ABC itself and the leadership program have been around for a while, they have a lot of value and respect from the industry, so people are willing to be a resource for you. AF: What was the most valuable takeaway from the program? EVW: I’d say it was the people I met along the way. I had 18 people in my cohort, and I loved learning and growing with them for 8+ hours a month. Growing and learning with like-minded individuals who are working
across different ag and almond sectors in California who all have the universal goal of bettering the industry for the farmers in California was amazing. We’re all doing various jobs in different parts of the industry, but with a shared goal. It was very powerful. AF: How has the program and your learnings influenced your role here at Blue Diamond ? EVW: It built my confidence in my role at Blue
EVW: The main one was the confidence building and asking questions. I further developed my ability to align project actions with company values and long-term goals. Being able to better explain my decision-making process and ensuring priorities are well defined was quite valuable. AF: What was the biggest challenge you faced in the program?
Diamond . I translate crop and grower-centered data into information the business needs. This program influenced the way that I can effectively communicate different priorities, and I’m able to lead more intentionally throughout the season. AF: What skills did you develop or strengthen during the program?
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JANUARY–FEBRUARY 2026
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