Karla Thieman: North Star Leadership

Join our champion program: [email protected] a Thriving Leader event: https://thriving-leader-2026.lovable.app/Instagram: @the.momentum.companyLinkedIn: /momentum-companyIn this episode of The Intentional Agribusiness Leader, Mark sits down with Karla Thieman, Senior Vice President of Public Policy at JBS USA, for a conversation about leadership, public policy, career development, culture, and what it takes to create lasting impact in agriculture.Karla defines intentional leadership through one simple idea:Have a North Star.Know where you're trying to go.The path won't always be straight. There will be setbacks, unexpected opportunities, and plenty of detours. But intentional leaders don't lose sight of the destination—they adjust their route while staying committed to the mission.For Karla, that North Star started early.As a high school senior, she knew she wanted to become an agricultural lobbyist—someone who could connect farmers to public policy and serve as a voice for agriculture in Washington, D.C. That vision guided every opportunity that followed, from Capitol Hill to USDA and ultimately to leading public policy efforts at JBS USA.One of the biggest themes throughout the conversation is this:Leadership isn't about having a perfect plan. It's about having a clear direction.The conversation traces Karla's journey through writing the 2014 Farm Bill, serving as Chief of Staff to Secretary Tom Vilsack at the USDA, and eventually building JBS USA's Washington, D.C., public policy office from the ground up.Along the way, she shares an important reminder:Sometimes the opportunities that shape your career aren't the ones you planned for.They're the ones you were prepared for.Another major theme is culture.When Karla joined JBS, she didn't just build a team—she intentionally built a culture.She believes great teams start with great people, long before a position is ever available. Throughout her career, she's kept a "Rolodex" of talented individuals, investing in relationships and identifying future leaders long before she needed to hire them.The conversation also explores how JBS reinforces its culture across more than 80,000 employees through seven core values:DeterminationSimplicityAvailabilityHumilitySincerityDisciplineOwnershipThose values aren't simply written on the wall.They're embedded into hiring, performance evaluations, leadership development, and daily decision-making.Because culture isn't built by intention alone.It's built through consistent reinforcement.Another powerful leadership lesson comes from Karla's experience leading teams at a young age.Like many emerging leaders, she wrestled with imposter syndrome after stepping into high-level leadership roles early in her career.Her biggest lesson?Information isn't power unless you share it.She observed that the best leaders weren't the ones who protected information to maintain influence.They were the ones who equipped their teams by creating transparency, trust, and ownership.That philosophy has shaped the way she leads today.The conversation closes with one of Karla's proudest accomplishments—helping launch the International Year of the Woman Farmer.What began as an idea in 2015 took more than a decade, multiple administrations, countless partnerships, and unwavering persistence before becoming a reality in 2026.It's a powerful reminder that meaningful change rarely happens overnight.Sometimes the most important work requires years of steady, intentional progress.Because leadership isn't measured by how quickly something happens.It's measured by whether you're willing to keep moving toward your North Star.Listen if you are:Navigating leadership or career transitionsInterested in agricultural policy and the Farm BillBuilding culture within your organizationDeveloping and leading high-performing teamsLooking to grow as an intentional leaderPassionate about the future of agriculture and public serviceA clear North Star won't eliminate the twists and turns—but it will keep you moving in the right direction.