On An Amazing Journey

Ruth Anderson, Chief Product Officer, SunStream Business Services, has combined her historical knowledge of the company’s systems and infused that with the new technologies provided by their trusted partners to build a more vital digital ecosystem for the Farm Credit customers that SunStream Business Services support. Her knowledge of the Farm Credit System, attitude toward a strong customer success model, and empathic approach to her team have enabled the company’s team to achieve new heights in delivery. “I’ve spent my entire career in one industry, agriculture, and all of it has been in the Farm Credit System, allowing me to build great expertise and amazing relationships within the system – it has been and continues to be an amazing journey,” says Ruth.

According to Dan Ritch, CEO SunStream Business Services, Ruth has identified and brought in critical new talent while arranging roles within the organization to build a rockstar team. She provides the space for her team to learn and grow while removing institutional roadblocks. Being vision-driven, strategic thinker, and goal-focused with a proven history of team leadership and achievements, Ruth has been setting the standards and maximizing returns harnessing her team strengths to improve corporation-wide performance. For the steadfast leader, collaboration can build consensus among executive teams and stakeholders to promote transparency and influence positive change, which has been repeatedly proven. “Clear and effective communication with a wide range of stakeholders, including employees, customers, shareholders, and regulators, is the key,” she explains. “I also lead by example, by being myself and true to myself, being aware that I am being observed and sometimes seen as a role model to other women.”

She has been promoting learning and creative thinking to keep curiosity for trends in the industry, self-development, and striving for change that builds and rebuilds the organization that serves the customers well and performs at its best. Ruth advises everyone to be willing to take on new things even within their current role – gaining expertise in several areas will serve them well down the road. “One lesson I learned early is that I bring something different to the workplace because I’m a female with a different set of experiences than those around me and I should not apologize for the differences but embrace and accept them,” she says on being a woman leader and making a difference in her surroundings. “Women apologize too much in the workforce for things that are not in their control. They need to speak up, hold their head high and take charge of situations. This way not only do they learn more but also are able to transform an issue into a solution.”

With this great attitude, Ruth has led the company to great heights. SunStream’s mission is to deliver high quality reliable back-office systems and services so our customers can do what they do best: serve rural America. SunStream is a service entity created by its customers, for its customers, and they wouldn’t be anywhere without them. The company provides top-notch customer experience, delivers highly efficient and predictable work, and inspires innovation and creativity in its solutions. “As the Chief Product Officer, I’m responsible for ensuring the products and services we offer provide value to our customer-owners allowing them to focus on their customers,” adds Ruth. “Our value is also in the trust we work daily to build and maintain with our customer-owners to earn their business.”

One of SunStream’s achievements is its formation (SunStream was created from a department of AgriBank) in the last three years while embarking on its digital transformation, which includes replacing legacy systems, implementing Agile, and creating a new leadership team. For the future, Ruth wants to work towards enhancing SunStream’s success, completing its digital transformation, and then growing the business and continuing to improve as a leader. “After that, my goals focus more on my personal life as I transition into that next stage of life,” she elucidates. “SunStream is amid a Digital Transformation – modernizing systems. It’s an exciting time with a lot of change that will allow SunStream to be the leading service provider of back-office systems in Farm Credit. SunStream’s future is filled with exciting potential, and excited to be part of SunStream’s journey.”