"Connectivity is currency in navigating a career," Karen Jones, vice president of learning and partner solutions for NextUp, said during her presentation at Petfood Forum on April 28 in Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. NextUp is a nonprofit organization that works to advance women in the workplace through leadership development, programming and inspiring events.
Powered by Women in Petfood Leadership and open to all Petfood Forum participants, the presentation centered on the power of connection to grow leadership and featured candid conversations that resonated with professionals at every stage of their careers.
Jones provided insights on how making — and maintaining — connections can help pet food professionals grow as leaders and lead teams effectively, particularly in the challenging hybrid environments of a post-COVID-19 world. The session sparked engaging dialogue among the participants and offered actionable strategies for professional growth and networking within the pet food industry.
For pet food professionals, especially women seeking growth in a competitive and evolving industry, connection is key.
"Strong relationships are going to help you gain visibility," Jones said.
To gain visibility, keep, and maintain these critical relationships, professionals need to use social media tools, whether they enjoy it or not. Jones asked the audience for a show of hands of how many used social media to promote themselves and their colleagues, and only two hands went up. This is a missed opportunity to be seen, Jones emphasized, especially for individuals who work remotely. Jones recommends using a platform like LinkedIn for even five minutes a day to grow and maintain a professional presence.
"Use it. It's the easiest way to connect or reconnect with someone," Jones said.
It’s also important to maintain existing network connections. "If you are reaching out to your network when you need a favor, and you haven't talked to that person in a while, it's too late," Jones said. Jones recommends that leaders reach out to a different person in their professional network once a week.
Women in pet food share their leadership experiences
Following a break, the session continued with a panel discussion moderated by Jones. Three executives from the pet food industry — Shelly Hein, vice president operations, Petcurean; Laura Moran, CEO, LPM Innovate; and Melissa Weber, Ph.D., director of technical services, pet, Wilbur-Ellis — discussed their experiences in leading both people and businesses, stressing the importance of connection to be sucessful.
The panelists shared how embracing mentorships and sponsorships can help leverage connection to drive leadership in the pet food industry. Mentorship, as defined during the panel, is support through networking relationships with specific goals. Mentors will help their mentee grow with information and advice. Sponsorship is the support of someone who has the positional power to help the trajectory of another colleague.
As for how to find mentors and sponsors — ask, the panel agreed. It can be as simple as reaching out to your network and asking for feedback. It becomes a mentorship when you ask for follow-up. Mentorships can grow into sponsorships. Jones and the panelists again stressed that connection is the key to growing as a leader.
The Women in Petfood Leadership program is sponsored by ADM, AFB International, Camlin Fine Sciences, Ecolab, Extru-Tech Inc., Kemin Nutrisurance, Kerry, the Peterson Co., Simmons Foods, TC Transcontinental, Trouw Nutrition, Zinpro Corp.
