Introducing The Next Big Thing The Company Thatll Lead the Revolution

Introducing The Next Big Thing The Company Thatll Lead the RevolutionIntroducing The Next Big Thing The Company Thatll Lead the Revolution It may come as no surprise that the future is hybrid - from cars to college majors to careers - its all about combining skills and strategies in order to innovate. As such, the next big hybrid is agtech, or agriculture technology. And its champion is Boston-based Indigo , whose goal is ironically simple to help farmers sustainably feed the planet.Agtech is an industry based on technologies, old and new, that are responsible for increasing the output and efficiency of agricultural production, says Lauren Ashbrook, Senior Communications Lead at Indigo . In recent years, agtech has become a buzzword, most often describing emerging technologies that are aimed at increasing agricultural production to meet the demands of a ballooning population.For the past few years, agriculture technology has been a hot sector for venture capital ists, entrepreneurs and data hounds, but it has now reached critical mass presenting a huge opportunity for job seekers. According to a Boston Consulting Group study , in 2015, the combined agtech investments of agribusiness companies and early-stage investments of VC firms totaled an estimated $20 1000 milliarden to $25 billion.Some of the most popular subgroups of this hot industry are agricultural bioscience, data-enabled agriculture, automation and robotics, supply chain and logistics, agricultural processing, and alternative business models. Indigo works to utilize plants natural microbes to improve crop health and productivity. They work with farmers to provide microbial seed treatmentsfor corn, cotton, rice, soybeans, and wheat that lead to higher-yielding, hardier crops that can withstand water shortage.In short, Indigos seed treatments maximize field productivity, enhance crop quality, and satisfy increasing consumer demand for sustainably grown food, adds Ashbrook. Thus f ar, weve focused ur research and development on products that address water stress (i.e. arid or drought conditions), which is elend only a pressing concern for the agriculture industry, in particular, but also a problem that is projected to worsen under all climate change scenarios.In order to reach their goal of helping farmers sustainably feed the planet, Indigo hires engineers, data scientists, and more that will develop products that address biotic stresses, such as pests and disease, in order to provide growers with efficacious tools that enable them to meaningfully reduce agricultural chemical use.Whether working on the finance, manufacturing, crop product management or bioprocessing teams, every Indigo employee has - you guessed it - a hybrid love of farms, healthy food and a clean planet for future generations. We caught up with Ashbrook and Indigos VP of People, Katie Czerepak to talk about the career opportunities in agtech and what its like to lead the second green r evolution.Glassdoor Why is the agtech industry booming right now? Any reason behind the growth?Lauren Ashbrook There is a lot of opportunity for innovation in agriculture. By 2050, the planet will have 9.7 billion people to feed. At the same time, the yield gains resulting from modern agricultural technologies have largely plateaued, generating annual yield increases of just over 1 percent per year. Climate change, meanwhile, has caused weather volatility and created record dry spells, impacting farmers around the globe. If current trends continue, by 2050 we will no longer be producing enough food to sustain our population.Compounding the problem, recent gains in agricultural productivity stem from the increased use of existing technologies such as synthetic fertilizers, agricultural chemicals, plant breeding and hybridization, and genetically modified traits (GMOs). We are now faced with the challenge of increasing our planets capacity to produce food without leaning on existing technologies, many which have raised environmental and health concerns.The agtech industry is beginning to recognize, articulate, and tackle this challenge. To sustainably meet the demands of a growing population will require new innovations, new models, and wide-scale collaboration in agriculture and beyond.Glassdoor What makes Indigo special in terms of its relationship to growers/farmers?Lauren Ashbrook While Indigo has much to offer in the way of cutting-edge computational biology and crop science, the companys core mission focuses on grower profitability. We work to ensure that growers, rather than middlemen or large corporations, capture most of the value associated with their crop. We design our offerings to enable farmers to have sustainable businesses, while also enabling healthy food production.Launched this year, Indigos production model for Indigo Wheat strengthens our relationship with growers by creating a partnership that positions them to succeed from the start to f inish of the growing season. More than just a transaction, this model complements growers expertise with a comprehensive package of products and services, including our microbial seed treatment, agronomic advice, precision ag tools, to give growers a competitive edge. Moreover, our model moves to connect consumer preferences with agricultural practices. Consumers increasingly want, and are willing to pay for, high-quality food, produced in a sustainable way. Given this, we are able to provide farmers with a significant harvest-time premium for growing Indigo Wheat, a sustainably and traceably produced crop.Taken together, the assets that we provide have the potential to dramatically raise farm revenue, attracting the next generation of growers.On top of this, growers are a critical part of our R&D process. Weve developed the Indigo Partners program to assess and validate new technologies on real growers fields, rather than hyper-controlled trial environments. The data and insights g athered in partnership with growers allow for us to bring innovative and effective products to market.Glassdoor How would you describe Indigos workforce and team?Katie Czerepak A bedrock of our values is treating others with transparency, respect, honesty and integrity. We aim to be radically transparent by sharing company information, feedback and details behind policies with all employees. For example, we openly share our compensation bands so that everyone knows what the possible compensation ranges are at each level .We are really proud of attracting some of the best and brightest from many different backgrounds business, agriculture, science and technology and creating an environment conducive to collaboration. We are proud of our weltumspannend diversity , with 25 different countries represented among our 200 employees.Glassdoor What kind of employee thrives at Indigo?Katie Czerepak At Indigo, we are trying to do something extraordinary, and to accomplish extraordinary g oals, you need extraordinary people. When we decide whom to bring onto our team, we think first about our core values, as we want everyone at Indigo to be committed to collaboration, transparency, and integrity. We are proud of the talented and diverse team we have in place, all united by a dedication to farmers and to the sustainable production of food for our growing world.Its the think big and mission-driven nature of Indigo that has attracted talent to Indigo, and those who succeed here are the ones that are eager to be part of our experienced and innovative team, and to work together towards a greater good.Glassdoor Indigo is hiring. If you could speak to a room full of agrotech enthusiasts, how would you pitch them to work at Indigo?Katie Czerepak I can honestly say that I think Indigo is the most exciting company to be working at right now. First and foremost, we are a truly mission-driven company , and we all come to work inspired by making the planet a healthier place. As a parent of 3 young kids, knowing that the work Im doing is leaving our world better for them is extremely gratifying.Second, there is a thrill to being part of a fast-growing company where we are scaling quickly and making things happen. It allows for just fantastic career development because our people are always being asked to meet aggressive goals and come up with innovative ways to do that.And because of the combination of behauptung 2 things (which is not all that common), we have been able to attract really smart and high caliber people, and are cultivating a really strong company culture that is inclusive, energizing, and rooting in doing the right thing. Working at Indigo means joining an insanely talented team that has the potential to not only impact an industry, but to fulfill a larger vision of a world where nutritious food is transparently sourced and resources are conserved for future generations. Its really funGlassdoor Boston is an interesting location for tech , and agrotech at that. Why Boston? What makes it the next Silicon Valley?Katie Czerepak As a company uniting agriculture, science, and technology, being in Boston allows us to uniquely draw on the best minds from some of the top universities in the world. Boston, home to some of the top technology companies as well as cutting-edge science and research institutions, is a hub for talent.Boston is buzzing with excitement around emerging technologies in pharmaceuticals, digital technologies, and now in agriculture. Its not the next Silicon Valley - its its own thing

