5 lessons in leadership — from the ranch to the office

By Jarrod Gillig, senior vice president, North American Beef, Cargill

My life has always been centered around beef production. From raising cows as a kid to leading Cargill’s North American beef business today, I’ve experienced this industry from nearly every angle — from the pastures to the packing plants to the office.

Working in an office doesn’t mean being distant from the action. It means staying connected to the people who keep our business running, to the communities that rely on us and to the purpose that drives us forward.  

Here are five leadership lessons that continue to guide me — lessons rooted in agriculture, shaped by experience and refined through collaboration.

1. Lead with education and empathy 

Before you can lead, you have to understand.  

Whether I’m visiting a plant, meeting with a customer or talking with a fellow producer, I’ve learned that listening first builds trust that lasts. Our industry is complex — and so are the people who make it work.

Education is one of our strongest tools. When we help others understand how each decision affects families, workers and consumers, we create alignment across the supply chain. Empathy turns that understanding into collaboration, and collaboration is what keeps this industry moving forward.

The lesson: Leadership starts with listening. When we take time to educate and understand others, we create the trust that allows progress to happen.

2. Put people at the center — and use technology to lift them 

In every part of this business, people make the difference. From the ranch to the processing floor, their skill, care and decision-making drive performance and progress. 

Technology has changed how we work, but its real impact comes from how people use it. At Cargill, digital tools and automation help our teams make faster, smarter decisions — but it’s their experience and judgment that turn data into action. 

For me, the goal isn’t technology for its own sake; it’s giving people tools that make their work safer, more efficient and more rewarding. When technology serves people — not the other way around — everyone benefits. 

The lesson: Innovation is most powerful when it empowers people. Leadership means using technology to enhance human potential, not replace it. 

3. Honor tradition, embrace change

I am still active in raising Hereford cattle with my family in the Flint Hills of Kansas, where our kids represent the fifth generation. That connection keeps me grounded and reminds me that progress and preservation go hand in hand. 

Every day, I see ranchers across North America balancing legacy and innovation. At Cargill, we’re proud to support that same mindset — working with producers on regenerative agriculture, water reuse and energy efficiency. Innovation only matters if it helps people, animals and the planet thrive together. 

The lesson: The best leaders respect where they come from and use that foundation to guide where they’re going.  

4. Strength in partnership 

Beef production is a team effort. No one succeeds alone. 

From ranchers and feeders to processors, retailers and consumers, we’re all part of the same system. When we collaborate across that chain, we can tackle challenges together — market shifts, supply pressures and evolving consumer expectations. 

By combining the experience of producers with Cargill’s scale and resources, we’re helping build a more resilient beef industry — one that benefits everyone along the way. 

The lesson: Leadership isn’t about having every answer; it’s about bringing people together to find the best ones. 

5. Keep learning – and keep teaching 

This industry never stands still — and neither can we. 

Every generation brings new ideas, new challenges and new opportunities. I’ve learned that leadership means being both a student and a teacher — learning from those with experience while mentoring the next generation coming up behind us. 

The future of beef, and of food, depends on how well we share what we know. When we stay curious, stay humble and invest in others, we build teams and communities that can adapt, grow and thrive for the long term. 

The lesson: Great leaders never stop learning — and they share what they learn so others can grow too. 

The common thread: stewardship 

Whether you’re managing a ranch, leading a team or shaping the next chapter of food production, leadership ultimately comes down to stewardship. 

It’s about taking care of what’s been entrusted to you — people, land and relationships — and leaving it stronger for those who follow. 

At Cargill, that means investing in our people, supporting family farms and helping feed the world responsibly. For me, it means raising my kids to appreciate both sides of this industry — the ranching traditions that ground us and the innovation that will carry us forward. 

Leadership is about care, commitment and connection, and ensuring the next generation inherits an industry that’s stronger than the one before it.  

Read more from my recent conversation with Meatingplace about the people, purpose and progress behind Cargill’s North American beef business here.