b'Keep This Advice Top-of-Mind in 2023As we wrap up another year of Seed Speaks, heres some advice to propel you into 2023 and beyond.Sonja Begemann, Alex Martin, Ashley Robinson, Marc ZienkiewiczWHAT GOES INTOcreatingInvest in Young Leaders for a Brighter Futurea successful business? Is thereWe all know that a generational shift is coming. really a formula you can use toAccording to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2030, all baby create the best product, the bestboomers will be age 65 or olderwhich accounts for employees, the best marketing and73 million people in the U.S. That means, in less than the best customer service? eight years, a new generation will be stepping up to In a perfect world, thered be anthe plate to fill the gap left by retirees.exact formula to follow to make allAs a business, theres an important question to ask businesses as equally successful.yourself Are your young leaders ready to lead?But, in todays seed industry, thereThat generational transition weve been talk- Jake Ware serves as chair of ASTAs LEAD committee.are ebbs and flows in the market- ing about is actually happening right now, says Jim place, and no two seed companiesSchweigert, president of Gro Alliance and upcoming look alike. chair of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA), Though no companies arenoting that from 2007-2019, every ASTA chair was exactly the same, through col- born either in the 1950s or 1960s, with two born in the laboration and advice, companieslate 1940s. John Latham was born in the 1970s and was move forward and progress intochair from 2020-2021and Schweigert himself will be new stages of success throughoutthe first elected chair born in the 1980s.the year and season. With technicalIts at this moment that companies need to decide and business experts, Seed Speakswhere they go in the future and what their path is to has spent the past year working tolong term success for the next generation, he says. Its curate advice for the industry tocertainly not going to be by running the same playsBrad May previously served as ASTAs chair from 2021-2022.help find solutions to problems andthey ran beforethey need a new playbook and new increase seed knowledge.ideas.Heres some of our editorsNot only that, but building up new leaders is impera-favorite pieces of advice. tive for the seed industry to be able to feed the planet, says Jake Ware, business manager for HM.CLAUSE and chair of ASTAs LEAD committee.When youre able to build leaders with purpose, they can bring success not only to each of the compa-nies, but to the industry as a whole, he says.To achieve that, companies need to listen to the needs of their employees, says Brad May.Companies really need to understand what theirJim Schweigert currently serves as ASTA chair.young leaders need and help them improve on their 104/ SEEDWORLD.COMDECEMBER 2022'