John Foley
Degree: Bachelor of Science
Major: Animal Science
M.S., Animal Science - 1973 and Ph.D., Animal Science - 1978
Current Job Title: Value Leadership Manager
Organization: Cargill, Incorporated
Previous Job Titles and Organizations:
Dairy Technology Deployment Manager, Cargill
Dairy Product Manager, Cargill
Dairy Research Nutritionist, Cargill
I manage our sales training and sales manager development programs worldwide. I develop new training programs and facilitate some of the training myself, but I also work with outside training providers and others to certify additional facilitators and in-the-field coaches for learners in the program. In this role, I have traveled extensively to launch training programs in North America, Europe and Asia. I also edit training materials to prepare them for publication and seek and take action on feedback from the facilitators, coaches and learners in our training programs. Finally, I am involved in our recruiting program and a number of other initiatives within the company, many of which take advantage of my 29 years in the industry.
For me, one of the key values of my undergraduate education was learning how to learn—how to find information and how to incorporate learning into who I am and what I know how to do. I have vivid memories of a course in public speaking that created a lot of anxiety in the students - including me - but was one of the most important courses I completed while at the U. Communication skills are key to any career. My science courses were also particularly important for me as I went on for an M.S. and Ph.D. in Animal Science. Interaction with fellow students and faculty were invaluable as well, particularly because so much of what happens in business today is the result of team efforts.
One of the reasons I went to graduate school was that I did not want to be a salesperson and I expected that sales would be my primary career option with a bachelor's degree. But once I entered animal nutrition, I discovered that it is not an industry where high-pressure or unscrupulous sales techniques either are used or are effective. It is very much an industry in which salespeople seek to help their clients solve problems. Relationships are extremely important.
Students should actively seek out and participate in a wide variety of activities, clubs, groups, courses, internships (and, perhaps, part-time jobs) so they can discover their strengths—the activities they are naturally drawn to and in which they have potential for exceptional long-term personal performance. It's important to understand that some of the roles and subjects they pursue will not be comfortable at first. But, through challenge, they will discover what excites them and what they should spend more time doing. It's just as important to identify what they don't enjoy doing—what make them feel weak rather than strong. There will never be a better time to do this than while at the U.