As told to Nicole Grundmeier Sara Kurovski is the mayor of Pleasant Hill. She is also the president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Iowa. On April 26, 2024, an EF-2 tornado tore through her Des Moines suburb of more than 10,000 residents. Kurovski had learned an important leadership lesson from previous Read more…
As told to Nicole Grundmeier Trang Pham is the owner of the Eggroll Ladies in Des Moines. She also works full time for the Iowa Army National Guard, where in 2016 she became the first Iowa woman infantry officer after the ban on women to serve in combat arms within Read more…
In celebration of 25 years of our Women of Influence awards, we asked our alumni to share about a time they were fearless. As you read, you’ll see that many point out that acting fearlessly does not mean having no fear. It means moving forward despite it. Moments of courage Read more…
Roxanne Conlin may best be known for championing several civil rights causes in her law practice and suing institutions for various forms of discrimination, particularly advocating for women. She’s won cases giving more rights to pregnant workers, survivors of rape and women who have been sexually harassed in the workplace. Read more…
BY MACEY SHOFROTH, FEARLESS STAFF WRITER I grew up in a family whose business was, for decades, newspapers. So it was only natural that as I developed a penchant for writing, people would constantly ask if I planned on taking over after my parents retired. My answer was short and sweet: “Absolutely not.” But 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…
BY MACEY SHOFROTH, FEARLESS STAFF WRITER A mentor plays a crucial role in empowering women in the workplace to reach for their goals with confidence and drive. Providing more mentorship opportunities for women is key in fixing the gender parity issue in leadership, leaders said in a recent discussion. The Fearless Read more…
Our next, and final, Fearless Focus virtual event of 2024 will focus on leadership and mentorship. We will discuss the role mentors play in empowering women in the workplace. Event detailsOct. 3 | Noon to 1 p.m. | Register for the free virtual event Elevating more women into leadership roles is 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…