Good morning! Ex-NPR chief talks federal funding, economists are backing Carolina Toha for Chile’s next president, and Land O’Lakes’ CEO is leading one of the most complex issues facing businesses in the Trump era.
– Hard work. Land O’Lakes CEO Beth Ford has long been an advocate for farmers and rural American communities. At the beginning of this year, her advocacy portfolio became even higher-stakes: Just as President Donald Trump took office, Ford took over from Apple CEO Tim Cook as chair of the Business Roundtable’s immigration committee.
While the Trump administration has enacted its immigration policy—including mass-scale deportations and questions of legality that have already reached the Supreme Court—Ford has been working to provide the business community’s perspective on long-term immigration questions.
The Business Roundtable supports Trump’s efforts to secure the U.S.-Mexico border, Ford told me last week. “That’s where the American public is,” she said of the issue. But the highly influential business interest group, whose members also include GM chief Mary Barra, Citi CEO Jane Fraser, and TIAA chief Thasunda Brown Duckett, is preparing to bring other perspectives in front of the Trump administration after it determines its efforts at the border are near-complete. That’s when the group will “be able to provide information from the business community to help them understand the needs of immigration flow in terms of workers that will help build the American economy.” “[We aim to] help them understand where there are potential gaps, whether it be in construction workers or agricultural workers,” Ford says.
Ford took over Land O’Lakes in 2018; the job made her the first openly gay woman to lead a Fortune 500 company. Land O’Lakes is more than 100 years old, structured as a member-owned farmer cooperative. It’s ranked No. 245 on the Fortune 500 with $16.8 billion in revenues.
For the farmers and members who make up Land O’Lakes, immigration is a “primary issue,” Ford says. “If you’re a dairy farmer, that’s a 24/7, 365 business. And it’s very difficult, pumping the manure pits that are broken at 3 in the morning. It’s freezing out there. This is hard work,” she says. “They’ve got to have folks to fix the tractor. Many of them have had people working with them for 20 years who without them, you don’t have a business. You can’t do it without them. They’re grateful for folks who want to do that hard work that many are not willing to do…Some have mentioned to me, ‘I’m really nervous, Beth. I’ve got to have staffing. I’ve got to have labor.'”
Ford says the Trump administration has conveyed a willingness to “do something on farm workers.” Her government affairs team has spent the past several months getting to know the new administration—and, in some cases, waiting for those people to get confirmed or read up to speed on these issues, which range from industry-specific needs to visas and DACA. These discussions reach across the White House, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Homeland Security, and the Department of Commerce. (Meanwhile, Land O’Lakes is focused on the upcoming tax bill and the impact the expiration of the 199A benefit would have on farmers.)
Ford acknowledges that this work is complicated. “It’s going to be hard—yeah, it might be,” she says. “I sign up for that, because I think it’s so critically important to the economy, not just for agriculture, but for all these businesses.”
Emma Hinchliffe
emma.hinchliffe@fortune.com
The Most Powerful Women Daily newsletter is Fortune’s daily briefing for and about the women leading the business world. Today’s edition was curated by Nina Ajemian. Subscribe here.
ALSO IN THE HEADLINES
- Toxic relationship. As public media faces a potential pull of its federal funding, former NPR president and CEO Vivian Schiller wishes organizations had been preparing for this situation, “as opposed to now having a gun to the head.” She said “the whole system will be better off” without these financial ties: “Independent journalism and federal funding, it’s a toxic mix.” Vanity Fair
- Significant support. Carolina Toha, Chile’s center-left presidential candidate, is receiving support from a notable group of economists, as she lags behind right-wing candidates. “This isn’t just a gesture. It’s a clear commitment to having a modern economy in Chile,” said Toha. Bloomberg
- Lone voice. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) continues to be a rare Republican voice speaking out against the Trump administration. “We are all afraid,” she said at a conference last week, adding that she is often worried about voicing her concerns in fear of retaliation. New York Times
- Across state lines. Fewer people crossed state lines for an abortion in 2024, according to a new report, with a 9% decrease from 2023; the total number of abortions held steady. One reason for this drop: With fewer donations, funding for out-of-state abortion travel is drying up. Washington Post
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
Strive Health, a kidney care company, named Jen Browne COO. She was most recently the company’s president of market operations and population health.
NBC named Bozoma Saint John CMO of the On Brand Agency, a new marketing firm launched by Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon. Saint John was previously CMO at Netflix.
Orchid Security, an identity security platform, named Trish Cagliostro chief revenue officer. Most recently, she was VP of channels and alliances at Wiz.
Transcend, a company privacy platform, appointed Aimee Cardwell as chief information security officer-in residence. She was previously EVP and chief information security officer at UnitedHealth Group.
JumpCloud, an identity management platform for organizations, appointed Maria Martinez to its board of directors. She was EVP and COO at Cisco.
ON MY RADAR
Melinda French Gates and Jacinda Ardern on imposter syndrome, female friendship, and leading with kindness Elle
How this 27-year-old first-time founder turned a $5,000 grant into $1.3 million in funding Inc.
Can male authors publish books under female names? New York Times
PARTING WORDS
“When I sing it now, I’m so singing it for other people. Hoping it will help them get to where I am and beyond. Because I am in a state of thriving right now, as opposed to surviving.”
— Singer Gloria Gaynor on her hit, “I Will Survive”
