Not long ago, a friend who was preparing an important announcement asked me to “be a hummingbird” for her. I knew exactly what she meant: spread the word, carry her story from one place to another, just like Hummingbirds, a successful Iowa tech startup built on influencer marketing. When I Read more…
By Courtney Koch The gender gap between female and male leaders within the architecture field has been a longstanding issue around the world, and it’s important to highlight the challenges women have faced in architecture and the roads that have been paved for female leaders such as myself. I’m proud to work Read more…
Last month in Fearless, I reflected on the awkward pause many of us feel when praise or an award lands at our feet. That instinct to deflect or downplay is common, especially among accomplished women taught to equate humility with worthiness. But once we’ve mustered the courage to say “thank you” and Read more…
By Amy Friedrich I’ve seen plenty of workplace trends come and go, but there is one observation that has stuck with me through the years: Most leadership journeys follow a familiar pattern. After decades spent in both individual contributor and leadership roles, I’ve noticed that growth as a leader can Read more…
Editor’s note: Names of the three campers in this essay have been changed to protect their privacy. I first met Lylah, Grace and Josie when they were 14. Each girl bounded up the stairs into the circle of cabins with wide smiles on their faces, clamoring to get inside and Read more…
It happened again. I received a call about receiving an award – and my immediate instinct was to resist it. A familiar whisper began in my head: “This can’t be right. There are countless others far more deserving.” My brain, it seems, has a default setting for “deflect and deny.” Read more…
The air in the interview room felt thick with expectation, a familiar pressure I’d come to know well throughout my career. I was interviewing for a leadership role at an investment firm, a position that felt like a natural next step, yet a quiet part of me wondered if I Read more…
Have you ever found yourself downplaying a significant achievement, that little voice in your head whispering that sharing it might come across as boastful? I certainly have. I remember vividly the day I received an email informing me I’d been recognized with a prestigious industry award. My initial reaction was Read more…
“Are you crazy?” My friends asked, not unkindly. I just smiled. After several decades climbing the ladder in the high-stakes world of finance, the question hung in the air: “Why would you leave such a successful career?” That was over a decade ago and my peers, family, even the nagging Read more…
Compiled by Macey Shofroth and Emily Barske Wood Nearly 500 people, a record number, shared with us their thoughts about the status of gender equity in Iowa. The Business Record has published its annual survey on women’s and gender issues as part of our Fearless initiative for the last several Read more…