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Good morning, Fearless readers:
It's back to school time! I love seeing the photos of kids dressed in their best, preparing for a year of learning and growth. I especially love all of the funny things these kids say they'd like to be when they grow up, such as the little girl who dreams of becoming a marker.
This time of year reminds me of all of the teachers who made massive impacts in my life. There's Mrs. Herndon, who
went above and beyond to find me opportunities for growth and challenge in first grade. Also, Mrs. Wink, who encouraged my confidence in fourth grade. And Lucy, an adjunct teacher in college who helped me to truly believe in my capabilities as a writer for the first time.
Who is a teacher that made a lasting impact on you? What made these teachers so special to you? Share your responses with me at maceyshofroth@bpcdm.com, and we'll celebrate the amazing teachers in our lives in next week's newsletter.
In this week’s Fearless e-newsletter, you will find:
- Suzanna de Baca's Leading Fearlessly column, exploring equity for women in tech.
- Team ELLLA's Rocio Hermosillo sharing her philosophy on leadership.
- In the headlines: Polk County Supervisor Angela Connolly announced she won't seek re-election in 2026.
- In case you missed it: A
closer look with Alanah Mitchell.
- Lots more!
— Macey Shofroth, Fearless editor
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Leading Fearlessly: Women making their mark in technology
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| BY SUZANNA DE BACA, STORY BOARD ADVISORS CEO
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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 told Hummingbirds’ CEO and co-founder Emily Steele that their brand had entered the vernacular as a synonym for connection and influence, she said she considered it quite a compliment.
It struck me as a hopeful metaphor. Women in tech have long been hummingbirds, carrying stories, skills and influence across teams, companies, and communities. Often they work quietly, but their impact is unmistakable. Iowa has its share of inspiring women founders and leaders, and the state also has a significant number of women serving in the CIO role, an encouraging sign of influence at the highest levels of established organizations. Yet the broader picture remains sobering. Representation of women in technology remains low overall and leadership gaps are even starker.
Where we stand
According to the recently released Women in Tech Stats 2025 report, women now make up about 35% of the United States tech workforce, a marked improvement from just 9% in the early 2000s. Yet globally, women hold
only 31.7% of leadership roles. Across major firms including Amazon, Apple, Google, Microsoft and Meta, female representation hovers around one-third.
The leadership pipeline narrows further. The report reveals that for every 100 men promoted to manager, only 87 women advance, with the odds even worse for women of color.
Leadership across the spectrum
In Iowa, there are rays of progress. Our state is fortunate to have a notable number of women in the CIO role, proving that women can and do succeed in senior leadership within established organizations like Principal, Workiva, Unity Point, Fareway, the Iowa Clinic and Iowa State University. And, as profiled in a recent article of innovationIOWA, leaders like Kaylee Williams, Liz Keehner, Mikayla Mooney and Nicole Gunderson are opening doors in venture capital, aiming to change the dynamic for female founders. Grassroots gatherings such as the Technology Association of Iowa’s Iowa Women in Tech Happy Hour create supportive, low pressure spaces where women shed imposter syndrome, find community, and grow in confidence.
This presence and these events matter, but Iowa’s ecosystem needs more: more women not just in corporate C-suites and boardrooms, but also founding startups, driving investment decisions and leading the entrepreneurial ventures that shape the future of innovation. For true equity, women must be visible and influential at every level of technology leadership. Representation across this full spectrum ensures that women have both voice and power in defining where technology is headed.
The future we must build
Turning women’s success in tech into real, structural progress will require attention on several fronts. First, we need to strengthen the talent pipeline. Girls should be encouraged to see themselves in STEM fields early, with visible role models and stronger support for programs such as Iowa State University’s Digital Women, which fosters both community and career growth for women in tech majors including computer science, software engineering, electrical engineering, computer engineering and MIS.
At the same time, companies must address pay and promotion structures with more than surface-level diversity programs. Transparent promotion criteria, regular equity audits and measurable goals are essential if women are to advance
fairly. Just as critical is the role of mentorship and sponsorship. While advice and guidance are valuable, what women in tech most need are sponsors who open doors, expand networks and actively elevate visibility.
