In agriculture, uncertainty is the operating environment. Weather shifts, volatile markets, unpredictable pests, evolving regulations, and rapid advancements in ag tech all converge to make decision-making uniquely challenging. For leaders navigating this complexity, waiting for perfect information is rarely an option.
Leah Anderson, a senior executive at Land O’Lakes, has learned to make high-stakes calls even when the data is incomplete. It’s a discipline that’s become foundational to her leadership, especially as AI and digital tools accelerate the speed at which farmers and retailers must act.
She says the biggest risk for decision-makers in this space isn’t making the wrong call—it’s getting stuck. “You can get to the point of analysis paralysis,” Anderson says. Instead, she focuses on whether additional data would actually change anything. Her rule of thumb: If more information won’t alter the outcome, stop digging and make the call.
“My guide here is, does getting more information and data change the decision, or does it just make you feel better about it?” she explains. In her experience, most teams already have enough to be “directionally correct,” and endlessly chasing certainty often wastes time and slows progress.
Another framework Anderson relies on is the distinction between one-way and two-way decisions. Two-way decisions are reversible, so they don’t require exhaustive analysis. One-way decisions, by contrast, carry serious consequences and can’t be undone; those deserve deeper inspection.
But making decisions is only part of the job. Empowering others to make them is just as important.
When asked what proportion of decisions she delegates versus those she makes herself, Anderson estimates a 90/10 split, with her team handling the vast majority. If every choice must flow upward, she says, something is broken. Her goal is to ensure people have both the authority and the accountability to lead.
But delegation isn’t abdication. “With agency comes accountability,” Anderson notes. That means having the right KPIs, reporting, and business intelligence in place to support empowered decision-making while ensuring teams deliver on expectations.
Editor’s note: The deadline to apply for the Fortune Next to Lead list is Monday, Dec.1, 2025. For more information or to submit a nomination, apply here.
Ruth Umoh
ruth.umoh@fortune.com
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