He started working after school around this time, which would impact his life in two important ways: he was exposed to the asbestos that ultimately would cause his death from cancer, but his family's struggles also gave him the drive to succeed and to be able to take care of others.
To help the railroad maintain its independence, he was part of the push to diversify the company into the less capital-intensive fields of finance— including the acquisition of Janus in 1984—and technology—with the establishment of DST as a division to automate mutual fund record keeping.
[4] These entities became so successful that between 1995 and 2003, Rowland oversaw splitting KCSI into three public companies: Kansas City Southern (railroad), Janus Capital Group (mutual fund), and DST Systems (financial technology).
Despite Mexican government churn, Rowland pushed to maintain involvement, finally culminating in KCS's acquisition of the "premier rail line in Mexico" in 2005.
"[11] In discussing his own involvement in social services work, Rowland insisted, "It is so much easier to go out and raise money for our own special interests...
"[11] Landon and Sarah Rowland have been arts supporters and patrons, including Rowland's leadership roles in the Lyric Opera and the Metropolitan Performing Arts fund, as well support for the Kansas City Ballet, the Kansas City Symphony, the Harriman-Jewell Series, and the Friends of Chamber Music.