Reskilling will also be vital as generative AI reshapes the workforce. Women must have equal access to training and leadership opportunities in deploying these tools, or risk being sidelined from shaping the very innovations that will define the future. Finally, culture matters deeply. The success of events like the Women in Tech Happy Hour shows the power of authentic, pressure-free spaces. Iowa can build on that momentum with more inclusive networking, more safe spaces and broader cultural awareness training that allows
women to show up fully and confidently.
Despite the challenges, Iowa has a foundation on which to build. Groups such as the Technology Association of Iowa,
Innoventure Iowa, Next Level
Ventures, Plains Angels, Ag Startup Engine, Manchester Story, Pi515 and numerous universities are already providing support, such as expanding access to STEM education, training, networking, resources, and funding for women in tech. Their efforts prove what is possible when ecosystems commit to equity.
Closing the loop
When I was asked to be a metaphorical “hummingbird,” I had not realized how powerful that gentle call could be. Iowa’s tech and startup scene has women leading boldly, but their stories need to fly farther, reaching more people and opening more doors. To create a future where women in tech are not only present but leading, we must ensure that women are represented at every level, from CIOs in established companies to founders of the next generation of startups. That is the only way to close the loop and
ensure that equity is no longer a distant goal but a lived reality.
I asked some of Iowa’s top leaders in tech what concrete steps leaders can take to ensure more women are not only entering the tech pipeline but also advancing into leadership roles across the full spectrum.
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Charise Flynn, COO and co-founder, Hummingbirds
To be honest, I've never loved the framing of questions like this, because it can unintentionally suggest women need to be saved. In my experience, women aren’t waiting to be rescued – they’re already creators. The most impactful thing a leader can do is to coach, challenge and clear the path so women can accelerate on their own terms.
The women I’ve seen thrive got really clear on what they wanted and went for it. As leaders, colleagues and friends, we can fuel that clarity: Remind them of their strengths, reflect back their brilliance and create opportunities for them to shine.
Everyone has influence, regardless of title. I’ve had people circle back years later and share how one small comment shifted their trajectory. That’s the power we all hold – sparking belief, encouraging action and focusing on possibility instead of lack.
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Kim Huffman, chief information officer, Workiva
Strong mentorship and fostering a culture of diverse leadership are paramount to increasing the representation of women in technology and enabling their success in leadership positions.
In my current role as chief information officer at Workiva, and throughout my career, I have been incredibly fortunate to
benefit from a multitude of exceptional mentors who have provided invaluable guidance and opportunities. Three lessons that have stuck with me throughout my career are to lean in, always make new mistakes, and don’t be afraid of failure. This mentality is shared across our executive team at Workiva, where 50% of our executive leadership team are women.
Having diverse and visible leaders empowers aspiring women in business to envision their own paths to success. This isn't just a talking point — it's something our employees see firsthand every day. We value diverse perspectives and see them as a business enabler.
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Kathy Kay, executive vice president, chief information officer and PGS, Principal Financial Group
To open pathways for women in tech, we need to focus on connection, confidence, and opportunity from early exploration to C-suite leadership.
When I was starting out, I didn’t see many people like me in tech. A high school retreat changed that by showing me I could
go to college and pursue a career in technology. That early encouragement was pivotal, which is why outreach matters. Supporting STEM programs, offering mentorship and helping young women feel seen and capable can truly change their trajectory.
As women advance, opportunity and advocacy are critical through meaningful assignments, visibility with senior leaders, and sponsors who champion growth. It also means addressing bias, ensuring advancement programs are equitable, and celebrating role models at every level.
Most of all, leaders must listen, support and create space where women don’t just enter the pipeline, they thrive and lead.
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Des Moines’ next generation steps up
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| BY MACEY SHOFROTH, FEARLESS EDITOR
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According to the Alliance for Lifetime Income, more than 4.1 million Americans will hit the retirement age of 65 through the year 2027. That’s over 11,200 people every day.
The trend is more pronounced in Iowa, which has the second-highest share of workers aged 65 and older.
