Pictured above: Azaree Shakshak, center, assists Serenity Jackson and Michelle Gill at Oakridge Neighborhood’s Summer Blast Camp on Aug. 3 at Edmunds Elementary School in Des Moines. Photo by Duane Tinkey. Editor’s note: With a new school year starting, Fearless decided to profile a college student who is already empowering other Read more…
Editor’s note: Adverse Childhood Experiences, also known as ACES, are traumatic events that happen to a person ages 0 to 17. Examples include physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, the death of a parent, the incarceration of a parent, witnessing a parent being abused, and more. The higher a person’s ACES score, the Read more…
By Suzanna de Baca, president and CEO, Business Publications Corp. Not long ago, a friend who is the president of a large financial institution confessed to me that despite her education and success, for most of her career she has felt like a phony. It was only relatively recently that Read more…
Women business leaders should establish relationships with banks early on, even if they aren’t yet in the market for borrowing to grow, a Wells Fargo executive told Fearless. “They’re going to understand your business better when you [do] need it,” said Judith Goldkrand. Goldkrand is a Wells Fargo senior vice Read more…
Sometimes it seemed as if Sharon Malheiro was everyone’s mom. “When she died, it felt like, ‘Well, Mom is gone, and we’re not ready to be Mom yet,’” said Des Moines attorney Breanna Young. This is Iowa’s first Pride month without Malheiro, a longtime attorney and activist who was instrumental Read more…
Annual Fearless survey: Awareness of gender equity issues is improving post-pandemic, now action needs to happen By Emily Kestel There may never be a definitive answer to what gender equity truly looks like in practice. Countless factors are at play when discussing women’s equality: equal pay, representation in leadership positions Read more…
10 stories of leadership, perseverance and authenticity Interviews by Emily Kestel, Fearless editor | Portraits by Jami Milne, Ballet Des Moines creative director What is it we see when we look at each other? When we really look at the woman to our left or to our right? Society teaches Read more…
As told to Emily Kestel and Jami Milne. Portrait by Jami Milne. What characteristics do you admire in other women? Women who speak truth to power, who show up unapologetically. How do we support the next generation in finding a path to success and fulfillment? By not creating unrealistic expectations. Read more…
As told to Emily Kestel and Jami Milne. Portrait by Jami Milne. What strengths do women bring to the table? Their resiliency. We endure so much as women and we have to show up and get the job done with a smile on our face. What characteristics do you admire Read more…
As told to Emily Kestel and Jami Milne. Portrait by Jami Milne. What characteristics do you admire in other women? I admire women who curse, who are willing to drop the F word. And women who show up authentically. I think the words “too much” are labeled to women when Read more…