Learnings from the Value Chain Tour
At JDI, leadership development and training are cornerstones of our people strategy. The Value Chain Tour is a unique opportunity that stands out among our training offerings. Through a three-day tour of our vertically integrated forest supply chain, employees gain an understanding of how interconnected their work is with one another. Throughout this time, they are also challenged to consider how they present themselves to their peers and how those impressions impact their leadership skills.
Some participants shared their thoughts on the activity:
Anneke Lourens, who works in Financial Accounting & Reporting as the Controller for Woodlands, says, “The Value Chain tour is designed to help employees understand the various divisions and operations in the business. From seedlings to tree planting to raw materials to finished goods and services that we deliver, you get to know how they are all linked together.”
Jennifer Salter, a Kent District Manager, notes that the company’s operations are truly “seed to shelf.”
For those further removed from forest operations and products, the tour was still beneficial. “The activity gave me insight into the core operations of the company. It was interesting to see even an indirect line to how my company ties into these functions,” stated Patrick Leland, Operations Manager at Harbour Development.
The leadership development component of the Value Chain Tour takes a unique approach. Focusing on Executive Presence, participants were challenged to consider how they present to their colleagues, by offering feedback to one another each day.
“You rarely get that type of real-time feedback after a first impression,” says Anneke. Patrick spoke about how this activity has evolved the way that he presents himself to his team. “It made me realize how much my leadership impacts my business’ results,” added Jennifer.
A common takeaway was the breadth of opportunity within JDI. “We aren’t just retail, or just X or Y or Z. There are so many opportunities to do things that you may have no idea you want to do,” said Jennifer. Overall, the Value Chain Tour exemplifies the wide range of functions and the support available to employees at JDI to realize their career aspirations.
Book an Operations Tour Here