As a boy raised on his family property near Canberra, Max Cusack spent his early years surrounded by farm equipment. So, it was perhaps no surprise the boy from the Australian Capital Territory would pursue a career with the industry, and brand, he grew up with – John Deere.
After landing a graduate position with the company, Max made the move to Brisbane and worked in a number of John Deere departments including Pricing, Parts and Service Marketing, Tactical and Strategic Marketing, Advertising, and Training. He says it was here he was able to see “the many parts of the business” and developed an understanding of how each works together to support customers and dealers.
“Professionally, it was great to work with different people and form professional relationships.” In less than a year, Max had made his mark and his commitment to supporting agriculture and primary producers by delivering industry-leading technology was growing. He had gained a wide range of experience at John Deere’s Brisbane headquarters and says working across so many areas of the company was invaluable. Importantly, his time in the graduate program had also given him a platform to make meaningful connections with colleagues, who have continued to mentor him ever since. “It showed me how I could channel my passion, experience and knowledge of industry into a career that would be very rewarding and I would enjoy.”
Soon, the young man from a farm near Canberra would be seeing the world as part of his rapidly-flourishing career. As a Solution Specialist based in Melbourne, Max regularly travelled overseas to the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, Hungary and Austria for product training, business development and factory meetings. He had a front row seat to the innovation that helps farmers across the globe do more with less.
Max’s leadership skills were also being grown and nurtured by John Deere, especially his ability to form strong relationships with customers and dealers, some of whom he travelled through Europe with for factory tours. Recognising this strength, John Deere placed Max as a Product Specialist, a role that meant plenty of time in paddocks and travelling to meet with customers, dealers, and suppliers. He then moved to his current role as Territory Business Manager, which is “the interface between John Deere and the Dealer for all things sales and marketing of John Deere whole goods”.
In just over five years, Max has gained extensive experience at John Deere, including product development on the X9 and Hinged Draper, advertising programs and working on machinery projects, from turf to combines to skid steers. He says efficiency, and its environmental benefits, is at the heart of the business. “If we want to make a difference, we can do that through the innovation we see at work every day. It’s not just words or an empty promise – we are committed to our social responsibility to do everything we can to become more sustainable and partner with industry to find ways to be more efficient in how we feed and clothe the world.”
Max says graduates keen to follow a similar path should outline their commitment to building strong industries and prosperous communities. “If you’re passionate about the industries we operate in, from Ag, to Construction, Forestry or Golf and Turf, then the ‘why’ you want to join will shine through. “Focus on what experiences differentiate you from any other applicants and why those make you unique.”