Embracing Humanity in Leadership: A Journey Through Connection and Compassion

In this heartfelt episode of "Coffee in the Barn," host Casey Bradley engages in a profound conversation with Ashley Drake, a prominent figure in the poultry industry and a true leader at Novus International. Ashley’s journey is one of dedication, courage, and an unwavering commitment to leading with humanity. Over her 18-year career, she has risen through the ranks in a male-dominated field, not just by her professional acumen but through the deep connections and genuine care she shows for her colleagues and team members.

Ashley reflects on her early days in the industry, where women were a rare presence, and how she navigated these challenges with the support of strong mentors, including men who believed in the potential of women in leadership. Her story is a testament to the power of not shying away from opportunities and embracing the unknown with determination and courage.

Key learnings from this episode include:

• The Power of Human Connection: Ashley emphasizes the importance of empathy, understanding, and the human element in leadership. She shares how these traits are crucial not only in building strong teams but also in creating a supportive work environment that fosters growth and resilience.
• Navigating a Male-Dominated Industry: Ashley discusses her experiences as a woman in the poultry industry, highlighting the changes she has witnessed over the years and offering insights into how the industry is evolving to be more inclusive.
• The Importance of Mentorship: Ashley attributes much of her success to the guidance she received from mentors. She shares how seeking out mentors, including those from different parts of the business, has been instrumental in her career growth.
• Balancing Career and Personal Life: With humor and honesty, Ashley talks about the choices and sacrifices she has made, particularly around work-life balance. She shares strategies for maintaining boundaries, such as turning off work notifications, and the importance of having a supportive partner.
• Embracing Diversity and Cultural Differences: Ashley's experience working in global companies has enriched her understanding of different cultures and perspectives. She advocates for embracing these differences and highlights the respect and learning that comes from working with diverse teams.
• The Role of Women in Leadership: Through initiatives like "The Flock" at Novus, Ashley is actively involved in empowering women in the poultry industry. She shares the impact of these programs on fostering leadership and creating a supportive network for women.
• Overcoming Impostor Syndrome: Ashley candidly discusses her struggles with impostor syndrome and offers advice on focusing on one's strengths rather than perceived weaknesses.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in leadership, the poultry industry, or personal growth. Ashley’s journey will inspire you to lead with compassion, embrace challenges, and always remember the human side of every professional interaction.

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Transcript

Casey
0:00:00
Well, I'm so excited to start this episode out with my dear friend and ex-colleague or I can stare at you colleagues till Ashley Drake with Novus. Welcome Ashley to Coffee in the Barn.

Ashley
0:00:13
Thank you, Casey.

Ashley
0:00:14
I'm excited too. And this is much, much easier to do with somebody that I know and like.

Casey
0:00:22
So I'm nervous and every time I set up interviews and I get to know the person if I don't know him I do a pre-interview and things and kind of figure out the direction I want to take the episode and when I hit record they're a totally different person. I don't know what it is but even though you're like not standing in front of 30 or 40 people that nervousness that oh my gosh what I say

Ashley
0:00:51
Yeah, it's it's forever. I guess it's there. Yeah, no, I amusingly like I just recently finished in Improv 101 course or something to that degree and I was telling someone about it yesterday and they were like, oh my gosh How did you do that? And I was like, I don't know. It's just fun. I just did it I you know, I'm gonna try 102 now and they were like I just I could never do that I don't think that's not that big a deal. I'm in here. I'm like, oh my gosh

Casey
0:01:19
But before we jump into that can you just give the audience a little bit of background of yourself And how you I mean your journey to where you are today sure, so journey to where you are today? Sure. So, actually, Drake, I'm currently working for Novus International.

Ashley
0:01:39
I'm leading the poultry sales and tech team for US and Canada. Prior to that, when I first started at Novus, I came in as an account manager, senior account manager. I've been with Novus for four years. I was real brave and started during the pandemic, May of 2020. It was interesting prior to that

Ashley
0:02:06
I worked with some lovely people including yourself at DSM. It had a health War many hats their account manager key account manager global account manager a few different things there and learn some skills Before that Anna talks and a very small company called ever met international for seven years prior to that. So you're a lot younger than I thought in the poultry industry. Yeah, I'm about 18 years in.

