Julie Sexton: A Career Innovating HR Practices at Land O'Lakes
My guest on episode #461 of #thePOZcast is Julie Sexton. Julie serves as Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for Land O’Lakes, Inc., where she leads the enterprise talent strategy. Known for providing innovative and agile human capital expertise, Julie and her team work with business partners to identify and implement creative solutions that achieve organizational goals and develop the next generation of leadership. Julie has more than 30 years of human resources experience, primarily at Land O’Lakes.
After early career stints at Mercy Hospital and Cargill, she joined Land O’Lakes in an Industrial Relations role. She followed that position with valuable HR experiences across the enterprise, including HR Business Partner roles with the business units, Dairy Foods and WinField United, and, most recently, leading Talent Management and the HR Centers of Excellence.
Connect with Julie: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-sexton/
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Summary:
Julie Sexton, Land O'Lakes, organizational culture, HR innovation, employee engagement, technology in HR, veterans in workforce, talent acquisition, flex work, leadership, Land O'Lakes, leadership, talent management, generational differences, agriculture industry, AI in business, career advice, employee engagement, mentoring, organizational culture
Takeaways:
- Julie fell into HR by choosing it as a versatile concentration in college.
- Land O'Lakes offers a culture where employees can have a real impact.
- Transparency and humanness are key in leadership.
- People strive to do their best and want to be valued.
- The evolution of technology has greatly improved HR processes.
- Flexibility in roles can attract a diverse talent pool.
- Piloting initiatives allows for learning and adaptation.
- Supporting veterans through programs like SkillBridge is crucial.
- Diversity includes mindset and experiences, not just demographics.
- Land O'Lakes is more than just butter; it's a significant agricultural co-op. Land O'Lakes operates across the entire agricultural value chain.
- The cooperative model allows for direct ownership by farmers and producers.
- Nurturing future leaders involves experience, mentoring, and skill development.
- It's important to recognize that not everyone is suited for leadership roles.
- An individual contributor career path is essential for deep expertise.
- Understanding employee values through surveys can enhance engagement.
- Reverse mentoring programs can bridge generational gaps.
- A talent strategy aligns workforce development with business goals.
- Honest communication is crucial in performance evaluations.
- Self-reflection and openness to feedback are key to career growth.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Julie Sexton and Her Journey
02:03 The Importance of Organizational Culture
06:49 Defining and Living Organizational Culture
08:10 The Evolution of Technology in HR
10:18 AI and Innovation in Recruitment
12:25 Balancing Flexibility in Manufacturing Roles
14:41 Innovating Employee Engagement Strategies
17:08 Supporting Veterans in the Workforce
20:09 Attracting Talent Beyond Butter
21:30 Understanding Land O'Lakes' Unique Position
24:05 Nurturing Future Leaders
26:51 Navigating Multi-Generational Workplaces
28:07 Building a Talent Strategy
30:00 Evaluating Talent and Performance
30:53 Interviewing for Value Addition
33:05 Challenges Facing the Agriculture Industry
34:50 Embracing Generative AI
37:00 Career Advice and Self-Reflection
