DT&D Stories

What brought you to Cargill?

I grew up in a small farming town in Minnesota, and I have relatives that farm in North Dakota. When attending the North Dakota State University career fair, I met people from Cargill, and I thought it was very interesting to hear about the variety of technology roles offered at Cargill. When I learned more about the wide variety of areas across IT – from audit to project management to development – I couldn’t believe I could do all this in IT at Cargill. I was interested in learning more, so I joined their internship program over the summer. I got to network with different people, took business analysis training and worked on real projects. When I became a full-time employee, I had the opportunity to participate in a rotational program that offered a framework of roles to experience over three to five years. The program paired you up with a group of peers, some of whom are also leaders in the North America Delivery Center.

Because I still have an opportunity to help out on the farm, I continue to feel the same passion for Cargill, its purpose and its connection to the community I grew up in.

What made you choose Cargill over other technology companies?

I liked the flexibility that Cargill offered, and that you weren’t paved into a certain career path like some of the other companies I toured with in southern Minnesota. With other companies, the excitement just wasn’t there. Cargill’s model allowed you to move into other roles and try new things. I was able to own my career and drive my path forward.

What are the most important qualities to be successful within Digital Technology & Data?

I think it boils down to three themes:
1. Be curious. Cargill is large and complex. You can't just assume everything will be told to you; you have to ask questions.
2. Network. It’s impossible to understand all the aspects of Cargill. It's not necessarily what you know; you will never know all the information. It’s understanding how to learn from who you know. I think the most successful people do that well, and I think the culture of Digital Technology & Data is conducive to sharing. People are willing to meet with you, willing to chat and willing to help.
3. Own your career. There isn’t a formalized path that tells you you're going to do this, then this, then this. You have to figure out what you want to do. Be willing to try different things.