Australian native takes the tee, steps in for Deere CEO at John Deere Classic

Kieren Samarakoon got a lesson this week at the John Deere Classic – not a golf lesson – but rather, he learned about company loyalty and employee appreciation. A John Deere employee since only last summer, the robotics simulation engineer was selected to “Take the Tee for Me” from Deere & Co. Chairman and CEO […]

Kieren Samarakoon got a lesson this week at the John Deere Classic – not a golf lesson – but rather, he learned about company loyalty and employee appreciation. A John Deere employee since only last summer, the robotics simulation engineer was selected to “Take the Tee for Me” from Deere & Co. Chairman and CEO John May and play in his place in the JDC Pro Am on Wednesday, July 5.  The 24-year-old employee, who got paired with 2022 JDC Champion J.T. Poston, was still a little in disbelief a day later at the opportunity that his new career had provided.  Working in what he describes as “his first career job,” Mr. Samarakoon told the QCBJ that he almost decided to wait until next year to even apply to play since he was so new on the job.  The engineer and collegiate golfer, who hails from Cairns, Australia, was selected back in May from more than 30 Deere employees applying to “Take the Tee.” As part of the employee contest – now in its third year – Mr. Samarakoon said employees had to create a video explaining why they would be a great representative of John Deere and what it means for the company to sponsor such a PGA Tour event.  “This was the first year they opened it up to global employees,” Mr. Samarakoon said Thursday, July 6, as he enjoyed the first day of John Deere Classic tournament play – as a spectator – and the final day of his first-ever Quad Cities visit.  Not only did his Pro-Am appearance pair him with the last year’s champ, but Mr. May served as his caddie for part of his rain-delayed round Wednesday. Due to the weather, their 18-hole planned round was shortened to nine holes.   Mr. Samarakoon proudly said how they “took a couple of my drives” in the Scramble competition.  “Meeting Mr. May, I was calm and casual. It was not intimidating,” he said of his ultimate Deere boss. Of Mr. Poston, he added “he was very friendly.” “I had a great time,” he said. “It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so I was intentional in making conversation, especially for someone early on in their career.”  Mr. May complimented his employee’s actions. “Golf is a game known for making personal connections,” Mr. May said. “That’s part of the game’s appeal. Kieren showed a genuine interest to get to know everyone and have meaningful conversations with them. It was great to see.”

After caddying for him, Mr. May added: “Kieren exemplifies who Deere is on a larger scale. And his message of feeling included and appreciated characterizes the kind of culture we’re creating at John Deere. His swing looks pretty good, too.”   Asked why he thought he won the chance, Mr. Samarakoon suspects his view on DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) issues and his own varied cultural background – including being raised in Australia, educated in the United States, and now living in Austin, Texas – all played a role. He is the son of Australian immigrants, including his Sri Lankan father and Japanese mother.   “I think I represent new beginnings (like his family had) with a new career and a new town (for Deere),” he told the QCBJ while seated in Deere’s corporate chalet on the 18th green during the John Deere Classic at TPC at Deere Run.  The Moline-based global equipment maker first announced the launch of Deere’s Innovation Hub in Austin’s high-tech South Congress District in early 2022.  Mr. Samarakoon joined the new Austin team, the Automation & Autonomy for the Intelligent Solutions Group, after earning a mechanical engineering degree at West Virginia University Institute (where he played golf competitively), and a master’s degree from West Virginia University. It was during his master’s research project on autonomy, that he landed his Deere career.  He actually was taken aback when he saw a job listing for a robotics simulator engineer at John Deere and remembered thinking “Hold on is this right? John Deere makes tractors and lawnmowers.” That, he said, is what most young people relate the company with.  In fact, Mr. Samarakoon also relates Deere to golf first – having grown up watching the JDC on television in his homeland Australia. “That’s how I knew Deere,” he told the QCBJ.  While he may not have envisioned a career with a tractor maker, he’s proud to be part of a team that is looking beyond Deere’s autonomous tractor to developing other automations.  “Deere is really trying to innovate for the future,” the new engineer said. “We have an autonomous tractor already, but we’re looking at what other machines can we automate.”  In his casual conversations with a John Deere Classic Pro Am caddie, he said, “John May says it’s not about wanting to automate farming. We don’t want the farmer not to have anything to do. It’s about automating processes first.” Noting Deere’s technological leadership, he pointed to its See and Spray precision farming technology and the fact that Mr. May provided the keynote address at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show (CES). “That’s just a start of what’s to come,” Mr. Samarakoon said.  “When talking with John May, customer loyalty came up. And it's not just customers, but employees’ loyalty too,” said Mr. Samarakoon, who added he will be back at work in Austin today.  “My managers and supervisors all have 10 to 20 years with John Deere. I can see myself here for a long time – especially if they treat employees like this and I’ve not even been here a year.”