A childhood on the family farm in Central West NSW is where a fearless agribusiness woman was born. Whether her clients are looking for storytelling strategy, or systems – Brooke Watts is helping rural organisations and communities to realise their dreams. That could be on the speaking circuit, running workshops or youth programs, she is passionate about enriching the future of agriculture.
Brooke has incredibly fond memories of growing up on the farm with weekends spent shearing or mustering through the hills with her parents. “It was so much fun but at the time of finishing high school, I never saw myself working within agriculture at all,” she shares.
“So, I went away to uni and studied a Bachelor of Business Management. I always had a passion for systems analysis and why things are the way they are.”
Brooke didn’t stay away from agriculture for long. After stints in the corporate sector and even in underground mining, she eventually found her way home. “I called my dad and said, ‘Can I come back into the family company?’ It was a good chance to test my skills”. But as of this year, Brooke branched out on her own as, Business with Brooke.
“My clients are a lot of small regional contractors getting up their client base and helping them with a business analysis.”
Taking the leap into her own business was not taken lightly. The risk and the workload have at times been immense. “I think from the outside, people see the overnight success of going from working for your parents to being full-time on your own contracts. It’s not without years and years of slow burns in the background – years of doing things for free.” But the wins are worth it.
“You get to meet some truly remarkable people and see some incredible sites. They’re also incredibly resilient, the amount of things thrown in their direction.”
Brooke truly believes there are many exciting pathways for work coming up in the industry in the innovation and technology space. The challenge she says, is communicating with young people so they know what opportunities are emerging. Options from online study to taking a gap year can help build valuable hands-on skills as an alternative to going to major cities for tertiary study.
“Agriculture is not what it once was. It’s not sitting on a bike 12 hours a day behind a mob of cattle in the dust. There are jobs like mine in consultancy and flexibility.”
Brooke often works from home or travels through regional Australia and in her workshops can site 400 jobs that are available in the industry. “We’re screaming out for labour.” Brooke feels passionate about the industry and gains a real sense of belonging and connection through contributing to a more sustainable future.
“I’m proud to be part of an industry that feeds and clothes the world.”
Brooke believes a common misconception about agriculture is that you have to be born into it, but truly believes those who put themselves out there and ask the right questions will be welcomed with open arms. The perks can be being your own boss, and being at the forefront of innovation. She has personally seen incredible personal growth since taking that leap herself. “If I was doing this same conversation five years ago, I would have been shaking in my boots! Not knowing if what I was saying was appropriate in the context.”
Right now, Brooke is a woman truly living in the present and staying open to what comes next.
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