Fearless

The Business Record’s Women of Influence awards celebrate the work of Central Iowa women who have attained success while helping others along the way. While working in various sectors and with varied life experiences, they’ve devoted their time to service and leadership. They’ve spent countless hours volunteering, working on major issues and paving the way for other women to follow.

Mary Andringa’s dad founded their family business, Vermeer Corp., exactly one year before she was born. She’d go on to make history with her father’s business, becoming co-CEOs with her brother, Robert Vermeer, in 2003 and becoming sole CEO in 2009. She was chair of the company in addition to CEO in 2014-2015 before her son, Jason Andringa, took over.

A new restaurant recently opened in my small hometown of Huxley, Iowa. Not just another burger joint or pizza place, but a semi-upscale dining experience. A visit with family members received an enthusiastic thumbs-up. Their confidence wasn’t based solely on the concept itself, although they pointed to the smart location, appealing menu, attractive décor, convenient access and ample seating. We also noted something else. It was founded and co-owned by a woman entrepreneur.

When Terry Hernandez arrived for her first day as executive director of Chrysalis Foundation, she thought she had shown up to the wrong location. “There was a little office they’d rented, and there was a table and a telephone, and I thought I was in the wrong place,” she said.

By Sonja Piontek, guest contributor The desert is still black as the women begin walking. No sunrise yet. No horizon. Only the crisp silence of the Namib and the soft sound of boots pressing into sand somewhere beyond the reach of sight. Headlamps flicker across the dunes like distant stars fallen to Earth. It is Jolita Uthe’s birthday. Step by step, the expedition moves forward in a quiet line, led by two participants that are guiding the team through the first section of the day.

All her life, Mallory Sandoval was told she should go into teaching or nursing. “I have really good people skills,” Sandoval said. “For the longest time, I thought, ‘I want to be in the hospital. That’s where I want to work.’” She started her journey to a healthcare career her junior year of high school with a job in food services at UnityPoint Methodist Hospital.

Heather Schott calls herself a disruptor. “That’s who I am, through and through,” she said. “If you give me a process and I see efficiencies, I’m going to work towards it. I enjoy looking for better ways or disrupting the way we have always done things.” Disrupting has looked like many things for Schott. Showing up as her authentic self. Taking risks throughout her career. Reimagining what advocacy and allyship looks like.

COMPILED BY EMILY BARSKE WOOD AND MACEY SHOFROTH This coverage is from the Business Record’s annual survey on women’s and gender issues as part of our Fearless initiative. While nonscientific, we believe the results of this questionnaire illustrate current opinions about Iowa women’s equity in and outside of work. Read previous coverage here. In the past five years, do you feel women have made significant progress in obtaining gender parity in politics?

By Corey Dion Lewis, guest contributor The first time I told one of my best friends I loved him and was proud of him in a text message, he immediately called me. Not to say it back, but to see if I was OK. In his mind, the only logical reason a man would say that to another man was if something was terribly wrong. We eventually laughed about it. But the reaction wasn’t strange. It was learned. That’s the problem.

Earlier in my career at a Fortune 200 company, I was sitting in a boardroom presenting a new strategy to directors. I can still picture the room: the long polished table, the glass windows, the rows of mostly male executives around me. I knew my material cold. I had done the work, understood the numbers, anticipated the questions. And yet, when the questions came, I was exceedingly careful. I answered thoughtfully, but gently. I wanted to appear competent, certainly, but also agreeable. Collaborative.