Guided by a Word: Leadership, Purpose and Personal Growth with MWI’s Tim Peart
How Choosing a Word Each Year Shapes Leadership, Intentionality and Direction
Why One Word Matters
As Senior Vice President of Production Animal at MWI Animal Health, Tim Peart leads a team of nearly 300 people. His approach to leadership has been shaped by a personal practice he adopted years ago, choosing a single “Word of the Year.” The idea came after hearing author John Gordon speak at an event and Tim figured he should give it a shot.
Back in 2022, his word of the year was Engagement. He explained that coming out of the pandemic, he wanted to reconnect with his team that he wasn’t regularly seeing because of the restrictions. The word engagement was centered around being physically present with his team. He said the result was stronger trust and a better, more connected organization.
“I made a commitment in 2022 to be in the field…to ride with my reps, to ride with our service teams.”
As he moved into a larger leadership role, Tim’s focus shifted to encouraging others to lead boldly. The word he chose moving forward was Embolden, defined as giving someone the courage or confidence to act. He explained how he wanted to give his team the opportunity to lead in their territory. He found that some team members made decisions that worked and others that didn’t, but all were supported.
“There were stories of success and there were stories of failure…but allowing them to make their own decisions was really important.”
Act with Urgency
This past year, a year with major strategic goals and shifting industry conditions, Tim chose Act With Urgency. It wasn’t about speed; it was about intention. He mentioned that it meant prioritizing what needs to be done and then proceeding to execute. No procrastination. For his team, this meant shorter timelines, quicker follow-ups and faster decision-making.
Word of the Year for 2026
For the coming year, Tim’s word arrived earlier than ever: Devotion. The inspiration came from a year-long Bible in a Year podcast journey.
For Tim, devotion applies to three areas:
• Faith: continuing his spiritual study
• Family: intentionally calling, visiting and listening to his children
• Work: staying committed to his team and the purpose behind serving producers
Tim describes his “why,” influenced by insights from Simon Sinek:
“Love my wife, empower my children, embolden my coworkers.”
His broader purpose connects directly to the producers he serves. He explains how it’s humbling to be part of one of the most important industries in the world. And that is feeding people.
For more from this conversation with Tim Peart, stream the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or watch the complete interview below.
