Kiran Mann has worked for Mosaic for more than 10 years. She earned her doctorate in soil science and horticulture. Kiran currently is responsible for managing Mosaic’s research alliances around the globe on current and new product development.

What inspired you to work in the agriculture industry? 
Growing up in India, my dad used to farm and led the crop management department for the State Department of Agriculture. I often heard my father talking to growers educating them on new and different production practices, different products, and guiding them for the best crop and crop nutrition management. Listening to him inspired me to continue exploring the industry. I became very interested in soil science and new technologies for growers that could help them achieve better yields in an environmentally sustainable way. 

What motivated you to work at Mosaic?
Mosaic’s mission – to help the world grow the food it needs – ties closely with mine. Agriculture was always a part of my life. Living in the state of Punjab, considered the breadbasket of India because it’s one of the most fertile areas of the country, I was exposed to the industry, but also the challenges growers had to increase yields. The biggest factor for pursuing my career was to try to answer the big question of how we can produce more food to meet the demand of a growing population.  For me, that was in research. While pursuing my master’s degree at the University in Punjab, I was part of a research team tasked with analyzing a new sulfur and phosphate fertilizer. The fertilizer was consistently highly effective in a variety of soils and crops, which was extraordinary. I moved on to earn my doctorate at the University of Florida in horticulture, studying citrus fruits. I didn’t know at the time, but I learned that the product I was researching in India was actually Mosaic’s MicroEssentials product and the citrus grove in Florida was owned by Mosaic. I had been indirectly linked to Mosaic for so long and it struck me that Mosaic’s global reach supported its mission by funding research all around the world. 

What is your favorite thing about the work you do?
There is one word that brings me to work with energy and enthusiasm – Innovation! Mosaic’s dedication to research and innovation is one of the key reasons I applied here and continue to work here.  

I enjoy exploring new research around the globe, including learning about new technologies, products, and science related to the Ag industry. I also explore global academic communities research, like biochemistry, microbiology, and biotechnology. It’s my passion and somewhat of a hobby. I really enjoy learning about advancements in science and technology. Many times, technology applications can be extended to Ag and we can learn from different fields. In my role, I manage our research alliances with world-class academic faculty around the globe. It is very enriching and fun for me to work with them. We get to explore new work, products, and research. They challenge me to think outside of the box and I can challenge them to integrate new ideas too – driving innovative ideas and projects that I can bring back to Mosaic leadership to implement. 

Why is research important to Mosaic? 
Mosaic is a trusted industry leader in dry granular fertilizers, and we are very successful in this crop management category. However, with changes in advanced crop production practices, new technologies like precise nutrient application, new fertilizer application methods, new germplasms, and environmental challenges; there is an increasing demand to rethink the way a farmer has been managing his farm historically. We need new products and technologies that support a sustainable crop production and at the same time protect the environment too. It is our responsibility to continuously develop new technologies and products that will not only meet the needs of today’s grower, but we should be visionary to meet the needs of a grower years from now.

How is your role (or the company) adapting to meet the future needs of growers?
Oftentimes it can take years to bring a new product to the market. Not only is research important so that we can try and anticipate what the grower will need in 5, 10, or 20 years; but I also work closely with our agronomists and marketing teams to constantly be listening to grower feedback. It’s a cycle. We listen to what the grower is experiencing, what society needs, look at the research of how soils are changing – it is all important to how we are innovating new products. Mosaic’s focus on new technologies is my dream come true. We are looking beyond our core products and working toward new products applied in different ways, products that improve soil health and support advanced crop nutrition, and even new services. We are asking all of the “blue sky” questions and prioritizing what we can implement now or what needs more time or research. It is a very exciting time and growers should be just as excited for what’s to come!

Who has been the most influential in helping to grow your career at Mosaic?
I have been influenced by so many people in my 7+ years at Mosaic. I’ve worked alongside some amazing women – peers and leaders whom I admire – who are really contributing to Mosaic’s success. I’ve learned from them how to communicate and strategize and persist despite the constraints that come our way. And my first boss, Neil Beckingham, helped me find my footing in sustainability. It is thanks to him that I am so optimistic about the many ways Mosaic can improve performance and contribute positively to society. 

