b'Linda Trolinder has had several mentors throughout her career, but one that stands out for her is Rick Turner, former senior vice-president of Seeds & Traits at BASF. Rick has an uncanny ability to deliver, with perfect timing, humour and grace, his career-long learnings, valuable insights and/or challenges when needed. His unique ability to bring one to understand and consider all perspectives from the grower to corporate headquarters provides valuable support for the development of an emerging leader as well as the benefit of the seed industry, says Trolinder, senior VP research & development Seeds & Traits at BASF in North Carolina. His mentorship is impactful, providing gentle but firm guidance to help one to see with crystal clarity how to navigate complexity and focus on what matters most, never losing focus on the impact on the grower. Throughout his career, which began with a biology degree at the Rick Turner University of Guelph, 13 years at Bayer and over three years at BASF, the Canadian-born Turner has been a mentor for countless emerging leaders.Age: 68 Turner recommends people take on mentorship roles early in their careers, Location: Texas which creates a mutual learning journey.Known for: Focusing on whatOne thing I learned is that all accomplishments happen because of peo-matters most ples combined efforts, not just individual efforts. For companies to grow and prosper, you have to grow the people with the company as well as adding and developing new talent along the way. I learned to recognize the value of good people and putting people in the right roles, he says. Its important to have people working in roles that theyre suited to and provide a sense of accomplishment. For some thats constantly being moti-vated by new challenges; for others its continued refinement and advance-ment in a specific area. Career development and advancement means different things to different people. Roles of higher responsibility are not for everybody and its important to have job satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment in their work, which ultimately increases value to the employee and employer.Peter Marshall was a very important figure injob, Reed says. Lucy Reeds career development and certainlyHe had trust and confidence in the abilities also in the development of many others in theof others to grow and gave advice when it was areas of regulation of plant products of biotech- needed and space for people to learn as well, nology, seeds and crop protection products.allowing new people he worked with to find He has ultimately influenced a great part oftheir way, which is the mark of a great teacher. the seed sector in Canada. As a senior regula- Im sure Im not alone when key learnings he tory manager for Monsanto Canada, Peter mod- offered still guide how I do my work today. eled the behaviour of a mentor to many whoMarshall retired from Monsanto in 2015 after worked with him as a colleague in the regula- a full career bringing some of the first novel tory sphere, says Reed, regulatory affairs leadplant products through the regulatory processPeter Marshallfor Bayer Crop Science Canada.in Canada, and successfully bringing throughAge: 69He showed us how to work, from the con- numerous others over the years and being a siderations needed for a submission, to meetingkey voice in how they should be stewarded intoLocation: with colleagues in the field, to building consen- the future.Ontariosus on policy with a diverse group of external/ Marshall learned a lot of career lessons overKnown for: internal stakeholders. Through good humour,the years, but a major was to ensure transpar- Showing precise knowledge and a sense of curiosity andency as a company. people the pragmatism that focused on the big overarch- If youre right about something, then fine,how ofing goals of our work, he taught us to providebut if youre wrong, admit it. Sometimes peopletheir workgrowers with the tools they need to successfullywant to go down with the ship, but I just grow crops.couldnt understand that because youre just Marshall provided tacit inspiration to thoseforfeiting your credibility with your stakehold-who worked with him and were learning theers, he says. 16GERMINATION.CASEPTEMBER 2022'