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…
Lindsey Hayes, commercial loan operations manager, VisionBank I have three children ages 18, 11, 6. I am an alcoholic in recovery for 13 years. I’ve dealt with family and marriage abuse, and dysfunction. I had stage 3 breast cancer in 2018 at the age of 38, survived it and multiple Read more…
Mary Core, business coordinator, Avenue Scholars I went to work after high school for Principal Financial Group (Bankers Life at the time) in an entry-level position. With dedication and receiving their top-notch training, I worked my way to a leadership role. Without a college degree and only working in the Read more…
Kathleen Till Stange, independent board director I recently participated in the West Des Moines Citizens Fire Academy. I had already participated in the citizens police academy and citizens EMS academy, so I thought the citizens fire academy would be a great way to round it out. Plus, I’m a fan Read more…
Brittney Haskins, childbirth education coordinator, UnityPoint Health-Des Moines Selling my business, One Sweet Kitchen, to my employee in late 2020. Being a baker had been my identity for years, but everything in my life was telling me to let it go. Most of my journey from fear to freedom was Read more…
Photos and words by Emily Kestel If anything, I am my mother’s daughter. If I tell her, “I’m going camping for a few days by myself next month,” she won’t say, “Alone?! What are you, nuts?” or “You should really go with Jake (my husband), just to be safe.” Instead, Read more…
By Emily Kestel As of May 2, I’ve been alive for a quarter of a century. In that time, I’ve had plenty of ups, and a fair share of downs. I’ve learned what I like and what I don’t. I know what my strengths are and I’m still coming to Read more…
By Nataliya Boychenko Stone, employee benefits consultant, shareholder, Holmes Murphy Editor’s note: This column first appeared on the Holmes Murphy blog. Nataliya Boychenko Stone was part of the Business Record’s 2020 Women of Influence class. As I watch the tragedy and events unfold in Ukraine, it is like watching a Read more…
Tell us about a time you were fearless. I’ve done hard things before. I moved to New Mexico at 21 years old by myself. I worked as a hospital chaplain, repeatedly walking into the worst moments of strangers’ lives. I gave birth to two children with no pain medication. I Read more…
Tell us about a time you were fearless. In 2019, I took a leap of faith to leave the Des Moines job market as well as my marketing career to pursue a position in product management. After earning my MBA from the University of Iowa in 2018, I knew that Read more…