Casey
0:02:34
We don't like to talk about our age, but yeah. We're not young anymore, are we? No, well, I have the midlife crisis purple hair. because obviously I think you've always stood out for your exceptional presence and natural leadership in my mind and that's why I wanted to have you today because we want to feature women leaders in our industry and to me you're one of those and you know you're an account manager and I think at DSM the first where I saw leading like a tech sales team or technical service team With April was really the first time I really saw a woman doing that, you know

Casey
0:03:22
Seeing women in marketing or R&D and stuff, but really customer facing You and April were one of the first ones I really noticed, you know succeeding in your careers doing that and obviously you left DSM right or wrong same time I did but from there you've been able to step up in that leadership role and for the audience I've gotten to see you as a phenomenal leader and

Casey
0:03:48
We'll get into it in a bit because it may be a touchy subject subject. We can't See it, but where I thought I always thought you had that presence, Ashley, but seeing you do that when one of your drug reports was going through the most tragic thing of their life and what you did as a leader said, oh my gosh, she's somebody that is doing it, right?

Casey
0:04:15
It's not talk, it's like the leader we all need to be and that is why I invited you to be part of it.

Ashley
0:04:22
I appreciate that and to be compared to Dr. April Levy is very, very nice of you to do so. So thank you for that. And, you know, in regards to the incident you're talking about, for that, to me, it was just being human. Like, I can't imagine having gone through what they did. And, yeah, I just, I can only be human in those moments.

Ashley
0:04:48
I lost my mother several years ago, and people around me were very good to me and I remember that. So I don't ever wanna be anything but that for someone else if I can.

Casey
0:04:59
I think that's important that we showcase that. We came together as colleagues or industry contacts to support somebody who is going through, like you said, it's just being human and I think when we think about that in our roles as leadership and careers, it's human working with humans,

Ashley
0:05:21
even though we are animals. Yeah, it's all about the people. I mean, that's to me, I mean, that's why I am where I am today. It's people, the connections that I've made over the years, and I think that's one of the most important things to always remember as you're going through this. I mean, the industry seems large, but it's not, ultimately. And you know, people, you have to connect.

Ashley
0:05:49
And you know, you're not going to get along with everyone, but I don't ever recommend burning bridges or doing any of those kind of things. You can still find something to learn from anyone out there.

Casey
0:05:59
I agree And I think come to start out we we have a long background and obviously We both work or grew up in a male-dominated space What is your point of I mean thinking now it's changing obviously we have you enrolls and someday I'm hoping to see you VP of sales at Novus or

Casey
0:06:20
Would be my goal for you or definitely I saw her from here's just a cat But kind of what do you think there's a lot of changes happening in our industry And we have regard and can you kind of touch on that a little bit about a woman working in there and and reason you know going through the ranks of Becoming a higher leader in your company

Ashley
0:06:42
Yeah, absolutely. So for me, you know, like I said, I started about 18 or so years ago, maybe telling myself a little bit here, but I started, when I started, there were very few women in the industry. I mean, we, there have been trailblazers all the time and there were, there were women before me, obviously, but I remember going to conferences and I could count the number of women there probably on two hands. A lot of the times I'd go on sales calls and they would happen to be in the town where I grew up, where my parents still lived. And I'd go out to lunch and I'd be

Ashley
0:07:22
myself and I don't know, ten men. I'd have to call my mom and be like, if people tell you they saw me with a big group of men, it's just for work. I promise. And the funny part was always getting the bill. When they used to come over to hand out the check, I'd be like, oh that's for me. So the waiter or waitress was always very surprised. So it was amusing. But I've been fortunate in this to connect with a lot of good men. I mean, there's good and bad through all of it. And what's really helped me is finding those men who have been extremely supportive of women and of women writing. And I found a mentor pretty early on in the industry, a nutritionist who has really helped

Ashley
0:08:08
put me on the trajectory for my career. He's what helped me actually get to DSM. And I attribute a lot to him. I still call him on a regular basis. Before I made this move to this job, I called him and talked to him about it. I still go over a number of things with him,

Ashley
0:08:28
just because it helps me a little bit to talk things over. But he's been, and he has a daughter as well, so I think that helps him because he's very supportive of her and her move in the industry as well. So that part's very nice. But the thing I think for me is I tried never to shy away from opportunity.