As more of those employees exit the workforce in Des Moines, a younger generation is moving into leadership positions and changing the landscape of the business community.
We sat down with some of those leaders to discuss their personal leadership philosophies and how they hope to make an impact in Des
Moines.
Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
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Rocio Hermosillo, co-founder and CEO, Team ELLLA
Rocio Hermosillo spent a few years working in a corporate environment when she had a realization about her future.
“I was working there for a while and I had this aha moment where I was like, ‘I don’t want to live like this.’ I saw a different lifestyle,” she said.
She left that job and began working in real estate, eventually co-founding Team ELLLA, Iowa’s first Latina-led real estate team. It was here she found the freedom to be the authentic, understanding leader she knew the people around her needed.
What made you want to open and lead your own business rather than work for an already established realty firm?
I did a lot of corporate, and then I quit and did join a real estate team. I was there for about three years. I learned very quickly, things were going well. But what I was also learning was someone else’s way of doing things, someone else’s values and goals or vision, sometimes doesn’t align with exactly what is true and real for you. I kept finding myself in a lot of businesses that had nothing wrong with them, but they were led by men. From a woman’s perspective, we have so many different hats that we wear culturally. You’re expected to have these social things that you need to do. And it just didn’t work for me. The structure did not allow for me to feel that I could be both, that I could still be a good mom and a great agent. That was my first indication that there could be a
different way to grow or build this. I wanted to build something differently that aligned for people that are like me or can relate.
What do you value in leadership and try to pass on to the people that work for you?
It’s authenticity. We’re in a world where everyone is always telling you what to be or do, or what they think success should be and look like. At the end of the day, true leadership is being honest with yourself and going within, ‘Is this really what I want?’ I think that’s something I always ask our agents to do. What’s real with you? I don’t want you to say you have this audacious goal of hitting 100 families, when in reality for you, what’s most important is your family. So you’re really going to do, like, two. That’s OK. Let’s be real and authentic with ourselves.
The
other thing about leadership, and that’s something I learned from others, is to always bring someone along. I didn’t get here by myself. I literally stand on the shoulders of giants of leaders here in Des Moines that I got to learn from. Giving it back is always important for me.
How do you see your and your peers’ philosophies around leadership differing from past generations of leaders?
Before, I think it was more about authority and power. Who’s the loudest? There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s just a different style. Today, millennials and Gen Zers want to be a part of something that’s bigger than them. What I hear from some of our agents is that they want a bigger life. They want to see, can I truly be myself here, or do I have to perform and be someone I’m not? I think people are starting to be
more attracted to that. When I looked at leaders from the past, it was more of, ‘We need to go from here to here.’ And trust me, I’m still very much like ‘We need to get to here,’ but now we think about connectivity before I’m telling them what to do. It’s about collaboration, more now than ever.
How did you incorporate those values into your leadership team when working with your two co-founders?
I always go back to values. I think deep down, our values don’t change. But also, it’s what are your goals? What’s the life you are trying to build? Who you surround yourself with is key. What I looked at is that I had known these ladies already for years. I had worked with them and seen their work ethic and their hustle and their grind. I got to interact with them and really understand that we all wanted
to build the same thing. We wanted a life of freedom, of choices, to do what we want when we want, as much as we want, as often as we want, and with whoever. It’s truly that freedom that we’re trying to build and make an impact while we do it.
What I’ve learned through leadership as well, is that there’s different seasons and that’s OK. There’s seasons of hustle and there’s seasons of stepping back. One of our founders, she’s a mom and she’s basically running it herself, and we’ve had the conversation like, ‘Hey, I can’t lead from the front right now.’ I think having people around you that get it and understand you is key. I think that’s what the younger generation of workers want, that understanding. Before, it was taboo to talk about mental health or all of these things that are going on. As seasons happen, as life happens, priorities shift. And I think it’s understanding that and that it’s OK if someone grows and they
decide they want to do something different.
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“I LEARNED TO ALWAYS TAKE ON THINGS I’D NEVER DONE BEFORE. GROWTH AND COMFORT DO NOT COEXIST.”
