration will not only honor our milestones but also explor...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Women in Seed Production (WISP) by gathering former and current hosts to share their favorite clips and insights. We begin with a powerful selection by Allie Jack featuring Abby Repp, who inspires us with the reminder that "you are enough," promoting self-acceptance and resilience against the pressure to be...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for a specialpodcast episode commemorating WiSP’s 10-year anniversary. This episode features insights from Shannon Hauf, the North America, Australia, and New Zealand ProductSupply Lead, who returns four years after her initial appearance in the second episode of the podcast. We revisit her original episode, now enhanced with fresh content and reflections....

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for an insightful discussion with Salam Akhtar, a seasoned leader in the Canadian crop science sector, who shares his experiences and advice on career progression, ownership and leadership. Salam’s talks about his journey from Pakistan to Canada, emphasizing the importance of owning one's decisions, adaptability, and the willingness to start from scrat...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for a candid conversation with Cheryl Warner, a continuation from our previous episode “Decisions for Now, Not Forever”. Cheryl emphasizes the significance of trust as a choice rather than something to be earned in leadership. She describes how this approach fosters greater team ownership and collaboration. Cheryl also discusses her experiences with mentor...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for a candid conversation featuring Cheryl Werner, a site manager with 31 years of experience and an advocate for advancing women in leadership. Cheryl shares her non-typical career path, highlighting how prioritizing family led to spending 17 years at one location. A key realization was that she owned her career decisions, which shifted her perspective fr...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for an enlightening conversation with Debbie Holderman as she explores the transformative concept of the "Corporate Athlete." In this episode, Debbie delves into the principles outlined in the book "Corporate Athlete," highlighting how adopting the training mindset of elite athletes can empower individuals to effectively manage their me...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network as we have a candid conversation with Danielle Smetana. Danielle talks to us about the shift in her passions from technical work to leading and developing people. Danielle delves into managing work-life balance while maintaining career momentum, particularly as a wife and mother, stressing the importance of open communication and mutual support. She also s...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network as we have a candid conversation with Scott Baucum. Scott shares personal anecdotes about his upbringing and professional experiences, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, coaching, and receptivity in fostering allyship. He emphasizes the need to speak truth to power, avoid herd mentality, and making decisions with consideration for their consequences...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network as we have a candid conversation with Dr. Sheilah Oltmans-Deardorff. Sheilah reflects on her journey to earning her Ph. D. and the impactful professors who supported her along the way. She discusses the power of asking for help, the necessity of setting boundaries and shares practical advice for collaborating with global teams. With positivity and relatabl...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network in a conversation with Dr. Magan Lewis. Dr. Magan joins us from Iowa with a passion in plant breeding and genetics, transformation, innovation, and education! She shares with us how her “why” has evolved, along with her family's love for STEM and their impact on the community. She brings vibrant energy and excitement to our listeners and shares tips on how...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for our latest episode with our guest, Jason Wildman. Jason is currently a Unit Lead for the North America Row Crop Cotton business residing in Lubbock, TX with over 25 years of experience in a wide range of areas including NA Row Crops Corn, Soy, and Cotton, Supply Planning, Crop Protection Manufacturing, and Global Operational Excellence. He shares with...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network in a conversation with Jacqueline Benson McRoberts. Jacqueline joins us from the Vegetable R&D organization where she currently serves as the Head of Data Stewardship and Digital Enablement. She shares with us her childhood that was full of travel, while supporting her father’s time in the military. Health and wellness were instilled in Jaci at a young...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network for another installment of our A Day in the Life Series! In this episode we talk to 4 individuals from across our seed production sites. The group joining us in this episode has a focus on field and plant operations. Listen as we discuss the challenges they face, what they love about their careers, and the things they do every day to help keep seed product...

Join the Women in Seed Production Network in a conversation with Lindsey Battle. Lindsey spent the first half of her career with a people focus in human resources. Currently, she leads new product launches and special projects for cotton and sugar beets. Lindsey has a passion for people and championing their success. She has been involved in diversity and inclusion initiatives since she started he...