Ashley
0:08:53
If there was a project or something I could try that was new, I mean, I've had roles created for me at a few different companies that didn't exist. And when the company was looking at broadening the way they were doing things, they were like, all right, well, we're gonna try this.

Ashley
0:09:09
Don't know if it's gonna work, but you know, if it doesn't, we'll figure something out. And so it's scary. But I said, all right, let's do it. Let's give it a shot. And I think sometimes that's been a part that's helped me

Ashley
0:09:24
is just being willing to take that leap a little bit. So I feel like, you know, a lot of times when they offer that women, well, we have a lot of imposter syndrome situations. And I'll be honest, I was dealing with it for this when you asked me to be a part of it I'm like why would Casey want me to talk on

Ashley
0:09:44
here but but yeah taking on those those type projects and roles and being willing to just kind of put myself out there I think it's helped a lot. I knew

Casey
0:09:53
you wouldn't say no Ashley so. I mean you made me feel all right nervous and I think that's important to show and I'd say not only women listen to this, we have a lot of men and you know we say it's two working moms, we're just talking about it from a woman's perspective on this podcast because I can't deny that I'm a woman but yeah a lot of men listen to this and what I find really intriguing is there's just as much men who have imposter syndrome today and then you realize and it's everybody facing those doubts and how to connect and now I have a lot of men even

Casey
0:10:35
coming to me of wow we're the minority now in some rooms in some cases you know it is becoming more and more and you look at the animal science and culture science undergrads. It is dramatically changing and so now I'm having my trusted friends that are men, you know, how do we relate better? And this podcast is to bridge that gap and I would say I've had a lot of men mentors that are really important in my career and I highly recommend that most women Most women do have a higher up man as a mentor because they can open doors for you still

Ashley
0:11:19
Absolutely and Perspective right we have different perspectives and it's always great to learn a new one and see it from a different angle

Casey
0:11:27
Too I agree well 18 years as a salesperson That means you've had to give up some things in career choices and sacrifices, they're not always home, you're on the road. So what are some of those choices and sacrifices that you've made to get to where you are today?

Ashley
0:11:49
I had to, I'm lucky to have a husband who's supportive of it, who doesn't mind being the person who stays at home. And so I'm a little atypical, I don't have children, that was a choice he and I made, but I do have dog and cat. So when I leave, he has all those responsibilities along with his own job. Fortunately, he works from home, so that helps. So I hate to use the word sacrifice for me, but I think as far as choices go,

Ashley
0:12:19
I've missed... I used to do theater, like community theater and things like that. That's how I met my husband. But I had to give all that up because I couldn't do rehearsals anymore. I don't know if I'm going to be home on certain weekends and things. So that was something that I lost. I was a little sad about the improv now that I'm doing some improv classes. And so I'm enjoying those and those are a little different. I can take just time here and there. But for me, it was, I kind of lived and breathed my job for a long time and when I started traveling I couldn't get myself out of the loop of always being on.

Ashley
0:12:57
And so that's something as I've gotten older that I've really worked on is trying to create a boundary there. Is letting myself have time away. Actually trying to put my phone away. It's only been in the last couple of years I turned off the notification for my email on my phone. I thought I was gonna die when I did it, but turns out

Ashley
0:13:17
Nice, I enjoy not having that go off every few minutes I would say you're a great four-legged mom and you know

Casey
0:13:26
like you're like Adopted mom to your big niece like the great aunt that shows all the pictures and everything with their niece so I'm not connected to her life.

Ashley
0:13:43
Yeah, I have I'm blessed to have two nephews, three nieces. I've got my brother has a son and a daughter and my husband's sister has a son and two daughters. So they're on my husband's side. They're a lot older now. So I'm a little less interesting, but I've got a almost two year old and an eight year

Ashley
0:14:02
old and they still like me on the other side.

Ashley
0:14:04
So yeah.