What’s the best part of the work you do?
Hands down, the best part about the work I do is having the benefit of a broad, global view of issues affecting Mosaic and our diverse stakeholders. It is such a gift to have perspective of seeing what a company like Mosaic can do to make a difference. We are a fertilizer company, yes, and in a lot of ways our success is measured by our production of tonnes that are sold to customers in 40 countries around the globe, but we are more than that: we have a tangible impact on global food security; we contribute to the vitality of the communities where we have operations; we are good stewards of resources; we share agronomic best practices; and we safely employ +12,000 people around the world. Our mission and our work are critically important, and I am reminded of that in my daily interactions with our stakeholders. 

What does environmental, social, and governance mean to Mosaic?
Mosaic’s ESG targets were carefully and purposefully developed to achieve goals that make a positive impact on our employees, communities, environment, and the company. ESG may not be included in financial analysis, but they are factors that have a financial impact on our performance. When you think of ESG in those terms, it is easy to see why we should manage our greenhouse gas emissions; reduce our water use; address the wellbeing and engagement of our workforce; grow our diversity and inclusion; and contribute to the prosperity of our customers and the growers who use our products. All of these things have an impact on Mosaic’s ability to thrive as a company in the long-term.

Why is being responsible important to Mosaic?
Mosaic has earned recognition for its sustainability efforts for more than ten years, but our work is not done. Beyond the regulations, beyond what we “have to do” and beyond the ways we have performed in the past, are a set of expectations for how we conduct ourselves moving forward. Stakeholders ranging from employees and community members to NGOs and investors are relying on us to contribute positively to society and be responsible every day, at every step of the process. 

How does Mosaic show it values you and your work?
I feel valued at Mosaic because the company takes my safety seriously. I am empowered to make decisions and I am respected in my interactions with colleagues and leaders. 

Natali has worked at Mosaic since 2013 as a sustainability analyst. Currently, she is the Sustainability Manager, leading our sustainability reporting efforts and ESG strategy development.

What led you to get your bachelor’s in agronomy and master’s in soil fertility?  
I have been involved with agriculture my whole life but didn’t chose that as my initial career path. In my first year of college, I was pursuing a degree in civil engineering. After a semester of soil science class, I became fascinated with all of the science related to soil and crops and reflected on all of my experiences on our own farm. It just felt natural and right to be discussing and learning about agronomy. An opportunity to work for ag extension and soil fertility research department made me realize that I wanted to pursue a master’s degree in soil science and become an educator within the industry. My graduate program allowed for more advanced training and research experiences in the fields of crop science, soil chemistry, soil and water conservation, and nutrient cycling in the environment. 

When I reflect back on my college experiences and my goals of contributing to agriculture and crop nutrition, my role at Mosaic is the ideal fit. 

What is your role in working with customers?   
My primary role is to provide agronomic technical support and performance product support to our sales team and customers. My job is to help them find the right Mosaic product, or combination of products, that help them achieve their yield and economical goals. My previous role as Sr. Agronomist for Western North America involved traveling to retail customer locations in Western North America to conduct performance product training to increase sales and product stewardship.  

I thoroughly enjoy customer interaction, learning, and education. I am constantly learning from our retailer customers and their growers. I hope that I can offer them some additional insight to make their farms more productive! My goal is to provide some formal training in soil chemistry, crop physiology and nutrient uptake, combine it with some of my own farming experiences, and foster a discussion that makes people realize the power of our performance products. Over time, these discussions that provide both learning and training opportunities to me have helped me to grow in my role and become more knowledgeable in various crops and crop nutrition.  

What is your favorite thing about your work? 
My role allows me to work cross-functionally with many departments within Mosaic and I really enjoy that aspect. But I find customer interaction and support the most enjoyable. I like working with customers to explore different ways that Mosaic performance products can fit into their local cropping system and empowering them to think about how they can be a better agronomist – a better resource for the grower that they work with and enable that grower to have more yield – year in and year out.  But also, how do they do that in an environmentally friendly manner so that there's not any leaching of nutrients or runoff into a waterway.  

