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Good morning, Fearless readers:
Happy Monday. Fall is my favorite season. I hope you get some time to enjoy the changing colors, crisp air and comfort food.
Before we get into the news of the week, a little announcement: We’re hiring! The Business Record is seeking a curious, empathetic and self-starter reporter to cover women’s and gender issues for our Fearless initiative. As part of the initiative, we produce this weekly e-newsletter and print features, and we host three virtual events and an in-person celebration annually. This position is open to applicants interested in full- or part-time work. Learn more.
In this week’s Fearless e-newsletter, you will find:
- A recap of our last Fearless Focus event of 2024 on leadership and mentorship.
- A story about a petition urging Broadlawns to drop its ban on vaginal births after C-sections.
- More information about our three speakers lined up for our Fearless Annual Celebration from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 30 at the Downtown Marriott in Des Moines. (There’s still time to sign up.)
- Lots more!
— Emily Barske Wood, Business Record special projects editor
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Fearless Focus recap: 5 thoughts on mentorship, women in leadership
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BY MACEY SHOFROTH, FEARLESS STAFF WRITER
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A mentor plays a crucial role in empowering women in the workplace to reach for their goals with confidence and drive. Providing more mentorship opportunities for women is key in fixing the gender parity issue in leadership, leaders said in a recent discussion.
The Fearless team hosted our recent Fearless Focus event on Oct. 3, the last in the three-event virtual series for 2024. The event focused on the role of mentorship in empowering and guiding women.
The speakers included:
- Bridget Cravens-Neely, CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa
- Monica Friedman, chief human resources officer, LCS
- Emilia Marroquin, multicultural board member, SALUD
- Mollie Ross, vice president of operations, Technology Association of Iowa
- Barbara Wilson, president, University of Iowa
Here are five takeaways from the event. You can watch the full event here.
We need different models of leadership
Wilson explained what she called "the style issue" of leadership.
"One of the challenges, particularly in the Western world, is that we believe leaders should be of a certain ilk. We think that people who are the most assertive, or talk the most, are the leaders in the room, but we all know that’s not really the case," she said.
Wilson emphasized the importance of listening skills in leadership. These listening skills are key to growing and learning, and in turn, passing on your wisdom to those you are mentoring.
Ross echoed the importance of accepting diverse styles of leadership.
"As we bring in more women leaders, maybe a style or approach can change," Ross said. "If we’re clear about the outcomes and goals, then the approach should matter less."
Mentees thrive when their mentors are vulnerable and transparent
When leaders are transparent about their vulnerabilities and share more of their humanity with their colleagues, everyone benefits.
"Being vulnerable is critical as a leader," Cravens-Neely said. "We talk about fitting into a certain image of what leadership has been portrayed as for years. Bringing vulnerability forward and allowing the people that you're leading to see your human side gives them an allowance to be human as well."
Women have long been encouraged to compartmentalize their home lives and their work lives. Thankfully, that standard has started to disappear in recent years. When Friedman discussed how she balanced children, her marriage and a leadership position, she received several calls and emails thanking her.
"At that point in that organization, we didn’t talk about that a lot. People kept saying, ‘Maybe we should talk about this more,’" she said. "We were putting things behind this mask, saying, ‘Leave it at the door.’ If we leave it at the door, the people who struggle with it don’t get to see that that’s OK."
A great mentor pushes you out of your comfort zone
When Wilson was a 22-year-old graduate student, a faculty member approached her to hire her as a research assistant. Wilson initially turned her down.
"She said, ‘Well, why wouldn’t you be interested? This is an amazing opportunity. I’ve watched you work this semester and I know you could take us to the next level on this project,’" Wilson said. "Her confidence in me, which I didn’t have in myself, helped me take the leap and become an RA. In that moment, I became a researcher. I wouldn’t have finished my Ph.D. and become a faculty member, and eventually president, without her."
Friedman shared how a leader shaped the trajectory of her career when they encouraged her to apply for a job that was a big step in her career. They both acknowledged the position would be a bit of a stretch for Friedman, but it would push her to grow and develop her skills. The leader had seen the hard work she’d already put in and knew she could grow into this role.
"She felt confident that I was the right person for the role," Friedman said. "She gave me assignments that pushed me even more than I thought I was capable of, but she did it with a supportive style. I would not be where I am today without that and I am forever grateful for her."
Ask a potential mentor to go to coffee
Finding a mentor and building that relationship can feel like a scary endeavor. Ross recommends approaching it as an opportunity to meet someone new.
"Finding a mentor felt like this daunting thing. It felt like you were making a big ask of someone," Ross said. "It doesn’t have to be a ‘big thing.’ It doesn’t have to be long term. It can start simply as finding someone in your network and just asking them for coffee."
