Early in my career, I received a backhanded compliment that highlighted the pervasive stereotypes women face in the workplace. My leader praised my assertiveness, expressing surprise that a woman could possess such a quality. Ironically, at that point in my life, I was not sure how to respond to a Read more…
NAWBO Iowa honors exemplary local women business owners at 2024 Celebration of Excellence One day last month, I had a typical day of meetings and errands: I had a coffee meeting at a local establishment; popped into a neighborhood salon to get a gift certificate to give to a friend; Read more…
Have you ever stopped to count how many digital tasks you perform regularly? I conducted an inventory of my own digital usage recently and was a little stunned by the number of activities I perform on numerous devices — everything from managing work and personal schedules, documents, emails, texts and Read more…
I once turned down a plum offer to start a new division at an investment firm. At the time, I didn’t think I had adequate experience to take on the challenge. Looking back, I wonder why I didn’t believe in myself, especially when the leaders who approached me believed I Read more…
Soon after graduating from business school, I got a job working at a top asset management firm in New York City. At that time, there were few women in the industry, and hybrid work arrangements didn’t even exist. However, I had a role that required me to be on the Read more…
What was your dream when you were young? Growing up, I always wanted to be a writer and artist, but soon after college, I veered off the creative path. The obstacles I faced were not necessarily a lack of belief in my own talent. At first, I was worried about Read more…
When I was just entering the business world, I became friends with a retired CEO through the board of a nonprofit organization. While this man was not a formal mentor, he took an interest in my career and often offered advice based on his many years of experience and success. Read more…
When the pandemic hit in 2020, I remember reading the media headlines warning of a “she-cession,” or mass exodus of women from the workforce. I witnessed this firsthand as countless women I knew quit their jobs, exhausted from bearing a disproportionate burden of juggling responsibilities at work and home. Many Read more…
Chances are, if you ask a young girl in Iowa who her role model is these days, she’ll mention University of Iowa basketball player Caitlin Clark. Clark’s athletic skill and leadership have inspired girls, boys, women and men all over the state – including me – and even people across Read more…
“Would you be able to pick Gloria Steinem up from the airport?” was one of the more memorable questions Peg Lonnquist asked me when I was a college student at Iowa State University. As executive director of the Carrie Chapman Catt Women’s Center, Lonnquist (“Peg,” as we called her) was Read more…