Have you seen any interesting changes in the industry over these last few years? 
There has be a healthy shift to focus on the 4R’s and Nutrient Stewardship – Right source, Right rate, the Right time, and the Right place – are the four different R’s that we talk about during our trainings. Long-standing customers of our performance product portfolio are looking at different times of application and different placement methods that best utilize the nutrient offerings. There's a lot of new, innovative approaches that retailers and growers are taking to make sure those nutrients stay on the field and get taken up by the crop and aren’t lost in other areas. We are very proud that MicroEssentials® has recently received an Enhanced Efficiency Fertilizer (EEF) designation as defined by the Association of American Plant Food Controls Officials. This was a long awaited and much deserved designation for this product.  

How does the work you do contribute to the global food supply chain?  
I am very passionate about our mission statement. I eat, sleep and breathe it - we help the world grow the food it needs. 

We need to keep advancing crop nutrition forward, and it's an absolute requirement to keep humankind moving forward. Traveling have allowed me to witness soils that are highly weathered or have been mined of much-needed crop nutrients. We don’t often see this in North America, but witnessing crops and humans starved of nutrition in other geographies builds a passion and energy that can’t be replicated!  

The use of our existing products along with the development of new products for advanced crop nutrition is so critical, regardless of the ebbs and flows that we see with supply and demand. Mosaic has a responsibility as a leader in crop nutrition to strive toward our mission every day so that we can provide global solutions to growers around the world.  

Curt has worked at Mosaic since 2012. His primary role is to provide technical support to retail customers on crop nutrition and Mosaic performance products. He works closely with sales, marketing and the new product development team on product growth and new product launches. Curt earned a bachelor’s degree in agronomy and master’s in soil fertility.  

In your opinion, how important is safety for the work we perform at Mosaic?
It is my job to show people the technical aspects of safety – rules, policies, procedures, etc., so that they really understand how important safety is. More than just rules though, we work on building a culture of safety. That way, everyone begins to understand that safety is critical, and that it is not only everyone's duty, but it must also be something that everyone believes in and has as a top priority.

For those considering working at Mosaic, what would you say regarding safety at Mosaic?
You will be part of a team committed to ensuring a safe workplace for everyone. Mosaic is always evaluating potential risk so that we can improve internal standards, always have the best and right tool available, and are providing the highest-level of training. Safety is everyone’s responsibility and we all take that seriously. 
 
What does “responsibility” look like at Mosaic? 
We encourage each employee to reflect on their own responsibility for safety as much as others. Mosaic values employee wellbeing, regardless of where you are.

Giselle has worked at Mosaic Fertilizantes in Araxá as a specialist in occupational safety for more than 13 years. She is also a private firefighter, rescue and first aid specialist, and instructor in safety training courses.

What are some of the efforts you have seen already, or are important for the company to do, to attract a strong workforce wanting to work in a more innovative and technological space? 
I started working at Mosaic in 2007, just out of college. While I was in school, a representative from one of the local government agencies came to talk about environmental protections in the mining industry. The representative focused on the wetland reclamation that Mosaic does, and their role as an industry regulator. I thought the mining industry sounded interesting, and I was impressed by the scale on which Mosaic was doing land reclamation. The idea of working somewhere I could make a difference, and the opportunity to work for such an innovative company, is what led me to Mosaic.

When I first started at Mosaic, I spent most of my time using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to analyze the reclamation projects I was tasked with managing. GIS takes a set of attributes and gives them a geographical reference. For example, Mosaic’s mitigation wetlands are shown on a map in GIS. I can view these wetlands and their attributes, such as when was it constructed, what type of wetland it is (forest or herbaceous), etc. This technology was relatively new when I started but continues to advance. When I started in the environmental field I used a cumbersome and hefty GPS unit for data collection in the field. These early GPS units were carried in the field in backpacks and weighed 20-25 lbs. They were used to collect GPS waypoints that could be uploaded back into our GIS software. Now, we have smart phones and drones to make data collection much easier. I just drop a pin wherever we are mapping and its done. Mosaic continues to push the industry, evolve with technology, and provide resources to support our efforts. 

Do you feel the company has given you opportunities to grow your career at Mosaic?
I had always kept an eye out for positions at Mosaic when I was first out of school. When a lab position became available, I applied for it immediately hoping to get my foot in the door. A recruiter reached out and said they thought I was a better fit as a reclamation ecologist and asked if I was interested in applying for that position instead. When they sent over the job description, it really was and is, exactly what I wanted to do. It was a combination of working with the regulatory agencies, which appealed to my interests in policy, and working in the field – everything from earth work to establishing entire wetland and upland ecosystems. It touched on all those things that when you are in school you say to yourself, “wouldn’t it be awesome to have a job like that one day.” It was very exciting and spoke to all my hopes and desires of what I wanted in a career. I was even more excited when I was the successful candidate and earned the position. 