Casey
0:14:05
So you know the little aunt that gives them ice cream and sugar and then gives them back.

Ashley
0:14:10
Yeah, and I love sending the gifts and doing the things. He knows to call me. He knows the weak spots. So the two-year-old will learn eventually, but the eight-year-old knows. He's like, Ashley, I need this messy jersey. So of course he has to have it.

Casey
0:14:29
messy Jersey so oh yes my brother's wife Karina is that to my son and she sends

Ashley
0:14:40
all the fun gifts and stuff I'm not sure he needed this yeah Karina he didn't

Casey
0:14:49
have any needed it and if he did have any need to do well I think in that last point of sacrifices, we all have that that loop. And I mean, I've been there with you, right? 80% travel, I, especially when the pandemic hit or things changed at DSS, I didn't know what to do with all my time.

Casey
0:15:03
Right.

Casey
0:15:04
And now then getting back into it, I'm like, I want to go back to not having to go. But how do you balance that? Right? You made a great point. You shut off your notifications and I've done that too for email on my phone. But what are some of the other things that you do to balance that? Because obviously it sounds like you, we've talked about this before, we have great husbands that support us and their careers help support us as well.

Casey
0:15:30
But what are some of the other things you do to balance that? I mean, to keep you efficient at home, things like that when you can't be there all the time.

Ashley
0:15:42
Well, for in my current position, I have a wonderful team that I work with. I have three sales people, two tech people, they all have a great deal of experience and I trust them. I mean, they're my team. They, they were the specific people that I, I believed in to be able to do these jobs. So I don't worry about them representing.

Ashley
0:16:08
So it just, so I'll give an example. Next week, I have to attend some internal meetings. I'm unfortunately not going to be able to be at Arkansas Nutrition. I know. It makes me sad. But there were some things I needed to get done, but I passed it on to Bob and said, hey, can you take care of this?

Ashley
0:16:24
You know, these are the things that need to get done, can you please meet up with some folks and make sure you pass along this information. I trust that he's going to handle it and handle it possibly better than I'm going to handle it. So, I've really tried to pull myself back from having to attend everything. I try to pick and choose now what makes sense because I have to attend a lot more internal things than I used to and I have to do a lot more

Ashley
0:16:53
computer work reports and all those good things that that we all love but So that's that's the part of that. I love to go and do everything but now it's just not feasible So being able to lean on my team and know that they're there representing has been phenomenal for me

Casey
0:17:10
And I would agree I finally have you know taken my business like this is gonna be a real deal Casey This is not for fun anymore and I'm building the team and relying on them and It's important to have a good team behind you and I was talking to somebody else just the other day and they're like, yeah It's better. It's a risk that you give your team all that responsibility But it's actually better because they grow more, right? And I've learned kind of what that is of having

Casey
0:17:43
the right team and support and realizing that I'm not superwoman.

Ashley
0:17:47
Well, and at one point you were that, you know, potentially that team member that somebody had to rely on. So, you know, you think about what you learned and how it aided you as you continued on. And if they hadn't trust you, I mean, working under micromanagers or people who just don't seem to trust you, it never feels great either. And for me, in my position, if I didn't believe in my team, I couldn't function. So I would call myself a control freak, but I have really learned that when you have the

Ashley
0:18:21
right people in place, then it doesn't feel like you're out of control then. No

Casey
0:18:27
And you made some good points on that of delegation as a leader But in sales in general in our industry you have some very high wins like really high points and very low points

Ashley
0:18:40
Kind of talk us through that that you've had in your career. And how do you handle that rollercoaster of the sales? I would say I handle it a lot better now with my age has come some clarity and through therapy and other things of that nature. But you know, when you're working with large integrators like we do, one day can be several million dollars and the next day have lost it. And I've been through both of those situations. The losing part, I mean, it hurts. And then you go through a piece of your mind.

Ashley
0:19:21
You're like, oh my gosh, how will I ever dig myself out? But you have to tell yourself, I did this once. I managed it. I got there. I can do it again. It's just putting the work behind it.