Falling with style Buzz Lightyears secret to overcoming failure

Falling with style Buzz Lightyears secret to overcoming failureFalling with style Buzz Lightyears secret to overcoming failureNo one succeeds at big goals that matter without failing along the way.So unless you survive the failures, youll never succeed at all.In this post, Ill teach you a simple but crucial mindset shift to help you persevere through setbacks and challenges without giving up.Because people who dont give up are capable of amazing things.What Buzz Lightyear knows that you dontGrowing up, Toy Story was one of my favorite movies. Since its now over twenty years old - yikes - Ill give you a quick refresher.An uptight sheriff doll named Woody, who belongs to a boy named Andy, has his world turned upside down when a shiny new toy crash-lands in Andys bedroom. This new toy is Buzz Lightyear, a fancy action figure with buttons, lasers, and wings that shoot out of his back. Buzz is a cool toy, but whats interesting is, Buzz thinks hes an actual space ranger. His arrogant beh avior sends the already tightly wound Woody over the edge.Their argument escalates quickly and comes to center around one claim. Buzz believes he can fly. After bouncing around the room doing micro-parkour, most of Andys other toys agree. But notlage Woody.When Andy accidentally forgets Woody and Buzz at a pizza restaurant, the two rivals have to work together to find their way home.In the process, Buzz comes across a TV commercial that reveals, to his horror, Woody was right. Buzz is not a space ranger hes just a toy. And if that werent bad enough, hes not a flying toy.Refusing to believe what hes heard, Buzz climbs to the top of a staircase, spreads his wings, and jumps. He crashes to the ground, losing an arm in the process.Buzz is truly ruined. With no sense of self-worth, hes robbed of all purpose.Seeing Buzz despondent, Woody tries to encourage him. He admits that he was jealous of Buzzs bells and whistles, and tells him that while he is just a toy, hes a very cool toy, and he has the power to do something meaningful by making life more fun for his owner Andy.Soon after, Woody is taken prisoner by an unstable teenager who tears apart toys for fun. So Buzz resolves to overcome both his insecurities and his arrogance, by working together with other toys to save his only friend.In a daring rescue, Buzz launches himself from a bottle rocket to grab Woody before soaring into the sky. When the rockets flare dies out, Buzz spreads his wings, and glides toward the ground with Woody in his arms. Seeing what Buzz is capable of, Woody is amazed, and without a hint of bitterness, he shouts, Buzz, youre flyingBut Buzz, remembering his tumble down the stairs, humbly explains, This isnt flying its falling with style.Why falling with style is the best-kept secret of successEvery day, overconfident dreamers, who dont understand the journey of success, invite everyone they know to watch as they leap from dangerous heights, embarking on an unexpected date with gravity. Wou nded, ashamed, and shocked, many, after hitting the ground, never get back up to try again. They mistakenly believe their error was in dreaming big, taking risks. They feel worthless, as the talents they so prized are proven insufficient, and they realize theyre no better than the people they wanted to impress.The world isnt divided into talented space rangers and lowly toys. Were all toys. Depending on how you view yourself, that even playing field may be encouraging. Or, like Buzz, you might take offense, thinking, Hes just trying to hold me down. To keep me from flying.But thats the thing, isnt it? You cant fly. You werent born with some exceptional power that will allow you to bypass the challenge and struggles required to succeed. Youre going to have to work hard, strengthen your weaknesses, and fail often. If I dont tell you that, gravity will, as it reminds me every day.But thats not a reason to quit either. Even though you and I are no better than the other toys, we are uniq uely equipped, each with our own buttons and lasers. And when we, in community, acknowledge our weaknesses and combine our talents in service to others, we can accomplish amazing things.How to pay this mindset forwardThe road to success is paved with a thousand failures, but most people dont know that. And when you reach your goals, admirers will look at you and exclaim, Wow, youre flying But by the time youve made it that far, youll know better. Youve simply gone from failure to failure without losing your enthusiasm.Let them in on your secret. Teach them success isnt flying - its falling with style.Want to go deeper?Do you have big goals you long to achieve? The biggest threat to your success is simply giving up.Become a finisher with my short bookQuitterProof The 5 Beliefs of Highly Successful People.Download your free copy right here.Kyle Youngis helping creative people achieve big goals that matter.

