Syngenta Honored for Creating Workplace Diversity

Women in Agribusiness (WIA) has recognized Syngenta as its company of the year for workplace diversity. WIA also has named Stefanie Jill Fogel, partner at DLA Piper, as its leader of the year, and Laura Daniels, founder of Dairy Girl Network, as its innovator of the year.

Each honoree received the WIA Demeter Award in September during a ceremony at the WIA Summit in Chicago. This annual award acknowledges the outstanding achievements of individuals and businesses that are creating positive results in retaining, recruiting and promoting women in the ag sector.

“We are honored to receive this award and grateful to WIA for the recognition,” says Dan Burdett, head of customer marketing for crop protection at Syngenta. “We recognize the significant roles women play in agriculture and are so proud of the Syngenta female scientists, sales representatives, agronomists, communicators and business leaders who are helping growers and resellers make a positive impact on the the world’s food supply.”

WIA and an advisory committed selected Syngenta for this honor, in part, because of the company’s global diversity and inclusion policy.

“We are honored to receive this award and grateful to WIA for the recognition.”

Launched in 2014, this policy is helping Syngenta leverage differences, catalyze innovation, maximize performance and create business value for its more than 28,000 employees worldwide. The Syngenta Women’s Leadership Group is an offshoot of the policy. The group has hosted a number of employee enrichment activities, including lunch-and-learn sessions featuring agribusiness female executives, professional development seminars in the areas of coaching and networking, Syngenta career pathing and advice, and local volunteer opportunities.

Syngenta is also the presenting sponsor of “FarmHer on RFD-TV,” a new television series that celebrates the talented, hardworking women of agriculture. Each episode includes a 30-second #RootedinAg Spotlight, which features many of the women affiliated with Syngenta—both customers and employees alike—whose agricultural roots are helping their industry and communities thrive.