Ashley
0:19:36
And it's hard to sometimes climb that hill again but that's for me that's kind of how I've gone through it and I live on my wins and I really live on my team wins too like if a colleague has done super well like for me I embrace that too and you know these days having employees like their wins just really like uplift me and so I think that's been part of it too, is just trying never to be totally in my own mind and to kind of spread things out and realize I'm part of a team. This is not solo. We're all working together to try and do something.

Ashley
0:20:15
So if I'm having a bad day, maybe, you know, teammates having a good one, let's live through that happiness and then worry and focus on my issues the next day. I think that goes into a little bit. How do you manage expectations with people above you on the sales process because everybody wants sales tomorrow and in our world I have to try to tell people it's a one to two year sales cycle.

Ashley
0:20:41
Yes, and I think that is one of the most constant parts of my job now and one of the things that I try to make sure I handle, because I don't want my team to feel that or to have that pressure or that niggling on them all the time. So, I mean, it's a constant situation because the market changes, customers change, there's different things happening all the time. And as we bring in new products or grow our portfolio or lessen our portfolio, you know, I have to explain Okay, so if you're bringing in this this is the situation in the market right now if we want to change it

Ashley
0:21:26
It's going to take time and it's going to take research and you know We need to work with these individuals to try and help us It's always a learning experience, because especially if the people above you haven't worked with, again, large integrators, it's a new world.

Ashley
0:21:42
And luckily, it's one that I've been in for a long time, so I understand it and can speak to it pretty well. And sometimes they don't necessarily always agree with you at first, but I think if you remain diligent and show what your work is, show what you're doing, then you know, they usually come around most of the

Casey
0:22:06
time. So, if that's been the way I do it, it's consistency. Now, in DSM, we had some different programs to help us develop on our career path and every corporation I've been in has had different opportunities for young people to, and stars to shine and different things. What is in place, I guess, from your experience or things that have worked that you think will help women get into the leadership roles in the future?

Casey
0:22:38
Within maybe Novus or past things that you really liked to really help us become those leaders that we want to become.

Ashley
0:22:47
So this is exciting for me. I like this part because we have such an amazing program at Novus right now going on. I'll lead up to it. But mentors are always fantastic. When you come into Novus, you are immediately given a mentor who's your manager once removed, and they're there to kind of help you get into your day-to-day and understand things. So it's not your boss, but your boss's boss, but they're a very good source of information and an aid.

Ashley
0:23:16
That usually trickles off after a while because a lot of times these guys have 80 people answering to them. So for me, I sought out, I seek out mentors and I've personally sought out a female mentor here at Novus and she's in a completely different part of the business that I'm in, but her trajectory and her growth has been really phenomenal. And I really enjoy talking to her and learning and gaining perspective. And so for us, it's been a really good piece.

Ashley
0:23:50
I mean, she's never been, she doesn't do much on the sales front line, so she enjoys hearing like what's going on, how do we do this and hearing what we're doing. Specifically as a program at Novus, we have on the poultry side a program called The Flock, which we started three years ago. It was a small idea that several of us were talking about, and then one of my tenacious employees, she said, we're going to do this.

Ashley
0:24:24
And she worked with another woman who'd been with NOVA a long time, one of her colleagues. And she really helped her understand how to push the business case up the ladder. And as a result, we have this amazing, amazing program. And basically just to kind of give you the basis of it, when the project charter was written, it talked about creating and fostering an open dialogue in the poultry industry, focusing on empowering women through leadership.

Ashley
0:24:55
We're hoping to, we love to facilitate roundtable discussions relative to the industry, but also to our professional and personal selves, and really creating a safe space for women to talk about things, because sometimes just having, you can be a little more vulnerable, a little more open when you're amongst peers in the sense of, again, women, you know, or other mothers, or, you know, again, I'm not a mother, but so many of my colleagues are, and they're amazing, and the things that they do just astound me.

Ashley
0:25:31
So we started this program three years ago, and it basically, we started it as a retreat. We spend two and a half days. We rent like an Airbnb kind of thing. So we have everybody together all the time. But we have speakers come in to discuss some industry things, but they're all female speakers. We always have someone from the academic world come in and we ask them to bring one of their

Ashley
0:25:58
PhD or grad students with them so that that woman can go ahead and start networking and connecting and hearing that she's not alone. That some of these things and thoughts loading through her head, these women who have been doing this forever are hearing and feeling the same things I am. And I think that's the thing that comes out of it most every year is hearing how many people say, so nice to know I'm not alone in this, like I'm not the only one going through it, I'm not the only one dealing with it.

