Cargill Innovation & Technology Culture

What first attracted you to Cargill? When did you know it was the right place for you and your career?

I was drawn to Cargill by the scale and real-world impact of the problems here and the opportunity to lead advanced ML and GenAI for agriculture and supply-chain challenges that affect millions of people. Cargill, being one of the largest privately held food and agriculture companies with a presence in more than 70 countries, already uses AI deeply across operations, from predictive analytics and computer vision in meat processing to ML in supply chains and customer solutions. That level of global impact and meaningful application of technology immediately stood out to me. 

I knew Cargill was the right place when I saw how strongly the organization empowers people to lead and drive innovation. Very early on, I experienced genuine investment in experimentation, production and scaling solutions, not just building prototypes. Within a short time, I was able to lead enterprise GenAI enablement, architect end-to-end solutions, shape platform strategy, and contribute to initiatives that scaled beyond a single region. That combination of innovation, purpose and global impact convinced me that this is where I can grow and contribute meaningfully.

Share one exciting challenge or project you are working on right now. What impact will this have on the business?

One of the most exciting challenges I’m leading right now is helping define enterprise-wide GenAI strategy; specifically, how we create a unified, secure and scalable platform that can support AI adoption across all businesses within Cargill. This work goes beyond selecting models or tools — it’s about setting the vision for how GenAI integrates into our current digital ecosystem, how we classify and protect data, and how we enable teams to innovate responsibly and at speed. 

A key focus has been establishing the foundational patterns, RAG frameworks, agentic workflows, translation capabilities and governance models that allow different teams to build confidently on a shared backbone. I regularly partner with leaders across functions to align platform decisions with business needs, ensure compliance, and enable long-term scalability.

If your company culture was a car, what would it be, and why?

If our company culture was a car, it would be a McLaren; not just a sleek supercar, but a machine shaped by teamwork, precision, purpose and a commitment to excellence. A McLaren isn’t built to be ordinary; it’s engineered for performance, agility and pushing the limits of what’s possible. That’s a lot like how we operate at Cargill. We’re driven by a clear purpose: to nourish the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way — every day and in every market we serve. That purpose aligns our teams and inspires us to solve complex challenges with creativity and integrity. 

Just as a McLaren team works in perfect harmony, from the engineer’s balancing aerodynamics to the pit crew executing with split-second coordination, Cargill’s culture thrives on collaboration, trust and shared goals. And like the exciting world of F1, where every lap and every decision matters, at Cargill, we stay focused on continuous improvement. We celebrate wins, learn from every challenge, and always look ahead with curiosity and drive. That mix of performance and purpose, speed with responsibility is exactly the kind of “McLaren spirit” that mirrors our culture.

What is your role on the IT team, and what are your responsibilities?

I am a software engineer at Cargill working from our new Atlanta office. I work with pricing software that manages pricing, rebates and promotions for our animal nutrition business. With my team, I program new functionalities and make updates to better serve our customers, so that they can provide better nutrition for better lives. Although I work with a small — but growing — team in Atlanta, I am also connected to teams across the globe, from Poland to Brazil. After just a short time with the company, I am excited about my potential impact, including mentoring new employees and providing a more personal customer-centric approach to a new in-house engineering team.

How does Cargill support IT professionals? What opportunities for learning and growth are offered, and how does your team effectively work together?

One thing I’ve really appreciated is how much Cargill invests in our growth — not just in our current roles, but in our broader career paths. We have access to LinkedIn Learning, which makes it easy to explore new skills. I recently took a course on sustainability that really expanded my perspective. For my role specifically, Cargill is also covering the cost of a PriceFx certification, which is directly relevant to the tools we use. Even though our team is spread around the globe, there’s a strong culture of support. People are quick to respond and always willing to help, which makes a big difference when you’re working across time zones.

Why might someone want to join Cargill’s IT team? What routines, traditions and perks does your team offer?

For me, I was drawn to the stability of the food and agriculture industry. It felt like a place where I could grow my career while contributing to something that really matters — feeding the world. Since joining, I’ve found the work to be meaningful, and the people have been incredibly welcoming and supportive.

Our team has a great culture — we make time to eat lunch together, and as we grow, we’re looking forward to doing more outside of work, too. I also really enjoy the office itself. On the days I go in, it’s nice to work in a space with big windows that let in tons of natural light and overlook midtown Atlanta. It makes a difference to have that kind of environment. Plus, the fancy coffee machine is a small but fun perk that adds something special to the day.