Meet Phenecia Lindsey, DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) Consultant at Land O’Lakes. Phenecia was inspired to uplift others by learning from her grandfather, who was a preacher.

“My role today in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion was inevitable. My top strengths are all around positivity, communications, inclusion. I know I am in the best role of my life,” says Phenecia.

Today, Phenecia manages Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Summit, Quarterly Learning Series, DEI trainings for Land O’Lakes and its manufacturing facilities, and supports all 11 Employee Resource Groups. Talking to Phenecia about her work, it’s easy to see the passion that shines through.

This is Phenecia’s first role in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion space; all her previous roles were around Learning and Development.

“When I started at Land O’Lakes in a Learning and Development role, I got involved with the African Ancestry Employee Resource Group. I co-led our engagement pillar, and I started to use my creativity to put together events. One of my highlights was getting St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter III to speak at Land O’Lakes. I loved it.

“That’s when I realized: When I’m working on equity, inclusion, and belonging work, it’s pure joy.”

Bringing Equity and Belonging to life

Phenecia enjoyed working with her team in Learning and Development but also made efforts to get to know Philomena Morrissey-Satre, Director of DEI at Land O’Lakes, and then asked to be mentored by her.

“I was a few months into this mentorship with Philomena, and we were grabbing lunch. I had seen a new role open on the DEI team, and I was so nervous to even bring it up as a topic. But Philomena brought it up—she wanted to make sure I applied for the role.”

Since Phenecia joined the DEI team, her Learning & Development background has helped her to grow the Land O’Lakes DEI Learning series and develop pathways for folks to continue to engage. Land O’Lakes participation in ERGs (Employee resource groups) jumped 33% in 2022.

“Land O’Lakes is a place you can grow. It just is. I’m proof of that.”

Work with a purpose

Phenecia will be the first to tell you that DEI work isn’t easy.

“When George Floyd was murdered in Minneapolis, it tore me in half. I grew up in South Minneapolis. And when I went back to see my neighborhood and see my people, it was awe-inspiring. People walking up and down Lake Street with brooms, water, food. What I saw was togetherness. Doing DEI work can take a toll on you, but I will never not love doing this work.”

After joining Land O’Lakes eight years ago, Phenecia has only been looking forward: Toward how to continue to create spaces for everyone to belong. She knows this work is inseparable from our member-owned cooperative model.

“One of my favorite things about working here at Land O’Lakes is that it’s a cooperative. We are working for the people who are doing the heavy lifting, the hard work: farmers. I find such purpose in doing this work here.”