Ashley
0:26:33
So that has been phenomenal. The retreat is always our biggest piece, but we try to hold events at various conferences and stuff too, because a lot of it is the continuous connection and being able to have that moment where,

Ashley
0:26:49
again, a vulnerable moment, if you need to talk about something. You know, it's not necessarily, oh my gosh, you know, I had this horrible run-in with a customer. No, it's, oh my goodness, my, you know, kid couldn't go to daycare today, so I had to do this, you know, do this and cancel and it's been rough or, you know, whatever happens, is happening in your world. And just being able to go through that and have somebody who can empathize and talk to

Ashley
0:27:17
you on the same level has been really amazing. And we try to pull in topics. We started early with some imposter syndrome talks and last year's or this year's was burnout, which for me was perfect because I've been there. And now being able to understand what leads up to that is really good and I identify so I don't hit that point. And knowing that, like, I mean, we can talk about things like our mental health, how often, I mean, in the ag industry or really any industry, people feel comfortable talking about things like that.

Ashley
0:27:56
I'm a little more of an open book than maybe some people would.

Casey
0:28:00
No, not at all, actually. Not at all.

Ashley
0:28:03
Pretty much lay it all on the table. But as they say in the South, we put our crazy out on the front porch. So why not? But it has been not only for me, but I'm watching a lot of women connect and network.

Ashley
0:28:19
We bring people in from all across the industry. So they may be management, they may be nutritionists, veterinarians, procurement. I mean, just it's a very rounded group of women. And so they all bring in different perspectives and can talk and they may never met before.

Ashley
0:28:36
I mean, you know, some of the procurement people don't necessarily get all their offices and get to meet the sales or nutritionist. So they're creating a network that they didn't have before. And again, with the students coming in to do that as well, it's just, I've seen some phenomenal things occur. So that, Novus supporting us in that, and we have support

Ashley
0:29:01
all the way up to our CEO with that. So it's been a really great opportunity. And they actually began it on the Swine side the year after we started. And so we have a program called wise women in flying events that Taylor Schmincke is their lead for so it's also Done very well, so it's I cannot Say enough about the support that nobis has given us in that regard now

Casey
0:29:26
And I mean when I started my journey and putting the thought out there the ideas You know it was pretty risky And now I see you guys, obviously I wanted you to touch on the flock and then what you guys do on the swine side. But Zimpro hosted that event this summer for the swine and they have, you know, it was built so they can take it out into multiple species. And, you know, doing the mentorship with students, and regardless of gender on that, and the mentors, I still have mentees I call me right so I have a select few that I'm on their speed dial and I'll always be their mentor and keep

Casey
0:30:11
up with them and help them but people need to know it's okay to ask those questions and I would say ten years ago you know I didn't feel like the only thing I could talk about was yeah what's your thoughts on this SID amino acid ratio, Brad? And then, right or wrong, I said something that he probably should have said as a manager, but it was probably more how he positioned it, because he meant well with his comment as a male boss.

Casey
0:30:40
And, you know, now I look back and I'm like, imagine if when we started our careers, if we could have had these conversations, where you and I would be even today, right?

Ashley
0:30:52
Yeah, and really, yeah, my trajectory has, I won't say it exceeded my hopes or expectations. I mean, this is the direction in which I hope to go, but I think it even happened a little quicker than I anticipated in some ways. And, you know, I'll give as a funny anecdote, you know, talking about working with students and mentoring, I've had the opportunity to go and speak at a few different classes, different colleges, you know, where it's either, I mean, it could be undergrad, grad, PhD, and just not discussing scientific pieces because that's not my area

Ashley
0:31:32
of expertise, but just discussing what we're talking about right now, you know, what, how to really get yourself out there in the industry. And I had a gentleman come up to me, one of the students, he was an undergrad student at PSA two years ago, and he's like, hey, you're that girl who, or woman who doesn't have a master's, you only have a bachelor's, and you're leading a team, right? And I was like, well, yeah, that does describe me. I guess you're right.

