Michael LeSage, HHS alumnus and the President of Cargill Risk Management, of Cargill Incorporated, a food processing company headquartered in Wayzata Minnesota, says “Mistakes will happen, but it is important to talk about them. If someone feels like they are going to be punished for making a mistake that’s when things get problematic.”

Q: As a kid, were you in leadership roles or doing entrepreneurial things?

My first leadership role was when I was in Boy Scouts. I became a patrol leader when I was around 12 years old. It was my first time being elected to lead a group of my peers. I learned how to set an agenda for a meeting and determine what we wanted to accomplish. I was given the opportunity to help motivate others succeed at getting their merit badges.

Q: What was your college experience?

After attending Hopkins High School, I went to the University of Minnesota on the Evans Scholarship for Golf Caddies. It was a tuition and housing scholarship. Minnesota is a very large school but I was able to make it small through different activities that I participated in. In college, I originally thought I was going to be a lawyer. While I was caddying at Interlachen, I was able to talk with one of the members who was a lawyer. He asked me, do you love law? At that point I couldn’t say I loved law but I thought it was interesting. His advice was that if I didn’t love law, I should go into the workforce and wait to see if a passion for law emerged. In the end, I never ended up going to law school.

Q: How do you manage people?

I spend a lot of time on selecting talent. I look to have a diverse team because diversity of thought is important. As a part of my management style, I try to build consensus from the team. In order to do this I ask probing questions and actively listen to people’s thoughts.

Q: When you are apart of the hiring process, what qualities do you look for? What questions do you ask?

When I’m hiring someone, I want a person who has a track record of success in their focused discipline. I like to see people who have shown leadership credentials. I look for people who are engaged, motivated and humble. I like to focus on team because everyone has to be individually accountable, but it isn’t about the individual. You need collective focus, not one superstar.

Q: What fuels your passion for business?

What I love about my job is the trading environment. I have worked at Cargill ever since 1992 when I graduated college, but I have never been bored in my time at Cargill. My job deals with the commodity and currency markets which are always changing. There are constantly new inputs that feed the market and change the direction of prices. The excitement and competition of the ever-changing environment as well as the customer relationships is what fuels my passion for business.

Q: Who are some of the people who have influenced and left a lasting impact on you?

My parents have always focused on doing your best. They always knew what my best would look like. My parents wouldn’t set unrealistic expectations for me, but they knew my strengths and what I was capable of. They challenged me at things they knew I could succeed at. I have also had mentors within Cargill who have challenged and pushed me to succeed, while still having my best interest at heart.

Q: How would you describe your Hopkins High School experience?

I had a great experience at Hopkins. What I liked about Hopkins was there were so many different opportunities to become involved in the school community. I was a student athlete and participated in Football, Track, and Wrestling. I was also academically involved  in student government, knowledge masters, and speech tournaments. There were opportunities for me to be involved in the Hopkins community as well. I was the president of Students Against Drunk Driving during my junior and senior years. The teachers at Hopkins High School were exceptional. I enjoyed my classes and had a good environment for growth.