A leader I really admire right now is...
She is full of energy, resourcefulness, and refuses to take no for an answer.
One of the biggest things I admire in leaders is resourcefulness.
I love people who can take any problem - no matter how sticky - and find a creative solution.
When in the presence of these leaders, everything feels possible. Where there is will, there is a way.
Audrey Bourolleau is undoubtedly one of the most resourceful leaders I have met working on the future of food today.
She runs Hectar, an agricultural campus on the outskirts of Paris training the next generation of farm leaders. The campus includes a regen ag pilot farm, startup accelerator in partnership with HEC Paris, and learning and development programs. She’s also on the Selection Committee for Top 50 Farmers.
In April, I had the opportunity to visit HECTAR and tour their 600 hectare campus.
Behind every facet was a story of obstacles overcome and creative solutions.
For example, like with so many farms around the world, it was hard to find people who wanted to work at HECTAR, which is in the countryside. Most young people these days strive for a life in the city.
Audrey faced similar hiring challenges until she realized that there is an equestrian center close by.
She created a win-win by finding employees who love horses and being flexible with her scheduling to make the position more attractive. She negotiated that her employee could work in the dairy in the morning and then have the afternoon to ride.
She’s also applied her expertise in lean management to improve farm operations and ensure that everything is tracked so that it can be improved. Everything is documented with a clear protocol and pictures so that jobs can be easily learned and performed by anyone. It’s a whole new approach.
Looking back on Audrey’s career, it’s no wonder where she gets her ingenuity from.
She held leadership positions in the French wine industry as General Delegate of Vin & Société where she earned the title of “Woman of the Year 2014” by Revue du Vin de France.
She’s advised global brands like Baron Philippe de Rothschild and served as Agriculture Advisor to President Emmanuel Macron where she championed policies supporting farmers and rural development before starting HECTAR.
Audrey inspired me not only because she is passionate, but also because of how she parlays her experience in politics and business to build the regenerative agriculture industry in France to grow. Being around her, you can’t help, but be inspired by her vision, determination, and ingenuity.
I’m curious - who is a leader you admire working on the future of food right now?
I would love to hear who you look up to in terms of how they think about business and move through the world.
And before I forget, here’s a little video tour of the campus so you can catch the vibe:
PS: Audrey’s story is a reminder that the most impactful leaders see problems as opportunities.
If you’re ready to sharpen that kind of resourcefulness and vision in your own leadership, I have a few spots open in Visionary Leadership, my executive coaching program for leaders working on the future of food. Reply to this email if you’d like to learn more. 2 spots are open to start September 1.