Ashley
0:32:07
He's like, yeah, I want to be like you. He's like, I don't want to have to do school anymore. If you can do it, I think I can do it. And it was an amusing moment for me. I mean, it was a little moment of like, really? I'm having an impression like that?

Ashley
0:32:21
And two, like, wow, how often are people thinking about what my degrees are. You know and I joke and I'm about it a lot but but yeah I mean I have a bachelor's in business so I actually I fell into the poultry industry so my dad was worked for an integrator so that's how I kind of got to know people I started networking before I ever even knew that some of

Casey
0:32:45
this existed. Yeah it is so awesome and love how you brought up all these initiatives and I knew I was going to be able to intertwine that to get you there. But to me like working with you you're a joy to have on a team. I have not worked for you but I've worked with you around you and I've seen you lead your team and things and the saying is you know people leave a company not because of the company, but because of the leader. Talk to us a little bit on workplace culture and, you know, even the diversity

Casey
0:33:20
piece of how does that play? Because in the poultry industry, you work with a very diverse set of individuals. You say, I only have a bachelor's degree, you have to work with us science nerds with PhDs and keep us in line to say, no, what does this mean to the sales target? So, you know, we have different religious people that we work with to different countries and different languages.

Casey
0:33:48
And how do you manage that as a leader? How do you embrace that? And how do you, I mean, you create a culture of trust. I mean, there's a lot that goes into that culture of trust with your kind of team and the people you work with.

Ashley
0:34:05
Yeah, and I think you said it, you have to fully embrace it. And just be cognizant. Again, I think the way I look at it most of the time, and I know I'm probably limiting what this really means, but I still try to just be human. and like how would I want to be treated, how would I want to be spoken to, and you know everybody has different personalities.

Ashley
0:34:31
We do a ton of those personality quizzes and different things. We've done all the colors, you know, I'm sunshine yellow, surprise. But you know it's really learning. I do have you know co-workers or employees or colleagues that are less boisterous than I am. So I try to, when I can, to tone things down. But I think that having the opportunity

Ashley
0:34:58
to be surrounded by all the different cultures and different religions, different people, it's kind of an amazing experience and something that, instead of being scared of, just you should jump into it and try and learn as much as you can. So, you know, for me, I'm learning Spanish right now

Ashley
0:35:20
because though English is the official language of NOVAS, I have a ton of Spanish-speaking coworkers, you know, that work in LACTAM or in Europe or, you know, wherever, and I want to be able just to make them feel comfortable and talk to them. So, you know, I'm trying and they have been so nice to like, really deal with my terrible, terrible way of being so slow and speaking, but they, they love to help. I mean, they realize that I'm trying to reach out and do something, you know,

Ashley
0:35:54
and same goes, I'm very polite in Portuguese. I've learned a few things just so I can, you know, at least say good morning, good afternoon, and thank you. You know, it's just small things like that that sometimes can mean a whole host of things to somebody else. You never know what's 100% going to connect with someone.

Ashley
0:36:17
But for me, I think having worked for, you know, at least three global companies now in my career, it has been amazing for me to learn the different things. I mean, I can call up my colleagues in Europe, my colleagues in South America, and ask questions and maybe learn something that I can utilize here.

Ashley
0:36:40
So for me, I don't consider it a challenge, I consider it kind of exciting.

Casey
0:36:45
Well, yeah, that's why I've always had this challenge. I wanna learn in new cultures, new people, new ideas. I love to learn. So I eat that up. But I do know it's a challenge for some people, and it's a challenge for some companies to manage.

Casey
0:36:59
And luckily we have leaders like you breaking the barriers, and you'll get a kick out of this. So I finally hired. So there's two of us now that English is our first language on my team, but everybody else, English is their second language and the dynamic of the team when they're speaking in Spanish to each other And now they're well we do it to be polite to you and i'm like wait you guys sound like you're having so much fun

Casey
0:37:23
And i'm like be yourself and said well, maybe you guys need to start teaching me more spanish I mean I can get by in that but i'm not fluent like them and They have to slow down if they're going to talk to me. But I'm just like bring that fun into English, please, because don't feel like you can't talk to Spanish and make me try to pick it up. And if I'm not getting it, I will tell you.

