Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program Researches Business Decision Making at Deere-Northwestern Seminar
The Illinois Agricultural Leadership Program (IALP) Class of 2018 participants recently learned factors critical to sound business decision making. The “Business Decision Making” seminar, sponsored by John Deere and held at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, included presentations by seven of the University’s world-renowned faculty covering various business topics. The IALP is sponsored by the Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation (IALF).
Over a nineteen-month period, the class is attending 14 seminars covering current social, political, business and economic issues in the agriculture industry. The “Business Decision Making Seminar” began with Gail Berger Darlow, Ph.D. and Assistant Professor of Education, leading the class in a discussion of “Teaming: The Art of Effective Collaboration.” She utilized group dynamics theory and small-group project competitions to facilitate hands-on learning opportunities. Liz Livingston Howard, Clinical Professor of Management and Director of Non-Profit Education, then gave a presentation on effective board service and governance.
On the second day, the class explored perspectives on business innovation in a discussion led by Mohanbir Sawhney, Ph.D., the Robert R. McCormick Tribune Foundation Clinical Professor of Technology and Director of the Center for Research in Technology & Innovation. He focused on patterns of innovation across industries, and creating a corporate environment for innovation and developing resources and human capital to create “bandwidth” for innovation. Nicholas Pearce, Ph.D. and Clinical Associate Professor of Management and Organizations, followed with a presentation titled “Connected: Leadership and the Power of Social Capital.” Dr. Pearce discussed the importance of building and investing in your social network. Mitchell A. Petersen, Ph.D., Glen Vasel Professor of Finance and Director of the Heizer Center for Private Equity and Venture Capital at Northwestern University, ended the day with a discussion and case studies on aspects of risk management in business strategy. He outlined objectives of risk management programs, risk exposure and evaluating success.

Standing on left, Dr. Mitchell Petersen, Glen Vasel Professor of Finance, and Director of the Heizer Center for Private Equity and Venture Capital, discusses risk management with the Class of 2018.
On the final day, the class learned about “Strategic Decision-Making (From Data to Risk Management to Results)” from Russell Walker, Ph.D. and Clinical Professor of Managerial Economic and Decision Sciences. He examined case studies in crisis and risk management from the world’s leading companies.
The final speaker of the seminar was Timothy Feddersen, Ph.D., the Wendell Hobbs Professor of Managerial Politics and Professor of Managerial Economics and Decision Sciences. Dr. Feddersen capped off the thought-provoking seminar with a discussion on “Ethical Leadership” and the different approaches and styles of leadership.

From left to right, IALP Class of 2018 members Dale Pitstick, Berk Boehne, Katie Mansouri, and Kristen Ewing work together on a small-group project assigned by the Kellogg faculty.
“The Business Decision Making seminar is an important part of our leadership training program,” said IALF President and CEO Lee Strom. “Through the world-class resources of the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern, our class is exposed to a new breadth and depth of research in business practices. We appreciate John Deere as a major sponsor for this seminar.”
The Illinois Agricultural Leadership Foundation provides a 19-month seminar series that develops knowledgeable and effective leaders to become policy and decision makers for the agricultural industry, in addition to Advanced Leadership Training for program alumni, commodity organizations and other agricultural organizations. It is a non-profit educational corporation under Illinois law. A board of directors, comprised of recognized leaders in agriculture and business, oversees the program.