In this episode of the Kite Podcast, hosts Will Evans and Ben Eagle are joined by farmers Fliss Cobb and Conor Dunne, who recently completed Kite's Herd Manager Training Programme, to explore how the role of the modern herd manager continues to evolve. They're joined by Kite consultant Marcus Doig, who led the recent course, and Dane De Boorder, who will be taking the reins from January 2027, along with podcast producer Becki Reay. Together, they discuss the skills needed to succeed in today's dairy industry, from people management and communication to data analysis and technology. Fliss and Conor share their experiences of the programme, the lessons they've taken back to their farms, and how it has broadened their understanding of different dairy systems. Plus, the team discuss what makes a successful herd manager today and how the training programme is helping to develop the next generation of dairy leaders. As always, Chris Walkland returns with his latest milk market report. You can sign up to the Herd Manager Training Course starting in January 2027 by emailing enquires@kiteconsulting.com or contacting Dane on Dane.deboorder@kiteconsulting.com or 07802 468194.