Leading Through Legacy & Innovation with Jonathan Chase

About this episode

Jonathan Chase discusses the importance of leading with curiosity and integrity while balancing legacy and innovation in agriculture.

Some leaders build careers. Others build legacies. And when you work inside one of the most trusted brands in agriculture, every decision carries the weight of both. Jonathan Chase, Vice President of the Turf & Utility Business Unit at John Deere, joins The Cultivating Leaders Podcast to explore what it really takes to lead with curiosity, integrity and deep respect for the people you serve. Serving in many business units, Jon shares how an unconventional, curiosity-driven career path shaped his leadership philosophy and why building trust with customers and teams matters more than climbing the next rung on the ladder. Jon dives into: * Building a career: navigating a career like a pyramid over a ladder and why broad experiences matter more than fast promotions * Balancing legacy & innovation: honoring John Deere's 188-year history while embracing technology, data and AI * Delegating decision-making: empowering teams from the bottom up, and resisting the urge to stay in the weeds Jon reminds us, leadership isn't about having all the answers—it's about asking better questions, listening closely, and creating environments where people can do their best work. Connect with Jon *…

People in this episode

Host: Agriculture Future of America

Guest: Jonathan Chase

Topics covered

• leadership
• legacy
• innovation
• agriculture
• trust
• curiosity

Keywords

• leadership
• legacy
• innovation
• John Deere
• trust
• curiosity
• decision-making
• agriculture

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: John Deere

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