GINNI ROMETTY
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Angela Connolly, a Polk supervisor since 1998, announces she won’t seek another term. Polk County Supervisor Angela Connolly announced last week she will not seek re-election at the end of her current term in 2026. She was first elected in 1998 and represents Beaverdale, the Roosevelt area, part of Sherman Hill, Union Park, Highland Park and other neighborhoods. She also represents the board in the leadership of Aging Resources of Central Iowa, Catch DSM, the Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority and more,
according to the Des Moines Register.
Speakers announced for the 2025 WLC Conference: Des Moines. The 2025 Women Lead Change Conference: Des Moines
announced the nine keynote speakers for the conference Oct. 15-16. The speakers include: Candace Doby, Leticia Escamilla, Paula Faris, Bonnie Hammer, Michelle Anne Johnson, JJ Moses, Kelly Stumpe & Elizabeth St. John and Brenda Song. The event will be held at the Iowa Events Center. Tickets can be purchased here.
Joni Ernst announced she won’t seek reelection to US Senate; Ashley Hinson announced campaign for her seat. U.S. Sen. Joni Ernst announced she will not seek a third term in the Senate, stating
she's focusing more on her family. Ernst became the first woman elected to Congress for Iowa and the first female combat veteran to serve in the Senate when she elected in 2014. Hours after Ernst's announcement, U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson announced her candidacy for the open seat. Hinson was favored to hold her seat in the House in the upcoming 2026 election.
Iowa City DVIP/RVAP announces new leadership team. DVIP/RVAP Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Crisis Services announced a new leadership team will take over before the end of the year. Longtime executive director Kristie Fortmann-Doser will retire in December. Alta Medea and Delaney Dixon will take over as co-executive directors. The pair has a combined 40 years of experience in victim services, advocacy and community engagement, according to KCRG.
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Founder of Ride On Des Moines Carol Maher wants people to 'go everywhere' on bicycles (Des Moines Register). Utah finds domestic violence is leading cause of homicide as Trump focuses on street crime (The Guardian). Q&A: Bettendorf graduate talks about her first book, falling in love with writing (Quad-City Times). 8 women, 4 bedrooms and 1 cause: Breaking A.I.'s glass ceiling (New York Times). For decades, US Open women's champs got a smaller replica trophy than the men. Now they're equal (ABC News). Alzheimer's: Omega-3 fatty acids may protect women from disease (Newsweek).
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Meet Alanah Mitchell, Drake’s business college dean
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| BY KATHY A. BOLTEN, SENIOR STAFF WRITER
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Alanah Mitchell studied computer information systems and marketing at Simpson College but was unsure how to use the majors after graduation. A guest speaker at the Indianola college shared his experience in pursuing a master’s degree in
e-commerce and Mitchell was hooked. “I found that to be the perfect marriage of what I was looking at – technology and marketing, together,” said Mitchell, who in July became dean of Drake University’s Zimpleman College of Business. As she pursued her master’s degree in e-commerce at Creighton University, Mitchell worked with a professor doing research for a project. “I thought it was amazing – you got to study anything and go explore it deeper,” she said. “That inspired me to get my doctorate.” Mitchell has remained in academia, teaching at Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., for seven years before joining Drake’s staff in August 2015. During the past 17 years, Mitchell has published over 70 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters in the areas of information technology management, e-commerce and information pedagogy. In August, a book written by Mitchell and Drake colleague Radosina
Purvanova was published. The two wrote “The New Workplace” to help company leaders align workplace strategies with employee preferences, Mitchell said. In July, Mitchell began a three-year appointment as dean of Drake’s business college, which had an enrollment in 2024 of 664 undergraduate students and 257 graduate students. The business college includes 61 faculty and staff. We recently caught up with Mitchell and talked with her about her new role. The conversation has been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Read the story here.
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At its core, Fearless exists to help empower Iowa women to succeed in work and life. We believe that everyone has a story to share and that we cannot progress as a society unless we know about one another. We share stories through featuring women in our reporting, featuring guest contributions and speakers at our events.
We are always looking for new stories to share and people to feature. Get in touch with us!
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