Christina Crowley-Arklie gives sneak peak of her AWN event presentation
By Jennifer Jackson
The Ag Women’s Network (AWN), in partnership with the Perth County Soil & Crop Improvement Association, is hosting its first in-person event of the year, the Perth Women in Ag Night. The night’s theme is Expand Your Reach.
Both Claire Cowan, founder of North American Plant Genetics, and Christina Crowley-Arklie, one of the founders of the AWN, will speak on the topic of communication within the industry.
The night will also include a dinner, a networking segment, and a trade show featuring event sponsors and ag businesses.
The event is March 29 at the Stratford Rotary Complex, in Perth County.
For those that were unable to attend, Farms.com recently connected with Crowley-Arklie to discuss the event and her presentation.
AWN Photo
Farms.com (Farms): Can you elaborate on your presentation, and why you chose this topic?
Christina Crowley-Arklie (CCA): My presentation is entitled “Step Up, Speak Up, Get Social.” I will be speaking to the idea of how being an effective communicator is needed now more than ever, especially with the various vehicles we have to communicate. Speaking in public doesn’t necessarily only happen on stage or behind a podium anymore.
We often hear we need to tell our story in agriculture and food. But if you're one of the 75 per cent of people who get anxiety from public speaking (known as glossophobia), how do you effectively tell your story and be successful in your job when it comes to communicating? In fact, studies show people fear public speaking more than death!
I will be discussing why there is a need to be heard in a very noisy world. I will be sharing tips and tricks on what impacts your personal style as a communicator, the how of preparation and execution when speaking in public and extending your voice online through social media, and helpful resources or tools to be a better communicator both in-person and online.
Our AWN members have provided valuable feedback on the topics they want to learn more about. Public speaking, social media and communication were topics continually referenced by our members, especially with our members’ involvement in our AWN Facebook group and Twitter chats using the hashtag #AWNChat.
Farms: Why is it important for women in ag to connect and network at events like this?
CCA: As a proud member of the founding Ag Women’s Network (AWN) leadership team, it is exciting to host events like this for our members, especially with industry support.
Providing in-person events at nominal costs allows our members to gain valuable personal development skills that further themselves within their jobs and as industry leaders. This speaks to our AWN mission of “cultivating and connecting leaders for a strong agriculture sector.”
We want to help our agri-food sector attract and retain top talent with the required skills to advance our industry. In order to achieve this, we want to continually provide forums like this event, where members can share their experiences and learn from one another. (These forums) foster relationships and empower women to push themselves further, which is beneficial to our industry as well.
Farms: What do you hope attendees walk away from this event with?
CCA: I’ve always believed the ability to communicate is the most fundamental skill we possess as human beings – we all have the ability to communicate and it is free to do. Often, (however), communication is undervalued.
Through sharing my own personal and professional stories and experiences in the communications field, I’m hoping AWN members will leave feeling empowered and more confident in their abilities to be a more effective communicator through the tools and tips I will share and equip them with.
Putting yourself out there as a communicator and thought leader is never easy but it is worth it. Cultivating these type of relatable, persuasive change leaders who can effectively communicate is what we need more than ever in agriculture and food.
For those who can’t be with us in person, I encourage those on social media to follow the hashtag #AWNChat to be a part of the conversation!
More information on Crowley-Arklie and Cowan, sponsors, and future events is on the AWN event webpage.