Marroquín suggests searching out established organizations to join and meet new people. For example, she takes part in "Latinas Rising Together," a group for Latina women in Storm Lake, Iowa, to connect and network.
Better access to mentorship can help the gender parity in leadership
Men still hold a majority of leadership positions in the corporate world, and the rate of women in leadership positions grows smaller for women from marginalized backgrounds. It’s important to provide access to mentorship for more women in order to open up more opportunities, the speakers said.
"Every company should be thinking about having a support system for their women leaders to ensure they have what they need to perform. Think about women who work in different settings, like a meatpacking plant," Marroquín said. "They don’t have the same schedule as [office workers]. They have to make hard decisions, and when talking about the mental role of being a primary decision maker, it’s really hard. Companies investing in support measures like child care help to retain their employees."
Cravens-Neely said that providing a platform for all voices can shape better mentorship systems.
"In order to listen, you have to make sure there are voices to be heard," she said. "As women, we’re individuals, we think differently. It’s important to make sure those unique voices are heard."
When an individual feels their voice is being heard, they’re more likely to feel invested in the decision, Cravens-Neely explained.
"Bringing those voices forward creates a sense of value that person may not have felt before," she said.
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Petition urges Broadlawns to drop its ban on vaginal births after C-sections
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BY NICOLE PASEKA GRUNDMEIER
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Andrea Arkland with her daughter, Emersyn. Submitted photo.
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Andrea Arkland gave birth to her first baby at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines. But when she has a second baby someday, she might drive almost 300 miles to her home state of South Dakota so she can give birth in the way she believes is healthiest and safest for her family.
Once a pregnant person has a C-section, hospitals frequently have strict policies about future prenatal care and the way in which that person births. But advocates say these hospital policies can take away choice and bodily autonomy.
Arkland is petitioning Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines, Polk County’s public hospital, to change its rules. "This change would not only honor the voices of women but also set a precedent for other hospitals in our community to follow," reads her planned statement to the board.
During her pregnancy and labor, Arkland received care from certified nurse midwives, or CNMs, at Broadlawns. Her daughter, Emersyn, was born there via cesarean section in April 2024.
Arkland is not allowed to receive prenatal care with the Broadlawns CNMs for subsequent pregnancies. Under Broadlawns’ official policy, Arkland is also not allowed to attempt a vaginal birth after cesarean, also known as a VBAC, at the hospital.
She started an online petition that had just over 400 signatures as of Oct. 8. The petition includes two requests: 1. Allowing patients with a previous C-section to receive prenatal care with Broadlawns certified nurse midwives; and 2. Allowing patients with a previous C-section to attempt a VBAC with Broadlawns certified nurse midwives.
Arkland and other VBAC supporters plan to speak publicly at a Broadlawns Board of Trustees meeting at 4 p.m. Oct. 15 in the Hunsaker Conference Room.
A Broadlawns spokesperson did not return an email and a phone message.
"VBACs save lives, just like C-sections save lives. And there are risks and benefits to both," said Rachel Bruns, chapter leader for the International Cesarean Awareness Network of Central Iowa, an advocacy group that works to reduce C-section rates.
Often, hospitals ban or limit VBACs because of workforce issues, perceived liability and staff concerns about managing unexpected emergencies. Because a woman who has a previous C-section has a slightly higher risk of uterine rupture, which can be fatal to the laboring woman and her unborn child, an operating room must be close by and ready, the reasoning goes, ideally including an OB-GYN and an anesthesiologist ready 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Hospitals don’t always have these resources.
Birth advocates argue that families should be fully informed of the risks and benefits of both C-sections and VBACs — and ultimately get to choose the path they prefer. Bruns said American facilities are unusually wary of VBACs. "In any other country, it’s not considered high risk," she said.
In Iowa, 29.6% of babies were born via C-section in 2022, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The World Health Organization considers the ideal rate of C-sections to be between 10% to 15% of births. The C-section rate has exploded in recent decades in the U.S. and other parts of the world.
Bruns said: "Depending on where you live in the state, it can be extremely challenging to find care that is providing you with the full breadth of information on what those risks and benefits are for both repeat cesareans and VBAC."
Arkland said she initially sought prenatal care by the CNMs at Broadlawns because she wanted a natural approach to pregnancy and childbirth. Arkland said the midwives listened to her, gave her choices during her pregnancy and were respectful of her decisions.
At 42 weeks gestation, the CNMs recommended induction. The CNMs gave Arkland a choice — she could undergo a chemical induction or a balloon catheter method. She chose the latter. She was in labor for days with little sleep. Her labor progressed, and her cervix fully dilated. However, Arkland pushed for more than six hours without the baby moving past her pelvis.
"I do remember taking a break, sleeping for a little bit. And then they came back in and were like, ‘OK, let’s try this again.’ And they’re like, ‘Just to warn you, if things don’t progress, you might want to think about a C-section,’" Arkland said. "And so we tried pushing for a while yet, and still nothing."
