July 13, 2020
Cohort Spotlight: Amanda Pollander
Personal and Professional Growth through the IFSL Program and in the Era of COVID-19
Investing in employees not only reaps benefits for the employer by growing skills and fostering loyalty, it can propel personal growth for individuals who are committed and curious. We sat down with IFSL program cohort member Amanda Pollander to hear about her experience in the program and how she’s applied her leadership skills during the pandemic.
Can you tell us a bit about your career journey at Elite Spice and how that led you to the IFSL program?
I like to say that Elite Spice found me because when I received my undergrad degree in biology, working in the food industry was not on my radar.
I started out as a quality analyst at Elite Spice, which opened my eyes to the vast and complex food system. Spice is one of the oldest industries but is a small portion of all that goes into our global food system. It had me thinking there’s so much more to know and learn.
Four years into my career at Elite Spice, my manager made me aware of a new online graduate certificate program, the University of Minnesota’s Integrated Food Systems Leadership (IFSL) Program. As a working professional who doesn’t live in Minnesota, the online program has been a great fit for me. Additionally, my role as a Sterilization Supervisor at Elite Spice has me leading a team of people, so this program has been valuable to grow my leadership skills as well.
Can you tell us a little more about the support you’ve received from your employer as you’ve embarked on this program?
I’m really grateful that Elite Spice believes in building skills and knowledge of their employees. Without my manager’s support, I wouldn’t have discovered the IFSL program.
In addition to championing me through the program, I’ve received my team’s support on various assignments. I have an open dialogue with my team about various topics we’re learning about in the program, and I’ve been able to tap into them for thoughts on my capstone project.
My project involves creating, and expanding upon, the sustainability program for Elite Spice. The company has been very supportive and put a lot of trust in me to run with this because I’ve been sharing my learnings about the IFSL program throughout.
Because I discovered the IFSL program through Elite Spice, and I now have a broadened knowledge of the food system, I have a better understanding and appreciation of what a good company and employer should be.
How have your learnings from the IFSL program supported your role while navigating during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Prior to COVID-19, the IFSL program curriculum covered the topic of disruption and how food leaders need to work across silos to adapt and problem solve. The pandemic was a real-time example that we’re all living and working through that has heightened the importance for the need of food system leaders to shift to a system-thinking approach to break down boundaries.
Additionally, I went into the IFSL program with the goal of gaining a greater foundational knowledge of the food system, which I absolutely have learned. But what I’ve been surprised by and have been able to apply in my day-to-day role are the leadership skills I’ve gained.
One of the great things we learn in the IFSL program are how to hone our soft skills, like putting active listening into practice and providing constructive feedback. The pandemic has not only shown me how fragile the food system can me, but also the need to support one another, in the workplace, in our communities and our global food system. Over the last several months, being supportive and practicing empathy have been skills I’ve prioritized for those I lead.
Do you have any valuable and unexpected learnings from the program that you’d like to share with other professionals who are considering the IFSL program?
I would recommend this program for anyone looking to grow in their career and make a difference in the food system because of the opportunity to collaborate and learn from others in the industry, including cohort peers, the program’s industry advisors and professors with years of experience in the food system.
In our discussions and assignments, we bounce ideas off of each other and get a chance to grow our networks by building relationships with others in the industry.
The program has been very valuable because of the food system knowledge I’ve gained, but I also have a greater respect for the many roles and perspectives that impact how we feed the world.
Integrated Food Systems Leadership (IFSL) Program
Designed for working professionals, the IFSL program is an exciting graduate certificate program that fosters leadership, collaboration, and innovation across the food system. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Download a program brochure or schedule a consultation call for more information.