October Leaders’ Lunch: Exploring Behaviour and Leadership in Agriculture
The second Leaders’ Lunch Club event took place in October, bringing together senior professionals from across the agricultural sector for a day of reflection, discussion, and connection.
Hosted in Worcester, the event welcomed leaders from organisations including Cargill, GLW Feeds, KFC UK & Ireland, Farmer’s Weekly, and the Oxford Farming Conference. The aim was simple: to create space for open conversation among peers who rarely cross paths at traditional industry events.
The morning session was led by Rachael Hurdman, a DISC practitioner known for her work helping teams understand behavioural dynamics. Her session introduced the DISC model—a tool that categorises communication and working styles into four core types. Attendees were grouped by their dominant DISC traits and asked to explore how these influence their leadership approach, team relationships, and decision-making.
The breakout discussions were honest and insightful. Each group shared what they found challenging, what they excelled at, and how their behavioural preferences shaped their working environments. These reflections were then brought back to the wider room, sparking thoughtful exchanges and a deeper appreciation for the diversity of leadership styles.
The afternoon was left open for peer-led discussion. Leaders shared current challenges, recent wins, and ideas for navigating change. The format encouraged candid conversation, with no agenda or commercial pressure—just shared experience and mutual support.
Feedback from the October lunch was overwhelmingly positive. Attendees valued the chance to step away from day-to-day pressures and engage in meaningful dialogue with others in similar roles. The DISC session in particular stood out, offering practical insights that many said they’d take back to their teams.
The Leaders’ Lunch Club will continue to run twice a year, with a focus on keeping the group small, trusted, and people-centred. The October event showed just how powerful that approach can be.
