Global Leadership Award

Nancy Post most recently served as vice president of embedded software and solutions at John Deere, a position she had held since 2020. She led a global team of more than 2,000 employees focused on advancing the design, development, and testing of embedded systems with increasing efficiency; these embedded systems are revolutionizing agriculture and merging heavy equipment with cutting-edge technology. She has spent her career breaking barriers: She was the first woman in the company’s history to be an engineering vice president, and its first to serve as an engineering director.

Throughout her 36-year career, Post has held several positions with global impact, including significant roles in electronic hardware, software and system design, quality, product planning, and building teams from the ground up. She has led several major projects that have been recognized with awards from the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Agritechnica, and John Deere, most recently receiving the company’s 2022 Chairman Award. In addition to her strong technical background, Post has created game-changing culture principles that pull the global team together, increasing employee engagement and retention.

With more than 28 years of leadership on multiple projects tied to nearly all of John Deere’s 100-plus global locations, Post’s impact on the business is unquestioned. More than half of her direct and indirect reports are located outside the United States, primarily in Mexico, India, and Germany.

Post is a strong leadership advocate for the Society of Women Engineers, and has provided visibility, support, and awareness of John Deere SWE through discussions with employees and other John Deere leaders. She started the company’s first Women in Engineering group, mentoring its cohort and leading it for three years. She has been an executive sponsor of the WomenREACH employee resource group, and co-founded the Trailblazers program to develop women leaders from around the world. Post regularly mentored dozens of employees and hosted “Women in Tech” and mentoring sessions when she traveled globally.

Post is also an active Society of Women Engineers member and was a WE22 keynote speaker. She is part of United Way’s OpportUNITY board, finding solutions for people in poverty in the Des Moines, Iowa, area. In her work travels, she finds volunteer opportunities at every stop. At home, she serves as an Upward Bound mentor, helping students who aspire to be first-generation university students. She is also an EngineerGirl ambassador and mentor, and serves as the executive sponsor for the Women in Product Engineering mentoring program.

Post recently accepted a new role as a senior advisor and consultant for Boston Consulting Group, a global management consulting firm.

A native of Iowa, Post earned a B.S. in computer science at Mount Mercy University and an MBA at the University of Phoenix. She also has a certificate in systems engineering from the California Institute of Technology. Post enjoys spending time with her husband, two children, and grandchild. She also enjoys cooking, traveling, photography, and outdoor activities with family and friends.