My Non-Traditional Path in Agriculture

If you told me 20 years ago that I’d someday be leading a business segment within an agriculture-based company, I never would have believed you. As a young woman with a finance background and minimal previous experience in the field, it seemed unlikely that I’d find many opportunities in a space largely dominated by people with lifelong backgrounds in farming and agriculture.

However, as I’ve grown through my career and found work that I’m passionate about, I’ve seen the value in including people with different perspectives and backgrounds. In my non-traditional career journey, I’ve learned to forge my own path and trust myself, which has brought me to my current role as Director of BASF’s Professional & Specialty Solutions North America division.

There were many moments, especially as I transitioned into the commercial part of my career at BASF, that I doubted myself and wondered if I’d ever feel qualified for an agriculture-based career. I originally worked in the technology industry and didn’t grow up with a connection to a farm, like many others in agribusiness. I also was often one of few or the only woman in the room.

It can be tempting to put others on a pedestal when you believe they have more background and experience than you. But an important step in my growth was realizing that my ideas and opinions were important, and that I shouldn’t be afraid to share them. Having a non-traditional career path should not deter anyone from contributing their thoughts, especially when you know you’re just as hardworking and qualified as your colleagues.

Several great mentors also helped me realize my potential and ability to advance in my career at BASF. These mentors encouraged me to speak up more and helped to show me when I was standing in my own way. I now provide that same mentorship to others, especially women in the field, which is one of the most rewarding parts of my job.

Fortunately, the industry has become increasingly diverse since the start of my career—both in terms of including more women and in including more people with a variety of different work experiences and backgrounds. Now, there are many female leaders, both at BASF offices and in the field, and it’s not so unusual anymore for people to work in agriculture who don’t have roots there.

I was one of the first women from BASF to attend the Women in Agribusiness Summit, and I’ve been thrilled to see how much it’s grown as the demographics of the industry have changed. In conferences like this one, it’s been powerful to hear women speaking openly about their inspiring career paths and what they hope to change about the workplace in the future. The industry has transformed significantly, and hopefully more diverse perspectives will continue to be embraced in the years to come.

As we recruit and retain more people with different backgrounds and have more open conversations, we can make decisions that better reflect the communities we live in and serve. For anyone who’s entering agribusiness with little experience or if you’re one of the few women in your workplace, know that your viewpoints are valuable and that you can help to positively reshape the industry.

(Stephanie Jensen is Director of BASF’s Agricultural solutions Professional & Specialty Solutions North America division. With more than 20 years of experience, her non-traditional path has led to roles of increasing responsibility within the agriculture industry and at BASF, specifically. Learn more about careers at BASF here.)