Rising Stars 2026: Emily Peters 

Emily Peters, 37 
Director of marketing and sales 
Union Pacific Railroad 
 
Nominator’s quote: “Emily Peters exemplifies the very best of railroading — strategic insight, operational acumen, commercial innovation and people-centered leadership. ... Emily is not only making a positive difference in the industry today, she is helping define the future of Union Pacific and the industries it serves.” — Tonya Eggspuehler, UP 

Education: Bachelor of Arts in agricultural business and applied economics, with a minor in consumer affairs from Ohio State University. I also studied international agriculture in Prague, Czech Republic. 
 
Job responsibilities: I manage a $1.4 billion agricultural portfolio. I get to work with customers to understand their business and transportation needs. I partner with them and internal teams to develop transportation strategies that drive growth, improve supply chains and deliver reliable rail solutions.  

Describe your career path. 
I started at Union Pacific just three days after graduating college and have never looked back. Over the past 15 years, I’ve had the opportunity to work across a range of commodity teams in both marketing and sales roles, from intermodal and energy to industrial products and agriculture.  

What was your first job and what did you learn from it? 
Before I could even drive, I started cleaning equipment at my family’s local gym and eventually moved into managing the front desk and administrative work. I was eager to move into sales, but my uncle, who owned the business, required me to read the books Rich Dad Poor Dad and How to Win Friends and Influence People before I was allowed to interview for the role. Once I got the job, he took me through Zig Ziglar and Carnegie sales training. That experience opened my eyes to how little I know and taught me there is always more to learn. After I earned the sales role, I was still expected to clean. That experience reinforced a lesson I carry with me today: If you're too big to serve, you’re too small to lead. 

What sparked your interest in the rail industry? What told you it could be a place for you to thrive? 
I thought I wanted to be a grain trader or go into ag policy work until a conversation with a stranger in an elevator pointed me toward Union Pacific. Being from Ohio, I had never heard of the company, but I was curious and pursued an interview. As I was doing research, I discovered the railroads were filled with rich history and play a critical role in keeping American businesses moving. It combined my passions for America, agriculture, economics and serving something bigger than myself. 

What’s one of the most valuable lessons you’ve learned in your career? 
That nothing “I’ve” achieved has been done alone; people and their perspectives matter. Taking the time to listen, understand, and learn from others has been critical to both my growth and success. A leader I’ve always respected once shared the question, “What has to be true for this to be successful?” That simple perspective continues to guide how I approach decisions and work with others. 

What are your passions outside of work? 
I’m passionate about faith, family, and community. I value time spent reading the Bible and being present with my family, and I have a strong interest in economic development and real estate. 

How do you plan to keep making an impact in your corner of the industry? 
Plow the land beneath my feet. Work hard. Learn something new and do the next best thing each day. 

What’s the biggest challenge confronting the rail industry today? 
As technology continues to advance globally, transportation becomes more competitive every day. From my perspective, one of the biggest challenges is ensuring we don't become complacent with the status quo. We have to continuously evolve our service capabilities while staying grounded in the reason we exist: to serve our customers and the communities that depend on us.