The midwives told her that her only other option was a C-section because the baby was clearly not coming out. An OB-GYN performed the surgery. CNMs do much of the same work that OB-GYNs do in terms of care during pregnancy, birth and postpartum, but they do not perform surgeries.
Arkland said that, while she doesn’t want to bash OB-GYNs, she prefers the more natural, empowering care model offered by certified nurse midwives. She also believes that being under the care of a CNM would lower her risk of a repeat C-section with her next birth.
Although viewed by many as routine, a C-section is major abdominal surgery. Repeat C-sections in particular increase complications — life-threatening problems with the placenta, including placenta accreta, adhesions, hernias and more.
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"WE NEED WOMEN AT ALL LEVELS, INCLUDING THE TOP, TO CHANGE THE DYNAMIC, RESHAPE THE CONVERSATION, TO MAKE SURE WOMEN’S VOICES ARE HEARD AND HEEDED, NOT OVERLOOKED AND IGNORED."
SHERYL SANDBERG
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The Iowa State Capitol. Business Record file photo.
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Nicole Crain named as next president of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry: The Iowa Association of Business and Industry has named current Executive Vice President Nicole Crain as next president. She will succeed longtime President Mike Ralston and begin her new position Jan. 1, 2025. Crain has been with the organization for over 16 years in various positions, including senior vice president of public policy and director of government relations.
Primary Health Care CEO announces retirement after 24-year tenure: Primary Health Care Inc. CEO Kelly Huntsman announced she will retire in 2025. Huntsman has been with the nonprofit for 36 years, 24 of those as CEO. The board of directors has launched a nationwide search to find her successor.
Applications are open for the Alice Barton Scholarship Program: Applications for the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence (ICADV) Alice Barton Scholarship Program are open through Monday, Nov. 25. The scholarship awards $2,000 to survivors of domestic violence pursuing educational and job training opportunities. Applicants must live in Iowa or attend a school in Iowa.
Empowered Solutions Collective launches with focus on equity: Empowered Solutions Collective, founded by friends Sarah Blais and Tamara Marcus, supports organizations and communities in justice and sustainability projects. The pair have provided a garden and nutrition program for youths, supported farmers in procuring grant funds and helped develop resilience hubs in Iowa City. They hope to operate differently from other consulting firms by providing the right tools so their clients no longer need them, according to the Corridor Business Journal.
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A kitchen staffed by trans women is a refuge for Mexico City’s LGBTQ+ community (AP News). Georgia Supreme Court Restores State’s 6-Week Abortion Ban (New York Times). Women’s health tech ‘less likely’ to get funding if woman is on founding team (the Guardian). The CEO gender gap: What the lack of female leaders means for all working women (Forbes). Only 2% of charitable giving goes to women. Can Melinda French Gates change that? (NPR). She had thoughts of harming her baby. To treat her, doctors kept them together. (New York Times).
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Three speakers to inspire at Fearless Annual Celebration
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Left to right: Tara Geddes, Trang Pham and Sara Kurovski. Photos by Duane Tinkey.
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EVENT DETAILS: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 30 | Downtown Marriott in Des Moines | Register
Here’s a little about the three speakers for our program.
Tara Geddes started her nursing career in 2001, first providing specialized care for surgical and oncology patients. Having built some management experience, in 2014, Geddes joined Floyd Valley Healthcare in Le Mars as community health manager, a public health position particularly important during the pandemic, before being named the chief nursing officer in 2021. As she’s risen through the ranks in her industry, she obtained education for the skills she felt she lacked. A terrifying medical experience in her own family has informed the kind of care she hopes to provide patients.
Sara Kurovski is the mayor of Pleasant Hill and is also the president and CEO of Make-A-Wish Iowa. On April 26, an EF-2 tornado tore through her Des Moines suburb of more than 10,000 residents. Kurovski had learned an important leadership lesson from previous emergencies: In those first critical moments, you have to sit back and wait while your team does its job. Her first job out of college was with Metro Waste Authority, which quietly put her on the road to becoming Pleasant Hill’s first woman mayor at 29 years old.
Trang Pham is the owner of the Eggroll Ladies in Des Moines. She also works full time for the Iowa Army National Guard, where in 2016 she became the first Iowa woman infantry officer after the ban on women to serve in combat arms within the military was lifted. Pham was born in Bien Hoa, Vietnam, and immigrated to the United States at 6 years old in 2000. A self-identified troubled kid with a rebellious streak, she became the first girl to play tackle football at Stilwell Junior High School in West Des Moines. Pham started her business by making egg rolls and selling them for friends and community members in need of financial assistance. The Eggroll Ladies officially became a business during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sign up to attend!
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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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