Sanderson Farms : Jan 7, 2021 - A Winning Strategy

A Winning Strategy

From the age of 18, Shaunta McDowell has had a clear vision for her career, and that was to work her way up in Sanderson Farms and set an example for others to follow in her path. Beginning her career over 25 years ago as an hourly employee, McDowell was determined to learn everything she could learn about the company and the poultry industry. She worked on the line and worked her way up to line lead, then she set her sights on becoming a supervisor, then an advanced trainee and now she works as a superintendent.

All of that success didn't happen overnight, though. It meant countless hours of hard work, learning from her mistakes and trying again. After all, that's what winning at any level or aspect of life requires, it doesn't simply come naturally.

For McDowell, success was particularly hard fought as she was not afforded the opportunities many of us take for granted during childhood. She had overcome poverty, foster care, parents abusing drugs and alcohol, and challenging family dynamics all before the age of 18, but she was determined not to let any of those unfortunate circumstances define her life.

'To come from poverty, from catching a ride to get to work because I didn't have a car, to riding on a corporate jet for my first plane ride, having these opportunities afforded to me has literally changed my life,' said McDowell. 'From not knowing where you are going and being in foster care, to being a homeowner at the age of 19. Sanderson Farms has been a game changer in my life, and I hope that other employees get the same opportunities I received. Don't ever let someone limit you and tell you that you can't do it, I'm proof that it can be done.'

After achieving success in her own career, McDowell set out to pave a path for others to follow by empowering them to achieve their own definitions of success. 'I always believe in paying it forward, always helping the next person,' said McDowell. 'Everything that I have accomplished is only because I've helped someone else. It's not because I was so great at something, it's because I wanted to help someone.'

As a supervisor and now superintendent, she has focused on helping her employees succeed by managing them the way she would want to be treated. 'Employees like consistency, and they want to be treated fairly,' said McDowell. 'You have to learn every day in order to help your team. This business is competitive and we always have to be willing to learn more so that we can grow.'

To date, McDowell has authored two published books, one titled 'Processing Chicken While Producing Winners' and another titled 'Letting Go,' which she is now adapting to a screenplay dramatizing the challenges she overcame during childhood. The former was composed to assist supervisors in being good managers of people in the poultry industry. 'We're in a people business and the employees are as much this company as anybody else,' said McDowell. 'That is what I've grown to learn and that's what I believe in, 'The Sanderson Way.''

McDowell's winning strategy is simple, always come with a 'in it to win it' mentality each day that you come to work. 'There is a formula to success, come prepared, learn the process, learn the people, and learn the policies and procedures,' said McDowell. 'Take everything in and be consistent and persistent about what you do.'

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