In the run up to Canada’s 42nd election, diverse representation was brought up again and again in leaders’ debates and in campaign promises. Today, the House of Commons has the representation of nearly 40 visible minorities and equal numbers of male and female Ministers.
And the topic hasn’t been far from the minds of agricultural employers either, particularly last month, at the Advancing Women in Agriculture Conference, held in Toronto, Ontario. For many, diversity is not just a talking point, it’s something to strive for.
“Having diversity within our employee base, and particularly in our leadership is critical to help drive innovation,” Syngenta Global’s COO Davor Pisk tells RealAgriculture’s Shaun Haney in the below video. “You need different ideas, different ways of approaching problems…”
But, that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Assembling a diverse workplace in the agriculture industry can be quite a challenge, according to Pisk, and it’s notable particularly in leadership roles.
“It tends to be largely a male-oriented, commercial leadership that we see across most organizations.”
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Syngenta promotes diversity in a few different ways, says Pisk, including providing a supportive environment, mentorship programs, specialist workshops, and flexible working policies.
Related: Defining Gender Equality, and the Importance of Mentorship in Agriculture
Pisk hopes to see what Haney refers to as “gender blindness” in the long-term, but for now, he says it’s important to know the different needs of women and men, and look at individuals for what they can contribute to the organization.
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