From Silicon Valley to Ag: Building Real Relationships

In a world driven by speed, automation, and artificial intelligence, it is easy to believe business has become less personal. But on a recent episode of The Germinate Podcast, Greg Kay of WSD Wheel Systems shared a different perspective: relationships still matter more than anything.

Before joining his family’s agricultural manufacturing business, Greg spent several years working in enterprise software sales inside the fast-paced world of Silicon Valley tech. The environment was built around quick sales cycles, constant pressure, and rapid growth. But after a conversation with a mentor encouraged him to rethink his future, Greg made the decision to leave tech behind and join the company his father built over the last three decades.

The transition into agriculture and manufacturing quickly taught him an important lesson: business moves differently when relationships are at the center of it.

Unlike software sales, where deals can happen quickly, agriculture is built on long-term trust. Customers are not simply buying a product — they are buying reliability, consistency, and people they believe in. Greg explained that over time, many of those customer relationships turned into genuine friendships built through years of conversations, problem-solving, and mutual respect.

Joe and Greg also discussed how competition and sports helped shape their approach to business. Both agreed that failure, rejection, and setbacks are often the moments that create the most growth. Success rarely comes from avoiding challenges — it comes from learning how to respond when things do not go your way.

Artificial intelligence became another major topic throughout the conversation. While Greg believes AI will continue transforming business operations and improving efficiency, he does not believe it will replace genuine human connection. Technology can make businesses faster and smarter, but trust and relationships still have to be built person to person.

Perhaps the most refreshing part of the conversation came when Greg was asked what excites him most about the future. His answer was simple: building great teams and surrounding himself with good people.

At a time when so much attention is focused on automation and technology, the conversation served as a reminder that business is still ultimately about people and the relationships we build along the way.

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