What to Do When Calling in Sick is Unavoidable

What to Do When Calling in Sick is UnavoidableWhat to Do When Calling in Sick is UnavoidableWith cold and flu season upon us, many professionals will face the tough decision of calling in sick or just powering through, despite the fact that fruchtwein companies discourage working when sick.While you may worry about falling behind if you take a sick day, its far better to stay home, unplug and rest when you feel the flu coming on or youre contagious with a viral illness.In an ideal world, wed all have unlimited sick days and paid time off, along with someone to bring us chicken soup, but thats usually not the case. Besides potentially making your illness worse and infecting others in the process, going to work sick can cost your employer, too. Here are some general tips about when and how to call in sickA checklist to follow when calling in sickSend an email or call your manager at the start of the day. (Make sure you know ahead of time the preferred method of alerting your boss when youre sick.)Send another message to key members of your team to let them know you are calling in sick and if you will be responding to email. (This is especially important when you have a project youre working on or a deadline coming up.)Keep it brief and to the point. (Theres no need to divulge specific details about your symptoms.)Never lie or exaggerate your illness. (It can come back to bite you and permanently damage your credibility.)If youre a temporary employee, be sure you also contact your recruiter about your absence.SEARCH OUR JOB OPENINGSWhen to absolutely stay homeIf youre seriously sneezing and coughing. This is how a cold spreads, and if you dont have your own office, frequent coughing is likely to disturb your coworkers.If you have active symptoms, such as chills, fatigue and body aches. These are early signs of the flu, and you are often contagious a day before you have symptoms.If you have a fever. A high temperature signals that your body is fighting something of f and that you need to rest. Staying home to rest will help you recover more quickly.If you are vomiting or have diarrhea. Things like food poisoning and 24-hour bugs need bed rest and lots of fluids more than anything.If youre otherwise contagious. Anyone with a condition such as pink eye should definitely stay home to avoid passing on the illness to others.If the medication youre on affects your alertness. You wont be at 100 percent while trying to do your job, and driving could be dangerous. Dont risk it.When it makes sense to go back or keep workingIf youre no longer contagious. You are capable of transmitting the cold or flu virus to others for about a week after you initially get sick.If youre feeling a lot better. Once youre out of the danger zone, or your doctor has given you the thumbs up, going to work can be a relief from the monotony of staying home sick.If its just allergies. Theyre annoying, not contagious, so there is no need to worry about getting your coworkers sick . Do consider taking a decongestant or antihistamine to minimize your coughing and sneezing, though.How to avoid getting sick at workWash your hands frequently. Washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds is the best way to ensure you dont spread germs or catch them.Try not to share too much. If you can help it, dont share food, phones, keyboards or a computer mouse with coworkers.Keep your workspace clean. Wipe down surfaces at your desk with an alcohol-based solution.Consider getting a flu shot. Ben Franklin was right An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The Centers for Disease Control recommends annual flu vaccines to help you build antibodies that can protect you from infection.If your company allows it, and youre feeling up to it, working from home is an option. But keep in mind that the most important thing may be to focus on getting better. Pushing yourself when youre sick may have the opposite effect.By taking care of yourself and getting some rest after calling in sick, youll be on the road to recovery and back to work more quickly.Employers, if you need backup during cold and flu season, Robert Half can help you quickly. Consult our staffing experts.START HIRING NOW