Key Results
More than 100 managers went through Manager 101 in the first year via internally facilitated cohorts
A single HR facilitator ran the entire program using Manager Method's ready-made decks, guides, and communications, with no added headcount
Manager 101 was established as the leadership baseline for every Sakata manager, embedded into the internal leadership program, with future managers trained before they step into the role
Expanded in year two to include the Core Leadership Toolkit and AI Coach for all trained managers, giving HR a first line of support for everyday manager questions
About Sakata Seed America
Sakata Seed America, established in 1977 as a subsidiary of Japan-based Sakata Seed Corporation, is a world leader in breeding and producing vegetable and ornamental seed. Headquartered in Woodland, California, the company operates research stations, production sites, and field teams across the country, with varieties like its broccoli and sunflower lines holding leading positions in the global market.
That footprint shapes how Sakata develops its people. With 361 US employees spread across research, production, sales, and corporate functions, and an agile HR team of ten, manager development has to work for scientists in the field as well as leaders at headquarters.
Sakata also embedded Manager 101 into its broader talent strategy:
- A baseline for every new manager. Manager 101 is the standard foundation for anyone stepping into people leadership at Sakata.
- Part of the internal leadership program. The course is woven into Sakata's leadership development program alongside internal content.
- Training before the title. Employees slated for promotion begin the program ahead of their transition, so they step into management already equipped.
"I've had managers reach out asking to get people into the next group. You'll hear something come up casually in a conversation and realize, okay, it is having an impact, or they get so much value out of the program themselves, that they think someone else should take it."
Andrea Emrick
HR Manager
Expanding the System:
Toolkit and AI Coach
In 2026, Sakata renewed and expanded the partnership beyond the course itself. All managers who completed Manager 101 gained access to the Core Leadership Toolkit, downloadable and editable tools like one-on-one agendas and delegation planners tied directly to course concepts, plus the Manager Method AI Coach.
The AI Coach gives managers instant, framework-based answers to everyday leadership questions, citing the relevant course content so learning is reinforced rather than replaced. The launch was intentionally staged: managers gain access after completing training, so the tools reinforce what theyā€™ve learned rather than substitute for it.
For an agile HR team, this expansion multiplies bandwidth. The AI Coach acts as a first line of support for the everyday questions that would otherwise land on HR's desk, available to managers in the moment they need it, while the toolkits turn course concepts into action without HR having to create or distribute materials. Manager Method's team handles enrollment, access, and launch communications behind the scenes, so expanding the program did not mean expanding Andrea's workload.
Measuring What Matters
Rather than adding survey burden to a busy organization, Sakata and Manager Method aligned on success metrics built from data the company already collects:
- Manager-related scores from Sakata's employee engagement survey
- Overall attrition, with a qualitative view on regrettable attrition
- Fewer people-related escalations to HR and employee relations
- Course completion and adoption as supplementary indicators
- Post-training feedback surveys after each cohort
Looking Ahead
With the foundation in place, Sakata is focused on deepening impact: launching future cohorts as new managers are identified, exploring how the content can support teams beyond the US, and building the evidence base to expand manager development further.