Casey
0:37:55
But I've always embraced that opportunity to learn new things and meet new people because I think it's so important.

Ashley
0:38:04
100%. And I think that's a show of respect too. Looking at it, that's also a huge piece of it is just respecting people in general. And I grew up in a very strict household. Both of my parents' fathers were former military.

Ashley
0:38:22
So I grew up in the yes sir, yes ma'am, no sir, no ma'am situation. So there's that type of respect, but there's also just respect for who people are. And I think that, you know, we just need to constantly remember, you know, we want to be respected, let's respect them as well. And my thing with the Spanish disease, I know enough to where every now and then if they're talking, I can be like,

Ashley
0:38:46
I know what you just said, you just said, you know, something about a cat you talked about cow and milk and you were doing this and you know they'll be like oh she is learning so you know they know I at least they can't get away with saying something too bad about me.

Casey
0:38:56
I always pull that card out and start speaking to them like oh yeah crap we forgot she knows some stuff. It surprises people every time I do it that don't know me well that I can pick up what they're saying and answer them in Spanish and they're like, where'd you come from? But no, one last question, because this has been amazing. And knowing both of us, we could talk forever. What's one piece of advice that you would give your younger self or others just starting in

Ashley
0:39:33
their career? As I mentioned before, I've struggled with, I guess, the imposter syndrome forever. My, the fact that my degree, I mean, my team, every single one of them are much higher degreed than I am or more educated. And I've at times let that bother me, but I think I would tell myself, and I continue today to tell myself this, is it doesn't matter. I've been working in the industry for 18 years.

Ashley
0:40:01
I have on the job experience. I've taken on these great mentors that have helped me learn and know things. I can't speak always at the same level as a PhD nutritionist, but I can talk for a little while about at least the pieces I know. And when I don't know, it's just easy for me to say, okay, well, hold on, that one I don't know, let's hand it over to my tech person, that's why they're here. And understanding that that is not a negative, that it's okay. Like, you know, I have my place and right now I feel very good in my spot because I think that supporting people, supporting a team is maybe something that

Ashley
0:40:47
say I'm actually good at. I hate always, I never like to give myself credit for anything, but I like it and I live for their success and trying to always give them an opportunity to succeed. So I would just tell myself to realize that yeah, you may not have all of that, but there are things that you can do and you're good at and that you excel at. So focus on the strengths, not on the weaknesses.

Casey
0:41:15
Well, that is a great piece of advice. And I was going to say, you do belong here, Ashley, and you are a great leader. So that's you're on the podcast.

Ashley
0:41:26
Yeah, but she like you said, you knew I just you knew I'd do it.

Casey
0:41:31
I knew you would do it. I knew you wouldn't turn me down. But then we copied Elizabeth on and I'm like, all right, I've worked with Elizabeth before on some marketing stuff. What's she gonna require us to do?

Ashley
0:41:43
She was excited. She's like just go be you and I was like, all right It could be interesting

Casey
0:41:48
One last fun thing. I know we are all serious. What is one thing that you have to have in your suitcase? That's always with you when you travel so

Ashley
0:41:57
Amusingly these days liquid IV. I am known as the woman who has, I'm really the pharmacy, literally. One of the college professors that I know sent one of her students with me at IPPE last year. She's like, I know you're not feeling good, go see Ashley. Ashley will have something to help you and make you feel better.

Ashley
0:42:21
So really, for me, I guess my pharmacy, which includes liquid IV, I am a full believer, you have a, especially at my age these days, if you have a few drinks at night, you need to have liquid IV, ibuprofen, and some form of an acid. So I'm always handing those out to everybody I'm like here,

Ashley
0:42:38
just to be on the safe side.

Casey
0:42:40
Well see, we do like to have fun, and Ashley, it's been amazing to catch up. Thank you for being on Coffee in the Barn.

Ashley
0:42:48
Thank you so much for having me, Casey. This has been wonderful. This has been wonderful. It's good to catch up with you too.