Full feature written by M R Yuvatha, published at Asia Education Review

In an interview with M R Yuvatha, Editor, Asia Education Review, Aboitiz Foods’ Chief Risk Officer Annacel Natividad shares insights from her perspective as a senior food and agribusiness executive, exploring the skills, mindsets, and pathways needed to build risk-ready leaders, and the structural work still required to bring more women into senior finance and risk roles.

Food and agribusiness sit at the intersection of some of the world’s most volatile forces today: climate change, geopolitical disruption, commodity price swings, biosecurity threats, shifting regulation, and fast-evolving consumer expectations. 

As these pressures compound, the industry is rethinking what it actually takes to lead through uncertainty, and increasingly, the answer points beyond technical expertise alone toward professionals who can connect disciplines, read systems, and make sound decisions with incomplete information. That shift has significant implications for how the next generation of talent is trained. 

Career Skills and Foundations in Food and Agribusiness

Young people entering the field are often advised not to overthink the search for a “perfect” degree. Career paths that begin in accounting, move through finance, and eventually lead into enterprise risk management are not unusual, and that kind of progression can become a genuine strength, offering a deeper understanding of how businesses create value before learning how to protect and sustain it. The future will require professionals who can connect disciplines rather than operate in silos.

In food and agribusiness, climate change, geopolitical shifts, commodity volatility, biosecurity, food safety, regulation, consumer expectations, and technology are increasingly interconnected. A drought, for example, can reduce crop yields, drive commodity prices higher, disrupt food supply chains, affect affordability, and ultimately influence business performance. Understanding those connections is what will distinguish future leaders.

Beyond technical knowledge, young professionals should develop a systems mindset: learning to see the bigger picture, building data and communication skills, staying curious, and becoming comfortable making thoughtful decisions amid uncertainty. Those qualities will matter just as much as academic credentials over the next decade.

Emerging Career Paths

Many people still associate agribusiness primarily with farming or food production. In reality, it has become a highly dynamic and multidisciplinary industry. Demand is growing for professionals in risk management, sustainability, supply chain resilience, food safety, technology, data analytics, and regulatory compliance. As food systems become more interconnected and technology-driven, companies increasingly need people who can combine technical expertise with commercial understanding.

The first piece of advice for young professionals is to build depth before chasing titles. Mastering a core discipline comes first. Having a strong foundation in finance or accounting teaches how businesses create value. From there, understanding operations and supply chains, and spending time with people on the ground, matter greatly. The best risk professionals understand the business before they advise the business.

At the same time, stepping outside a comfort zone matters. Some of the greatest career learnings come from moving across functions and industries, with each transition broadening perspective and preparing professionals for opportunities that might not otherwise have emerged.

Structured Pathways for Aspiring Women Leaders

Finance and risk management, particularly at senior levels, have historically been male-dominated, and women have often had to work harder to establish credibility, build visibility, and access sponsorship opportunities.

Today, the conversation is shifting from whether women belong in leadership to how organizations can help them succeed. Younger women having more visible role models is encouraging, but representation alone is not enough. It needs to be supported by meaningful mentorship, sponsorship, and opportunities to lead and demonstrate capability. 

Women should also believe in their own readiness; growth rarely happens when one feels completely ready, and often happens when willing to take on challenges that stretch one’s capabilities. The hope across the industry is that today’s leaders continue paying that support forward — mentoring, sponsoring, and opening doors for the next generation.

For aspiring women leaders, the advice is simple: don’t wait until feeling 100 percent ready before saying yes to new opportunities. Some of the most rewarding chapters of a career begin with roles never done before. Leadership is not about having all the answers; it is about having the courage to keep learning, make thoughtful decisions, and help others succeed along the way.

Read the full feature at Asia Education Review.

Tanya Jawab:

1. What core skills are essential for future leaders in food and agribusiness?

Beyond technical expertise, future leaders need a systems mindset—the ability to connect interrelated factors such as climate change, commodity swings, biosecurity, and supply chain disruptions. Key qualities include data literacy, strong communication skills, curiosity, and comfort with making decisions amid uncertainty.

2. How should young professionals build their careers in this industry?

It is best to build depth before chasing titles by mastering a core discipline first, such as accounting or finance, to understand how a business creates value. Young professionals are encouraged to learn hands-on operations, engage with teams on the ground, and step outside their comfort zones by transitioning across functions and industries.

3. What emerging career paths exist in agribusiness beyond traditional farming?

Modern agribusiness is highly dynamic and technology-driven. There is growing demand for multidisciplinary roles in:

• Risk management and enterprise risk
• Sustainability and climate resilience
• Supply chain resilience
• Data analytics, food safety, and regulatory compliance

4. What structural support is needed for women aspiring to senior finance and risk roles?

While visible role models are increasing, organizations must back representation with structured mentorship, sponsorship, and active opportunities to lead. Companies need to actively open doors and provide platforms for women to demonstrate capability in historically male-dominated fields.