Pro Tips on Communication and Feedback with Hollie Bunn

The Intentional Agribusiness Leader Podcast

Hollie Bunn is the Interim Chief Executive Officer at Growers Edge. She previously served as Executive Vice President/Chief Lending Operations Officer and is the architect of the company’s embedded financial software and services products. With Hollie’s leadership, her growing team has built a revolutionary platform for the ag industry while furthering the company’s mission to help the ag industry adapt and thrive. Bunn is an enthusiastic 30-year veteran of the ag finance industry in the Midwest, having been an instrumental leader at Farm Credit, where she held various positions, including Vice President of Sales Strategy and Regional Vice President. She is a proud proponent of Women in Ag and supports and serves with the local FFA, 4-H, and beekeeping clubs. Hollie’s energy is both infectious and boundless making her an excellent strategic leader for Growers Edge. When she’s not meeting with her team, funders, or current and future partners, she’s active in the gym, hiking, building a new home on her family’s farmstead, and managing several thousand honeybees in southwestern Ohio.

It has been said. "To be successful, one has to be one of three bees: the queen bee, the hardest working bee, or the bee that looks to the future,” Hollie exudes traits of all three.

Hollie Bunn, interim CEO of Growers Edge, joins Mark to discuss the importance of intentionality in both personal and professional life. Holly emphasizes the need for self-awareness and persistence in achieving goals. She also shares her philosophy on work-life balance and how she integrates her personal and professional selves. Holly highlights the challenges and strategies for talent retention in the AgTech industry and the value of feedback in personal and professional growth. She also discusses the importance of communication and connection in a remote work environment. Holly shares her insights on developing managers and creating an intentional culture within organizations.

Key Takeaways:

• Intentionality involves thought and focus in approaching activities, both personally and professionally.
• Work-life balance is achieved by being fully present in each domain and intentionally switching between them.
• Talent retention in the AgTech industry requires understanding individuals' aspirations and aligning them with organizational goals.
• Feedback is a gift that helps individuals stay true to their desired impact and improve their performance.
• Remote work requires intentional communication and connection to maintain a strong team dynamic.
• Developing managers involves providing coaching and feedback, as well as encouraging them to connect with employees outside their department.
• Creating an intentional culture involves sharing personal values, seeking feedback, and aligning organizational goals with employee aspirations.

Quotes:

• "Being intentional means it's not haphazard in the way that I approach what I'm doing." - Holly Bunn
• "I want to be fully present when I'm at work and very focused on what I'm doing there and the exact same thing when I'm not at work." - Holly Bunn
• "Feedback is a gift. It keeps me true to the person that I want to be." - Holly Bunn
• "Remote work requires intentional communication and connection to maintain a strong team dynamic." - Holly Bunn
• "Creating an intentional culture involves sharing personal values and aligning organizational goals with employee aspirations." - Holly Bunn