In this episode of the Pork Podcast, host Jennifer Shike sits down with Ashley Hengen, human resources manager for PIC North America, to explore the intersection of human resilience and modern agricultural operations. Ashley’s path to the swine industry was anything but linear—spanning from kinesiology studies to public policy work—but a pivotal mountain hike and a life-altering health challenge at age 14 shaped her into the leader she is today.


Ashley shares how she moved PIC’s HR department from a transactional, "elementary" function to a strategic business partnership. Listeners will gain practical insights into:
Recruitment with the End in Mind: How to attract talent that aligns with long-term production goals.
Retention Strategies: The shift from traditional career ladders to "jungle gyms" and the importance of transparent development paths.
The Power of Listening: Why simple tools like suggestion boxes and Net Promoter Scores are essential for understanding the "slat-level" needs of a workforce.

Whether you are managing a small team or a global operation, Ashley’s "work hard, play hard" mentality and her focus on leading with empathy provide a roadmap for building a more engaged and successful team.

In this episode of the Pork Podcast, host Jennifer Shike sits down with Ashley Hengen, human resources manager for PIC North America, to explore the intersection of human resilience and modern agricultural operations. Ashley&rsquo;s path to the swine industry was anything but linear&mdash;spanning from kinesiology studies to public policy work&mdash;but a pivotal mountain hike and a life-altering health challenge at age 14 shaped her into the leader she is today.
 Ashley shares how she moved PIC&rsquo;s HR department from a transactional, "elementary" function to a strategic business partnership. Listeners will gain practical insights into:
<ul>
<li>Recruitment with the End in Mind: How to attract talent that aligns with long-term production goals.</li>
<li>Retention Strategies: The shift from traditional career ladders to "jungle gyms" and the importance of transparent development paths.</li>
<li>The Power of Listening: Why simple tools like suggestion boxes and Net Promoter Scores are essential for understanding the "slat-level" needs of a workforce.</li>
</ul>
Whether you are managing a small team or a global operation, Ashley&rsquo;s "work hard, play hard" mentality and her focus on leading with empathy provide a roadmap for building a more engaged and successful team.

There’s just something about the story behind the story. As a storyteller, I’m always searching for ways to give readers just a little more. That’s what The PORK Podcast is all about – bringing you stories of the people and the progress of the pork industry.  I’m Jennifer Shike – let’s go find just a little more.

There’s just something about the story behind the story. As a storyteller, I’m always searching for ways to give readers just a little more. That’s what The PORK Podcast is all about – bringing you stories of the people and the progress of the pork industry.  I’m Jennifer Shike – let’s go find just a little more.