Alicia Narum, Thunder Seed’s Chief Financial Officer, has been selected as part of Fargo INC’s 35 Under 35. Here is Alicia’s interview with Fargo INC magazine.
Tell us about yourself
I grew up on a farm near Georgetown MN and played volleyball, basketball and softball in high school. After high school, I graduated from the University of North Dakota with a Bachelor of Accountancy and went on to obtain my CPA license. I lived in the Twin Cities and worked for EY for three years before moving back to work as an accountant at Thunder Seed for the past seven years. In my free time, I enjoy traveling with my husband and three young daughters, spending time at the camper and taking spin classes.
I have been working in the accounting field for just over 10 years.
One of the most important things about the work I do is that I get to help Thunder Seed make sound financial and business decisions in order for them to help farmers feed Americans. Additionally, working for a company whose values align with my own has been a blessing. Thunder Seed is a family-focused, farmer-owned company and the relationships built between our customers, o-workers and owners are really like one big family.
Who are some people who have been influential in your journey and why?
There have been many influential people in my life throughout my journey. As a child, my parents were very influential in my growth and development. My mom always cheered me on no matter what endeavor I took on and my dad always set a good example of working hard for what you want. My husband has played an influential role in my life since we met, pushing me to do things for myself and [helping me] realize when I am overexerting my energy. Finally, our daughters have been influential in that I want to set a good example for them.
What drives you?
I am mainly driven by learning and helping others. In our first session of the United Way 35 Under 35 Women’s Leadership Program, we went over our top five strengths. Two of my top five are learning and responsibility. I enjoy learning anything about everything. If I can share with others what I learned to help them in their personal or professional life, I enjoy that even more. I am also driven by responsibility which can cause me to take on more than I should but overall, it makes me want to help anyone and everyone with whatever I am capable of helping with.
What are some important lessons you have learned in your lifetime?
I have learned that your priorities may change throughout your life and it is important to always stay true to your values and what is important to you. I have also learned that not everyone gets a gold medal for everything they do like we used to growing up, and you need to work hard for what you want to accomplish and where you want to be.
What are some of your favorite things to do in your community?
I really enjoy our community. It is large enough so there is always something going on but small enough that you can still feel like you know everyone, even though you most likely don’t. My family and I enjoy going to various spots throughout my town like the zoo, trampoline par,, different parks and splash pads. Additionally, my husband and I enjoy the food scene in our community. One thing I am looking forward to doing more in our community is volunteering. I currently volunteer at our church through our AWANA program, which I love, and i am hoping to expand my volunteer reaches to some other great opportunities through United Way of Cass-Clay or other programs like BIO Girls.
Do you have any book or podcast recommendations for our readers?
I am currently taking a class on the book “Redeeming Your Time” by Jordan Raynor. This book and lass has really been instrumental in my life lately as I tend to take on a lot of responsibilities. This book makes you think about what is important in your life, what responsibilities to take on and which to turn away and how to better manage your time. Are you busy or are you hurried?
What are you hoping to gain from the United Way 35 Under 35 Women’s Leadership Program?
I am hoping to gain leadership skills that will help me in my current position and other outside areas as well (mentioning children, various committees I may be on, etc.). I am also hoping to gain more confidence in myself and how I present myself to others. I am looking forward to gaining a network of women who I can turn to in order to ask anything from career advice to personal advice. Finally, i am hoping to find an area where I can volunteer my time to do something I am passionate about.
What do you think can be improved in our community?
I feel that this area of the country is already a great place to live, filled with excellent opportunities for not only ourselves but also our children. Children are our future so I would say that one area that we could continue to improve upon is to provide resources and opportunities for our children for growth and development as they will be the next leaders of our community.
What do you think can be improved in our business community?
One thing that I feel can be pushed to the wayside while working is networking, I would say making networking a priority in our business community can help encourage others, help others make connections and boost people’s confidence.
What are some of your passions outside of work?
I am passionate about learning more about my faith through faith community and by serving them and the youth to give others opportunities to learn, too. One way I currently do this is through volunteering at AWANA. I am also passionate about health and wellness and enjoy participating in 5k’s, 10k’s and spending time cycling. I am passionate about spending time with my family and love to travel, spend time at the camper or find new places to explore with my husband and daughters.
Is there anything else you would like to say to the readers of Fargo INC! magazine?
Thank you to the community for their support of this United Way 35 Under 35 Women’s Leadership program. It is already so instrumental in my life, as it has been in many other women in the past. I look forward to continuing the journey and helping others take this journey as well in the future.
