Feeding the Future: Leadership, Innovation, and Trade with Leah Olson
Introduction: A Conversation Years in the Making
In the latest episode of The Germinate Podcast, I sit down with someone I’ve known, respected, and admired in the agriculture industry for nearly two decades—Leah Olson. Her resume reads like a roadmap of North American ag innovation: president of the Association of Manufacturers of Canada (AMC), CEO of Prairie Agricultural Machinery Institute (PAMI), executive at SeedMaster and DOT Technology Corp, and most recently, an operations leader at Corteva.
What’s impressive isn’t just Leah’s track record—it’s her ability to blend deep technical knowledge with heartfelt leadership, her passion for policy with a boots-on-the-ground understanding of farming. Whether you’re running a company, seeding a field, or developing ag-tech, this conversation will challenge your assumptions and spark some fresh thinking.
From Farm Girl to Industry Leader
Leah’s story starts where many of ours do—in a tiny rural town on a family farm. Her earliest exposure to ag innovation came from her father, who developed a hitching system now used in 400+ horsepower tractors across the world. That exposure led her to a career steeped in manufacturing, policy, and cutting-edge ag tech.
“I didn’t get paid for my first job,” Leah says with a laugh. “But I was invested in my dad’s success—and in keeping farmers safe.”
That early sense of purpose stuck with her through roles in the rail industry, pharmaceuticals, and agriculture manufacturing, eventually bringing her to lead AMC in 2015, where she became a champion for small and mid-sized manufacturers often overlooked by federal and provincial policymakers.
On Leadership, Listening & Imposter Syndrome
Leah has been a CEO several times over, but she’s refreshingly honest about how lonely, misunderstood, and pressure-filled that role can be.
“You have to be solutions-based, but you also have to listen—and sometimes being a CEO means no one tells you the full truth,” she reflects. “The title is powerful, but what really matters is how genuine you are.”
She shared how her experience at PAMI shaped her as a leader. Facing the question of whether to shut the organization down or rebuild it, she worked closely with staff and partners to spark a complete turnaround. Her leadership philosophy? Walk the floor, talk to everyone, and never assume you know everything.
Trade Tensions: When Tariffs Hit Home
Of course, no conversation about agriculture in 2025 would be complete without talking tariffs.
Leah didn’t hold back: “When the U.S. imposed tariffs, it felt like being kicked in the gut by someone you love. Canada and the U.S. have always worked like family—these policies disrupt generations of trust.”
From her recent experience at the Canadian Agriculture Policy Institute’s (CAPI) conference, Leah highlighted how Canadian manufacturers are scrambling to recalibrate their supply chains, diversify trade partners, and prove origin of materials—something they never had to worry about before.
Both she and I agreed: tariffs don’t reduce costs. They increase them. And the only winner is government revenue—not farmers or manufacturers.
Disruption Is Coming—Whether We Want It or Not
Leah’s take on the current state of the industry was sobering but motivating. She predicts massive disruption ahead:
Rising costs of steel, parts, and equipment (without signs of slowing)
Peak ethanol production as EV adoption increases
Global competition in commodity crops (hello, Brazil and Argentina)
And shrinking margins for farmers trying to do more with less
“You just can’t keep spending $1.5 million on a combine,” she said bluntly. “We’re ripe for disruption. We have to change.”
And yet, Leah sees hope—not just in science and tech, but in farmers themselves.
The Future Lies in the Seed (and the Farmer)
Looking ahead, Leah says the magic lies in maximizing seed potential. Her time with researchers at Corteva and SeedMaster helped her understand how innovation starts at the soil level: the right seed, at the right depth, at the right time, with the right nutrients.
But she also believes that farmers are still the ultimate innovators.
“If you’re doing a workaround more than four times—it’s time to change how you’re doing it. That’s where innovation starts.”
She urges farmers to speak up, question traditions, and bring forward their windshield-time ideas—especially now, as economic uncertainty pushes the need for better ways to do everything.
A Message to the Next Generation of Ag Leaders
As Leah wrapped up, she turned her attention to the next generation.
“We need young people to see agriculture as the opportunity that it is. Whether you're on the farm, in the lab, or in policy, we need you. Agriculture isn’t just about crops. It’s about feeding the world—and that makes it one of the most meaningful careers you can have.”
It was a timely reminder that beyond economics, beyond politics, beyond the latest tech trend—this industry is about people, purpose, and stewardship.
Final Thoughts
This episode was a masterclass in leadership, economics, trade, and ag innovation. But more than anything, it was a reminder that agriculture is at a crossroads.
Tariffs, tech disruption, rising costs, and labor shortages are real. But so is the ingenuity of farmers. So is the passion of leaders like Leah Olson. And so is our collective responsibility to ensure the industry not only survives—but thrives.
So what’s your next innovation? What’s your workaround worth solving?
Now’s the time.
Listen to the Full Episode
Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast app.
Guest: Leah Olson
Host: Joe Sampson | EMBO Sales
Powered by: GBGI USA
Momentum Network Webinar: October 24, 8:30 a.m. CST
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