From Farm Roots to Boardrooms: Lessons in Resilience and Transformation — Michelle Pedigo
Growing up on a cattle farm in Kentucky taught me lessons that no textbook or corporate training could ever provide. Life on the farm was a masterclass in resilience, adaptability, and hard work — skills that have been the foundation of my journey across diverse roles and industries.
I learned a great deal about finance from working in agriculture. Said simply, early in life, the significance of financial risk versus reward was engrained through market fluctuations as well as decisions to borrow money for growth. Early lessons in financial literacy have informed my approach to deploying resources efficiently in professional settings.
One vivid memory that stands out is working in the fields. My father handed me a cutting knife to start; after a few hours of work, the knife became dull. My father told me to stop cutting towards the ground, which was causing it to become dull. However, he never told me how to fix my approach. When I asked him to sharpen it, he did so once but told me, “That’s it — I won’t sharpen it again. You need to figure out how to keep from making it dull.” I quickly realized that I couldn’t wait for someone else to solve my problem. Instead, I must adjust my approach to keep the work going. This experience taught me about pivoting and problem-solving under pressure — lessons I carry into my work every day, serving clients and organizations.
Another lesson came from working with cattle. You can’t force them down the chute; if you try, they’ll turn on you, and it actually can become dangerous quickly. Instead, you have to guide them patiently, using calm and steady encouragement. People, I’ve found, are much the same. Whether I’m leading a team or mentoring someone one-on-one, I focus on guiding and empowering them rather than pushing too hard or taking control. I do have to admit that I didn’t realize this key concept early in my leadership days, but through life experiences, I have learned that guiding and empowering people, like cattle fosters trust, encourages collaboration, and creates stronger collective success.
On the farm, every day brought a new challenge. One moment, we’d be mending fences after a storm; the next, helping a calf through a difficult birth. These experiences taught me to face challenges head-on and to find solutions, no matter how daunting the situation. More importantly, they instilled in me a belief that hard work and persistence would eventually pay off, even if the results weren’t immediate.
Fast forward to my role as a middle school principal, and the parallels became evident. Education, like farming, required patience and adaptability. There were no quick fixes to the systemic challenges we faced — only a commitment to incremental progress. I approached the role with the same work ethic I learned on the farm: showing up every day, listening to the needs of others, and staying focused on the long-term goal.
The corporate world presented yet another landscape to navigate, and my farm roots served me well. I often found myself in situations that demanded quick thinking and creative problem-solving. In one specific market at one company, we encountered a major hurdle that threatened critical results. Instead of succumbing to pressure, I encouraged the team to adopt a problem-solving approach similar to what I learned on the farm: assess the situation, empower voices to be heard, adapt quickly to changing circumstances, and then work hard. This mindset was the foundation to overcome the obstacles so that we met our goals.
Resilience, however, goes beyond just pushing through adversity — it’s about transformation and quick learning. On the farm, every season brought change, and we learned to embrace it together. Success wasn’t an individual effort; it was a shared commitment, where each person played a role in adapting and moving forward.
Similarly, in my career — whether in education, corporate leadership, or community engagement — progress has always been a team effort. Every transformation required not just my own learning but also collaboration, support, and a shared vision. The lessons of resilience and adaptability that began on a farm in Kentucky have shaped my approach to leadership, reinforcing that success is a team sport. No matter where life takes me, I remain committed to fostering environments where people grow together, push boundaries, and drive meaningful change.
Michelle is a transformational leader with a background in education, sales, and executive leadership. She excels in building strong cultures, driving business growth, and empowering people to create meaningful change. As a board leader and mentor, she is committed to developing future leaders and guiding organizations toward lasting impact.
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