Mosaic has really invested in me while I have been here. The company has encouraged me to continue my education and obtain critical certifications. Several years ago, I was sent to school to be certified to conduct prescribed burns, and most recently, I obtained my certification from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) to become a commercial drone pilot. I have never stopped learning at Mosaic. I get to work on new and interesting projects every day and that is exactly what I wanted out of a career. 

How does working at Mosaic align with your personal passions or beliefs?
We live where we work. There has always been a culture at Mosaic that this is our backyard. We need to do the best job possible – not just because of policy, but because we want to be proud of our backyards. The best thing about my job is when I look at aerial photographs and can see the changes in the landscape that I helped to improve over time. I can see new tree lines, or because of improved hydrology, wetlands returning or forests booming for the same reason. Those are the kinds of things that you can toggle back in time and see the impact that you’ve made. It’s neat to know that not only am I making difference, but a visible difference. And to know that because of our reclamation work, we have parks like the Alafia River State Park, where our community can play and recreate with their families on the weekends. I’m proud of that. I feel like I’m helping create a legacy.

Eric has worked at Mosaic since 2007.

How does the work you do enable global food production?
At Carlsbad, we mine and process the langbeinite ore that contains potassium, magnesium and sulfur.  These three nutrients sold under Mosaic’s performance product brand name of K-Mag are used globally in crops ranging from potatoes, citrus fruit, cotton, coffee, corn and soybean.  So, it is critical for us at Carlsbad to safely and efficiently produce and supply K-Mag to our customers around the world to help them grow the crops that are vital to food production.

What are some of the efforts you have seen already, or are important for the company to do to attract a strong workforce?
A trend we see with our workforce is that they really want to work for a company that gives back to their community and makes a difference. Not only with the products we sell, but through grants, gifts and community support. I’ve had many opportunities to help community organizations through Mosaic.  Over the years, I’ve been part of volunteer opportunities that have helped provide food for families in need, built new and safe playground equipment for local schools, and increased safety by adding nonslip flooring at the local high school pool.

I’ve also been part of helping provide financial contributions. From helping non-profit groups support individuals with substance abuse addictions, to assisting an Early College High School where students can obtain an associate degree and high school diploma at the same time, Mosaic truly cares about serving communities and helping neighbors in need. It it’s inspiring to be part of company that shows they care with action.

Do you work at Mosaic because the company’s mission aligns with your passion/mission?
It did not start out that way some 30 years ago. However, very early after being hired I quickly realized that my passion in life aligned extremely well with Mosaic’s very noble mission of helping the world grow the food it needs. It is very personal for me, because my dad worked as an agronomist for Punjab Agricultural University in India. Punjab state is considered as the bread basket of India and is known for the green revolution in the 1960s that propelled India to become self-sufficient in grain production and my dad was part of that effort.

Do you feel the company has given you opportunities to grow your career at Mosaic? 
Yes, Mosaic has given me a lot of opportunities to grow my career. I started in the technical/engineering field and really enjoyed my time in those roles. Later, I was presented with opportunities in operational leadership. I have been very fortunate to grow my career in operations to become a general manager of a potash mine. I am also very pleased to share that I have been asked to mentor a few emerging leaders within Mosaic over the last five years.

What does “Responsibility” look like at Mosaic?
As a reclamation ecologist, our team manages the stewardship of the land before, during and after we mine. Our goal is to reclaim and preserve the area for generations to come and walk away knowing that the years of knowledge, time, and effort invested is going to result in the natural habitat being able to sustain itself without our intervention again. Mosaic is always looking 10 steps ahead –  we have to. Mosaic knows that being sustainable is the right thing to do, that is why I love my job so much. They make it easy for me when they make reclamation a priority.

Do you think the work you do helps enable global food production?
My family was really involved in agriculture when I was growing up - we had orange groves, hay fields, and a cattle ranch. I grew up helping on our lands and using fertilizers. To be able to look back now and say, “I know where that comes from,” it makes the circle whole. I have seen what our products contribute to. I’m proud to be part of a company that not only prioritizes business, but also community support and my work in reclamation. Mosaic leads by example.

