AgWired

While the students taking part in the Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day got lots of practical advice and a firsthand look at the operations of some of the biggest and best agri-businesses in the world in the form of Novus, Pfizer and Monsanto (all conveniently located in the St. Louis area, some of the most valuable education these Missouri Colleges Fund scholarship recipients got was the intangible advice handed down.

And trust me, they were listening to this advice that would be as valuable to a livestock feed researcher or a young journalist. For example, look at Hannah Crain, a sophomore from Hannibal-LaGrange College in Hannibal, Mo., studying secondary education with an emphasis on biology. She said she learned there’s so many opportunities in the science world out there, and you have to grab those chances while you can. She echoed what one of the presenters at Novus told her and the group of students about letting someone or something define who they would become.

“No matter where you come from, don’t let your title define you. Put into it what you want to get out of it. And no matter what your background is, you can succeed.”

As I said, it’s pretty sage advice, and it’s good to know these young scholars were listening.

And you can hear more of what Hannah had to say by listening to my interview with her here: HannahCrain1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

Just a quick note to those who might be following along…

I finally figured out this evening (with some good guidance from Chuck Zimmerman) how to post a bunch of the pictures from the Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day on AgWired’s Flickr photo site.

You can see the pictures by clicking here.

I’m going to go back and insert this link in the other posts, but I just wanted to let you know!

A common theme that the Missouri Colleges Fund student scholars heard during the Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day was that many people start down one career path toward a destination but end up somewhere they never expected. Folks like Vanessa Stewart and Judy Lamb talked to the students about how their lives started out in one job and winded and turned until they ended up where they are today. Vanessa starting in the lab and ending up currently working on the business sales end of the company… Judy once working for a major brewery and now in charge of Novus’ product registration. These twists and turns and how you have to be ready for what life deals you has not been lost on the bright scholars touring the facilities at Novus, Pfizer and Monsanto.

While we were waiting to get into the Pfizer and Monsanto portion of the tour, I struck up a conversation with Ben Shea, a freshman studying biology at Fontbonne University in St. Louis.

He said he was really interested in how so many people at Novus started out in one career but ended up in another.

“I didn’t realize that a person could go from a chemistry degree to working in the business field.” He said he was really impressed with how diverse the people at Novus seem to be. Shea might be young, but he understands that versatility is key to making yourself valuable to an employer.

He added that he is very appreciative to have an opportunity to see firsthand and meet people who are working in a career field he might one day find himself in.

Listen to my entire conversation with Ben here: BenShea1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set.

Lots of people would like to try all types of new and innovative things at work, but not everyone is lucky enough to work at a place that encourages true, outside-the-box thinking. But, as the Missouri Colleges Fund scholars found out during their Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day, that kind of behavior is heartily encouraged.

Joedd Biggs is a junior majoring in bio-chemistry at William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri (in the Kansas City area). He was interested to see what the industrial chem research lab at Novus looked like… a lot like the ones he studies in. He thinks the tour will give him a better understanding of how these research labs work in the real world.

But the big thing that struck him was how the company was so caring about its employees and how much free rein those employees got in doing their jobs.

“It seems like there’s an ability to do whatever the heck you want to! If you want to do it, you can… which is good!” He says he finds that free-thinking atmosphere encouraging. Biggs says he also admires the value Novus puts on hard work and teamwork.

While Biggs liked Novus, as a bio-chemistry major looking at a possible career in the medical field, he was really looking forwad to our next stop after I talked to him: Pfizer.

You can hear my whole conversation with Joedd here: JoeddBiggs1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

We’ve heard a lot from the good folks at Novus International as they have been trying to help the Missouri Colleges Fund scholars get a better grasp on the wide variety of jobs available once they graduate from their science and agricultural degree programs. But what about the students? What do they think about what they’re hearing?

Well, they’ve been a tough bunch to keep up with, as they’ve gotten a whirlwind tour of the Novus, Pfizer and Monsanto facilities in the St. Louis area. In between tours of the labs, lunches with the scientists, and discussions about the future of agri-business, I was able to catch some of them and get their impressions about what they’ve seen.

Lindsey Williams, a senior majoring in chemistry with a minor in biology at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Mo., admitted she didn’t know that much about Novus before she went on the tour. But she says she’s learned a lot.

“I think this is a great opportunity… not just for seniors… but also for juniors and sophomores who still aren’t sure what they want to go in to, to see what kind of opportunities are out there for them.”

Williams echoes the sentiment we heard from many of the day’s speakers: you really have to have a passion for your job, especially in the agriculture and science fields. Plus, she is glad to see that there are many different directions someone interested in science can go.

“I was actually surprised at how many different areas you can go into under just one particular company.”

Listen to my entire conversation with Lindsey here: LindsayWilliams1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

I have to admit, you’d be pretty hard-pressed to find a more optimistic bunch than the folks at Novus International. It’s no wonder they gladly took on this project of taking some of the state’s best and brightest science and agricultural college students around their operations in the St. Louis area, plus setting up tours at nearby Pfizer and Monsanto.

One of the people I think epitomizes that optimism is Nasser Odetallah.

“There is nothing impossible in life. Whatever you thought of as a child can evolve and develop into a real idea, a real life situation.”

