For Emmanuel Odii, the Agbioscience Mentorship Program has become more than a professional development opportunity. It has been a bridge – connecting his academic training, international agricultural experience and long-term ambitions in industry.
Emmanuel entered the program with a strong foundation in agriculture, crop protection and pest management. As a PhD student in biology at Indiana University Indianapolis, his research focuses on functional genomics and insect biotechnology. But his background extends well beyond the lab. Before beginning his doctoral studies, he built hands-on industry experience in crop production, sales agronomy and livestock field operations. His work with Candel Nigeria, a company that has developed and distributed agrochemicals and fertilizers across West Africa since 1992, gave him direct exposure to herbicide formulations such as glyphosate and a practical understanding of agricultural systems at work in the field.
That mix of academic depth and applied experience made his mentorship pairing especially meaningful.
Curated Mentorship, Not Chance
Matched with Luis Gomez, recently retired from Corteva Agriscience, Emmanuel found a mentor whose career reflected the kind of path he hoped to better understand. Over 28 years, Luis built deep expertise in crop protection research and development, project management and global insecticide development. Most recently, he served as Global Insect and Nematode New Technology Program Leader at Corteva in Indianapolis. For Emmanuel, the partnership created a rare opportunity to learn how advanced scientific training and field experience can translate into real industry readiness.
“Luis helped me see how my background in agriculture, genomics, and bioinformatics positions me as a unique candidate in the agbioscience sector,” Emmanuel says. “The AMP program has provided an additional layer of education that perfectly supplements my academic training at IU.”
Learning How Industry Really Works
One of the most valuable parts of mentorship has been gaining a clearer view of how corporate research organizations function.
During a recent session, Luis shared his own professional journey – from working as a field scientist in Guatemala to managing global insecticide testing programs from Indianapolis. Along the way, he helped Emmanuel better understand the structure of corporate R&D and the different paths a scientific career can take inside a company.
A particularly important insight was the distinction between the technical ladder and the people management ladder. For Emmanuel, learning that these paths demand different strengths, priorities and styles of leadership was eye-opening. Just as important was hearing why Luis chose to remain on the technical side of that structure.
“Learning about Luis’s choice to stay on the technical ladder – remaining hands-on with the scientific work and maintaining his technical expertise while still mentoring and supporting team members technically – was incredibly insightful,” Emmanuel says. “It has made me much more intentional about how I want to map out my own future career path in the industry.”
That clarity has helped Emmanuel think more deliberately about what kind of professional he wants to become, not just what role he wants next.
Transforming Setbacks Into Strategy
Like many meaningful mentorships, this one has also created space for honest conversations about disappointment, resilience and growth.
When Emmanuel recently missed out on a highly competitive fellowship, Luis used the moment not as a setback to dwell om but as a practical lesson in navigating adversity. He reminded Emmanuel that rejection is a natural part of any ambitious career, especially in research-driven fields where competition is intense and outcomes are not always within one’s control.
Instead of focusing on the result alone, Luis encouraged him to focus on what can be controlled: consistent effort, continual improvement and clear communication. The lesson was not simply about persistence. It was about learning how to respond productively when things do not go as planned.
For Emmanuel, one of the most lasting insights from that conversation centered on communication.
“Luis showed me that when people don’t understand an idea, they resist it, which is why communicating science in simple, high-impact language is so crucial.”
That advice has resonated far beyond a single missed opportunity. It speaks to a broader truth about leadership in science and industry: strong ideas matter, but the ability to explain them clearly often determines whether they gain traction.
Building a Career With Intention
Across their monthly meetings and conversations at AgriNovus Quadrant events, Luis has helped Emmanuel develop not just practical knowledge, but a set of guiding mindsets for long-term success.
One of those is the value of the strategic pause – taking a moment before responding to reflect, process and communicate more thoughtfully. Another is understanding cultural context, especially the subtle differences in communication styles and professional expectations that shape workplace interactions.
Luis has also emphasized the importance of career ownership. That means advocating for oneself, building relationships with people already working in target roles, and developing a network of mentors, sponsors and peers who can open doors and provide perspective. Just as importantly, he has encouraged Emmanuel to recognize the full value of his transferable skills. Technical ability matters; but communication, teamwork, professionalism, and curiosity often carry equal weight in industry settings.
Underlying all of this is one idea that has stayed with Emmanuel more than any other: the importance of a journey mentality.
“Luis taught me to have a journey mentality rather than just focusing on the destination,” Emmanuel says. “He emphasizes that a cumulative skillset and continuous curiosity prepare you for an exciting career.”
That mindset has helped Emmanuel see career development not as a straight line, but as a process of building, adapting and learning over time.
Opportunity in Indiana’s Agbioscience Ecosystem
The mentorship has also deepened Emmanuel’s understanding of the broader agbioscience landscape around him.
Through his experiences with AgriNovus and the AMP program, he has gained a stronger appreciation for Indiana’s role as a global biotechnology hub and for how strategically important that environment can be to his own growth as a scientist and future industry leader.
“AgriNovus made me realize how strategically Indiana is positioned as a major biotechnology hub globally, and its relevance to my professional growth,” he says. “I am incredibly grateful to the AgriNovus team for this initiative.”
For Emmanuel, the value of mentorship has been both practical and personal. It has helped him better understand the industry he hopes to enter, sharpen the way he thinks about his future and recognize the distinctive strengths he already brings. In that sense, the Agbioscience Mentorship Program is doing exactly what strong mentorship should do: enabling emerging talent to grow their skillset, taking where they are today and building a bridge to their future.
Field Atlas AMP (Agbioscience Mentorship Program) is a guided year-long experience that connects late college and early professionals to industry leaders excelling in agbioscience. Want to learn more about the power of mentorship? Get more information here.
