By Lakeisha McVey I was raised in Des Moines in a low-income family that struggled with homelessness and housing instability. I have dedicated my career to advocating for anti-poverty policies, so I have a deep personal and professional understanding of the impacts of child poverty and know the difference a Read more…
Andrea Hansen, director of development, Iowa Public Radio Several years ago, I applied for a job that was a professional growth opportunity and a leadership role. I was notified by email by a member of the search committee that I wasn’t being given a phone interview. I wrote back and Read more…
Allison Peterson, account manager, HealthPartners UnityPoint Health My husband and I decided to move almost immediately following the graduation of our youngest child. After being in the same town for 27 years, we moved to a new city, started new jobs and became empty nesters all within a few months. Read more…
Jacki Carr, executive administrative assistant, Community State Bank There have been a few, but I think thus far my most impactful moment of being fearless was when I decided to pursue my master’s degree through an online program, while working full time and being a single mother to an 18-month-old. Read more…
Lindsay Cannaday, VP, business development director, GreenState Credit Union As a woman of color, it’s always felt like my biggest adversaries were other women. I often would get “constructive feedback” that I was too aggressive or that I shouldn’t speak up as much. On paper I was a high producer Read more…
Scott Haugh, chief financial officer, American Enterprise Group I left a graduate program in English after eight years to pursue a career as an actuary. Leaving academia for corporate America seemed very traumatic to me at the time. I had to set aside a lot of regret, anxiety and disappointment Read more…
Hannah Inman, CEO, Great Outdoors Foundation I witness fearlessness on a daily basis. It is not easy right now to be a mother. Anxiety levels in children are at an all-time high, the effects of COVID on our social and support structures are still very much being felt. We are Read more…
Jenna Kimberley, vice president, Kimberley Development Corp. Just weeks after my 22nd birthday, I moved to Manhattan not knowing a soul. While living off canned tuna to make ends meet in order to make rent on my fifth-floor walk-up (that got bed bugs twice due to the restaurant on the Read more…
Shalika Khindurangala, career coordinator, Iowa State University Ivy College of Business My country was attacked by Russia in February 2022. It happened later at night so I stayed up on the phone with everyone hearing people cry and panic. The fear I felt was FULL, not less. I had a Read more…
Melanie Mackey, events and marketing coordinator, West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce I’m a local comedian, and every time I get onstage to tell my story and make people laugh, it’s an act of relentlessly honoring my truth. It’s the most fun way to be brave! From getting fired from Read more…