When women negotiate they’re often labeled, perhaps called too direct or too soft. How can women gain confidence in negotiating, and what can be done to overcome stereotypes that create barriers for women during negotiation? In the most recent episode of the Fearless podcast “Nasty or nice: When and how Read more…
For most of my life, I believed anxiety was part of who I was. Not the kind that stops you from functioning – but the kind that hums quietly beneath everything. High-functioning. Productive. Invisible. The kind that lets you build businesses, raise a child and lead teams while constantly bracing Read more…
Five years ago, the Business Record launched Fearless. Our goal is simple: We want to empower Iowa women to succeed in work and life. Through our weekly e-newsletter, ongoing print features and events, we have worked to live up to our mission. We’ve told countless stories that have both inspired Read more…
The Business Record’s Women of Influence awards celebrate the work of Central Iowa women who have attained success while helping others along the way. From a variety of career paths and walks of life, they’ve devoted their time to making an impact. They’ve spent countless hours on various initiatives, working Read more…
COMPILED BY MACEY SHOFROTH and EMILY BARSKE WOOD This coverage is from the Business Record’s annual survey on women’s and gender issues as part of our Fearless initiative. While nonscientific, we believe the results of this questionnaire illustrate current opinions about Iowa women’s equity in and outside of work. Read previous coverage Read more…
BY NOLA CARTMILL As diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have gained traction over the past decade, they have also faced significant pushback, particularly in today’s polarized climate. Many organizations have shifted their focus away from diversity and equity in favor of a more neutral term: inclusion. For some, this Read more…
Connection is one of our Fearless core values. We strive to connect our audience with new thoughts and perspectives in our weekly e-newsletter. Guest contributors are key to this. In 2024, we published columns about barriers to homeownership for women, mental health care in Iowa, investing and reaching financial success, Read more…
BY HARWANT KHUSH Individuals use two primary modes of communication: verbal and nonverbal. Verbal communication relies on language and words. Nonverbal communication is expressed through gestures, facial expressions, body language, tone of voice and other physical cues. Extensive research highlights the profound impact of nonverbal communication on human connections. A widely cited Read more…
A report released Tuesday by the Iowa Women’s Foundation and Common Sense Institute Iowa (CSI Iowa) analyzed the results of a new child care pilot program and projected the program’s future economic impacts if expanded statewide. The Childcare Solutions Funds pilot program raised $5.3 million in combined public-private funding, which Read more…
BY KATHERINE HARRINGTON The notion of “likability” is a double-edged sword that countless women face in their professional lives. As a woman who has navigated various leadership roles, I can attest that the likability challenge is both frustrating and deeply ingrained in our culture. It’s a subtle but persistent barrier that shapes Read more…