Do you work at Mosaic because the company’s mission aligns with your passion/mission?
Being raised on a ranch, it was bred in me to do something in agriculture. I didn’t know that Mosaic had anything to do with reclamation until I took an internship and learned how important it is to our industry. Mosaic is a company I can grow in. Just like reclamation, I can work my way from the ground up. I live with my husband and our children near where I was raised, and I want our children to stay and live in this community. We have areas of reclamation all around us that I worked on. To be able to say to my children that I was able to reclaim our community means a lot to me. Hopefully someone else won’t be able to notice that the land was reclaimed. But, I want my kids to know that my work is making sure that the land around us will be reclaimed for years to come and that I’m working to create something that they can enjoy and appreciate.

If you could give advice to someone looking to work at Mosaic, what would it be?
You always have support and encouragement, whether it is from your own team or the company. Everyone here works together without ego or competitiveness. I never feel alone or that I’m working on something by myself. At Mosaic, you have a team that is behind you, and that is important to me.

Originally from Hardee County, Florida, Ashlee earned her bachelor’s degree from Warner University in Biology and a master’s degree from the University of Florida in Restoration Ecology. She has worked at Mosaic since 2013.

Bruce Bodine was named Senior Vice President—North America in April 2020. In this role, Bodine leads our North America business unit, which is comprised of two business segments, potash and phosphates. Previously, Bodine led the Phosphates business unit as Senior Vice President—Phosphates, and the Potash business unit as Senior Vice President—Potash

Bodine began his career with Mosaic in 1999 as part of a predecessor company, holding engineering leadership and plant management positions in the Phosphates business segment before taking on the role of Vice President—Operations for Mosaic’s Esterhazy and Colonsay potash production facilities. Bodine also served as Vice President—Supply Chain, responsible for the movement of raw materials and finished production, and strategic sourcing activities for Mosaic’s North American phosphate and potash segments; additionally, he oversaw fertilizer production in South America and China. Bodine serves on the board of directors for the Miski Mayo mining company, a joint venture which Mosaic is the operating partner.

Bodine holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of Florida and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Clint Freeland was named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in June 2018.

Prior to joining Mosaic, Freeland served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Dynegy Inc. from July 2011 until Dynegy’s merger with Vistra Energy Corp. in April 2018. He was responsible for Dynegy’s financial affairs, including finance and accounting, treasury, tax and banking and credit agency relationships. Prior to joining Dynegy, Freeland held positions as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Senior Vice President—Strategy and Financial Structure at NRG Energy. Earlier in his career he worked for Enron Corporation, Coral Energy and ABN AMRO Bank.

Freeland holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from The University of the South and a master of business administration in finance from the Owen Graduate School of Management at Vanderbilt University.

Karen Swager was named Senior Vice President—Supply Chain in April 2020. In this role, Swager is responsible for the movement of raw materials and finished production, and strategic sourcing activities, as well as leading the Environment, Health and Safety organization. Previously, Swager held various leadership positions at Mosaic including Senior Vice President—Potash, Vice President, Minerals—Phosphates, Vice President, Mining Operations—Phosphates, and General Manager. She also led the mine planning and strategy group for the Phosphates business.

Swager is a licensed professional engineer and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in metallurgical engineering and a master of science in metallurgical engineering from Michigan Technological University, where she is a member of the Department of Chemical Engineering’s Distinguished Academy. In addition, Swager holds an MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management.

Ben Pratt was named Senior Vice President, Government and Public Affairs in April 2020. Previously, Pratt held the position of VP—Corporate Public Affairs, leading corporate communications and U.S. Federal Government relations, as well as Mosaic's corporate social responsibility activities. In addition, he serves as Owner's Representative to Streamsong Resort.

Prior to joining Mosaic in February 2012, Pratt was SVP, Corporate Communications at Ameriprise Financial, Inc., in Minneapolis. Earlier in his career, he worked in a variety of communications and investor relations capacities at The PNC Financial Services Group in Pittsburgh, and at Lehman Brothers and Bear Stearns, both in New York.

Pratt is a graduate of Duke University.