If anyone would know about big dreams during humble beginnings, it would be Odetallah. Growing up as a Palestinian in the country of Jordan, there was always livestock around his family… chickens, maybe some goats… to keep them fed. Now, he is Novus’ product manager for enzymes and probiotics, imparting some of his wisdom upon the Missouri Colleges Fund scholars, who have toured the Novus facilities, along with Pfizer and Monsanto operations, to see firsthand what careers in agri-business will be available when they finish their studies.

Odetallah encourages the students to stay optimistic in what seems like shaky economic times.

“I hope they walk away with their heads high and very optimistic and hopeful about life. Forget what we hear about the economy. You can always succeed! Nothing is impossible and everything is achievable.”

If you’d like to get a bit more motivation for yourself, listen to my entire interview with Nasser here: Odetallah1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

Motivation starts from within… while the students who toured the Novus International facilities in suburban St. Louis might have already known that (they are Missouri Colleges Fund scholars, after all), it sure doesn’t hurt to reinforce that point.

Judy Lamb, Novus’ Product Registration Manager, emphasized that motivational drive during her talk with the students. I caught up with her just after she spoke with the students. She hopes they walk away with the knowledge that what they learn in school is just a springboard for the future.

“Once you get into industry, you’ll find your own niche based on the background and skill sets you learned while in college,” she said. Lamb says you need to be that real self-starter. “If you don’t promote yourself, no one else really will. It’s got to come from within.”

The students listening are very concerned about the current economic conditions. Lamb points out that she started out during a downturn in the economy, and patience and persistance, along with a strong work ethic and a willingness to be diversified, are keys to weathering these tough economic times.

Sounds like pretty good advice no matter what the career your looking at.

More of my conversation with Judy is available here: JudyLamb1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

Students on the Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day are getting a great opportunity to see for themselves just how exciting and diverse a career in agriculture and science can be.

During their tour of the Novus facilities in suburban St. Louis, the students heard from many different workers at the agri-business. And some of those workers have worn many different hats during their time at Novus. One such person is Vanessa Stewart, a pet sales specialist who started out on the scientific research end of the company. She’s a great example of what we’ve been hearing during the tour: be flexible and ready to do whatever the next challenge gives you.

“Science is fun and can lead to great opportunities… not necessarily where you think in the beginning.” Stewart said she worked in the lab for six years, gaining a good foundation of knowledge of the products the company offers. She says that foundation has helped her move up into a sales role… one which she would have never imagined when she first started.

“You just need to be adaptable and versatile. And when there’s opportunities, you jump and move forward. That’s what life in general is about for me.”

She stresses that while you can start with a science degree, you never know where life will lead you.

“Whatever you end up doing, get a hold of it and love what you do!”

You can hear more about what Vanessa thinks about taking a long, but interesting, path to career goals here: VanessaStewart1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

Define your role in your job… don’t let your role define you. That’s one of the messages the students participating in the Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day heard as they began their tour of the company’s facilities, plus visiting Pfizer and Monsanto in St. Louis.

Sheena Arink, an analytical chemist with Novus, showed the students, along with some of their professors and mentors, the workings of her area at the agri-business. Making their way through the chemical research area, she pointed out the various labs where important work is done every day. Later, she handed off the group to another researcher at Novus… this time on the biological side of the house so the students could get an overview of the wide variety of research being done.

I caught up with Sheena after the tour, and she told me that people need to explore all the possibilities for their careers.

“Do as many interships as possible, [so you know what’s out there].” She also emphasized that role-taking is important. “Does your role define you? I tried to get out there that you define your role. If you want to move up or move around or try different things, you need to voice your opinion and let them know you don’t want to be stuck in one area.”

She adds that she did not come from an agricultural background… a city girl who now realizes that there’s more to agriculture than farming or feeding animals.

“I think that being in the lab and seeing people talk that they’ll see there’s different aspects to the whole agricultural world.”

Listen to my entire conversation with Sheena here: sheenaarink1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set

After a quick breakfast and introduction to Novus International, the college students from the Novus Undergraduate Networking Day were off to see the chemical and biological labs at Novus’ St. Louis location.

Dr. Joyce Cacho, Chief Sustainability Officer for Novus, told me they’ve put together a program to show the students the application of what they are studying in their classrooms and labs.

“It’s very easy to believe when your in school that’s it’s just about the exams, as opposed to how to apply what I’m learning. However, we’d like to pique their interests in careers they have not thought of and how to apply what they’re learning at the university.”

She adds she’d like to see the students apply what they’re learning to the sustainability aspects of the job. Cacho points out that the Novus building is applying for platinum status in the LEED program… Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, a third-party certification program and the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

Cacho says she’s impressed with their ideas and enthusiasm for their studies.

“They’re very hungry to see what they can do with it.” She says that when she asks many of the students what they want to do when they grow up, they very innocently say they don’t know. Cacho says that’s all right, because a tour like this can help fill in some of the blanks for the students as they progress and eventually get into the job market.

“It’s a tremendous opportunity going both ways [for Novus and the students]. We want to be hands-on and involved with our scholarship recipients lives.”

You can hear all of my conversation with Dr. Cacho here: DrCacho1.mp3

2009 Novus International Undergraduate Networking Day Photo Set