Diligent Q&A – Samantha McMacken on Navigating Supply Chain Risks, Leadership Skills and Harnessing AI
With the Compliance in Action Virtual Summit just around the corner, we had the pleasure of speaking with Samantha McMacken, a leading compliance expert, to delve into the most critical challenges and opportunities facing today's compliance leaders. From managing supply chain risks to developing essential leadership skills, Samantha shares her insights on how to effectively leverage AI and ensure smooth program growth. Don’t miss the chance to hear more from Samantha and other industry experts—register for the summit today!
Q: Hi Samantha! Can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background?
A: I like to consider myself someone who’s always looking ahead. I’m always curious about what’s next and how we can embrace change while managing risk. I’ve worked in the compliance field for over a decade and have spent the past nine years at Cargill. Interestingly, I didn’t set out to work in compliance; I initially saw my career in technology. But early on, I took a compliance role and quickly discovered how much I enjoyed the work. It turned out to be a space where I could innovate, grow, and make a meaningful impact.
Today, I serve as a Senior Director in Cargill’s Ethics & Compliance Office. My work spans technology, metrics, innovation, and business-aligned compliance strategies, all aimed at driving practical, data-informed solutions for our global programs.
Q: What are the most significant regulatory changes you have observed in the compliance field, and how have they impacted Cargill's operations?
A: Rather than pointing to one single regulation, I’d highlight the pace of change itself. Regulatory developments are coming faster and more frequently than ever before. For compliance teams, this means we need to move more quickly, be more agile, and stay deeply informed to manage emerging risks effectively. It's an environment that demands both speed and strategic focus.
Q: Can you share specific AI tools or technologies that you have implemented at Cargill to enhance compliance risk assessment? What were the key challenges and how did you address them?
A: While not focused solely on risk assessment, AI has significantly expanded what’s possible across our compliance function. We’re using AI to support our case triage process, generate internal reports, and analyze data. Tasks that once took hours can now be done in minutes. That efficiency frees up time for higher-value work.
One of our next steps is to combine AI with automation tools to enhance our workflows. As for challenges, the key is always ensuring human oversight and maintaining alignment with our ethical standards, especially as we explore more advanced capabilities.
Q: How do you balance the benefits of AI in compliance with the potential risks and ethical concerns? What frameworks or guidelines do you use to ensure responsible AI usage?
A: Everything we do with AI includes human oversight. We’re guided by Cargill’s Responsible Generative AI Principles, which emphasize fairness, transparency, safety, and accountability. For example, we only use approved tools, verify outputs carefully, and avoid the use of confidential or sensitive information in a way that could compromise privacy or data integrity. AI is a powerful enabler, but it's our responsibility to ensure it’s used ethically, safely, and with purpose.
Q: Can you provide examples of ethical culture development initiatives at Cargill that you have led, and how AI has played a role in these initiatives? What were the outcomes of these initiatives?
A: One of our flagship initiatives is Ethics Week, a global event to reinforce our commitment to our Guiding Principles. As the Ethics & Compliance Director for one of our businesses, I used AI to help develop communications and training materials. I input past messaging, identified the tone and content I wanted to convey, and used AI to generate first drafts. That helped me move faster while staying aligned with our theme—this year, it was “building trust.”
Of course, I reviewed and refined everything before sharing. AI was a collaborator, not a replacement. It helped me focus more time on connecting with employees during the event and less time on formatting slides.
Q: How do you engage with stakeholders, including employees, customers, and regulators, to ensure that Cargill's compliance efforts are effective and transparent?
A: For compliance to be truly effective, it must be visible—across all levels of the organization, from the plant floor to the boardroom. We work hard to meet people where they are, and tailor communication based on what’s most relevant to their role. Some messages, like our Code of Conduct or Guiding Principles, are universal. But others, like gifts and entertainment guidance or conflicts of interest policies, are customized for different functions or regions. The core message in our policies is always shared but we want to highlight the most relevant information based on the audience.
We’re always working to ensure the right message reaches the right audience—and that’s something that we continue to enhance year after year.
Q: What advice do you have for compliance professionals who are just starting their careers in the industry?
A: Be curious. Never stop learning. And don’t shy away from challenges, they’re often the best opportunities to grow.
