HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE SECOND ANNUAL WESTERN GROWERS WOMEN LEADERSHIP RETREAT By Cierra Allen, Program Manager
In early April, the Western Growers Women (WGW) Program kicked off its Second Annual WGW Leadership Retreat under the sunny skies of California’s Central Coast in beautiful Pismo Beach, Calif. The program welcomed 35 incredible women from 19 different member companies, each bringing their own unique perspective and experience. Although every attendee had a different background, they all shared one commonality: they were proud members of the agriculture industry. Growing up in the Imperial Valley, I developed a deep love for agriculture early on. Some of my favorite memories include riding around in the truck with my dad and tagging along with him to meetings. By the time I was in high school, I knew I wanted to be part of this industry. But I also quickly realized how few women leaders and mentors there were to look up to. Fast forward 10 years, and I was thrilled to be hired to lead the WGW Program – an opportunity that combined my love for agriculture with my passion for empowering women in ag. From the beginning, I knew my goal for the WGW program was not just to provide tools for professional development, but also to create a space where women could connect, relate and grow alongside other women in the industry. The WGW Leadership Retreat was a great mix of networking, leadership training and a healthy dose of fun. Over the course of three days, we offered eight different leadership sessions, including: • “Building Your Internal and External Network for Career Development” presented by Jenny Maloney, Global-Americas Strategic Account Manager, Bayer CropScience Vegetable Seeds
• “Mastering Public Speaking” presented by Western Growers Corporate Counsel Teresa McQueen • “Birkman Leadership: The Interplay Between Ego, Productivity, and Stress” presented by Dr. Tina Huff • “How to Ask for a Raise” led by Western Growers SVP of HR, Karen Timmins • “Lead with Confidence: A Leader’s Guide to Hiring Right” presented by Western Growers Training and Development Manager, Priscila Cisneros These sessions sparked meaningful conversations and gave attendees actionable tools to elevate their careers. We wrapped up our three days of learning with a fun and educational visit to Talley Vineyards in Arroyo Grande. Elizabeth Talley guided us through an in-depth tour of their operations – from the diversity of soil across their vineyards to the intricacies of their in-house bottling process. Of course, the experience wouldn’t have been complete without tasting a few of their delicious wines. At its core, the WGW Leadership Retreat was about more than just professional development – it was about building lasting connections and fostering a community of confident women leaders in the fresh produce industry. We are so grateful to the Western Growers Board of Directors for believing in the power of women’s leadership in ag and helping bring the WGW Program to life. If you are a part of a member company and have women in your organization looking for professional growth, I encourage you to get them involved in the WGW Program. The WGW community is growing stronger each year, and the possibilities are endless. For more information on Western Growers Women, email Cierra Allen at callen@wga.com.
17 Western Grower & Shipper | www.wga.com May | June 2025
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