Numerous studies show that current young professionals and those who will be entering the workforce soon see their jobs as more than just a paycheck. 

Seventy percent of Americans say they define their sense of purpose through work, according to a 2021 study by McKinsey & Co. And nine in 10 high school students indicated it’s important to them to pursue careers in which they can make a difference, including addressing hunger, sustainability, environmental conservation, and natural resources, according to results of a University of Minnesota study published in April. 

Recent Business Record Forty Under 40 honorees make this apparent locally. Their career and personal passions tend to blend together.

We asked each member of our 2023 Forty Under 40 class for a piece of advice to give young professionals. Here’s what they said. 

— Emily Barske Wood, special projects editor 

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Read more from the Forties
This story contains just small excerpts from this year’s Forty Under 40 honorees’ profiles. Read the full Q&As at www.businessrecord.com/40

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Ryan Arnold, Director of community engagement, Drake University
To young professionals, I encourage you to engage. Find an organization whose mission aligns with your passion and do two things: volunteer and donate monthly. Budget engagement into your finances and your calendar.  

Marquas Ashworth, Founder and owner, Ziyad Rye; entrepreneur, Center at Sixth
Conscious capital. It’s OK to make a profit; just make an impact, too.

Conor Boffeli, Financial adviser, director of financial planning, Bral Niedert Private Wealth Advisors
Two pieces of advice that helped me: Find something you are genuinely interested in, and show up consistently. You get out of anything what you give. Find someone who has done it before you and ask for their advice. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel, just re-create it. 

Lindsay Cannaday, Vice president and business development director, GreenState Credit Union
“It is not only for what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.” Take accountability for your mistakes, because you will make mistakes. By taking ownership, you control your outcomes – good or bad. 

Lacy Covarrubias, Senior vice president of treasury management, Community State Bank
Develop a network. Create your own council or personal board of directors to advocate, connect and hold you accountable.   

Angie Currie, Iowa market president, Commerce Bank  
Get involved! Volunteer for a variety of different clubs, business associations and nonprofit organizations and find out where your passions are. You’ll meet so many amazing people along the way and the connections you make will be invaluable later in life.  

Chris Deal, Partner, Modus Engineering; manager, Deal’s Orchard
Find what motivates you. There are plenty of opportunities outside of the corporate ladder. Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone and try something new and different.

Luke Elzinga, Policy and advocacy manager, Des Moines Area Religious Council (DMARC)
Don’t be shy about sharing how much you get paid with your co-workers – it’s your legal right. Pay transparency is important in identifying disparities based on race and gender, and having knowledge of how other people in similar roles are compensated can be very useful in advocating for a raise.

Jose Luis Garcia, Assurance director, McGowen Hurst Clark & Smith PC 
Develop a growth mindset early on, which to me is the belief that one’s abilities and intelligence can be developed through hard work, dedication and learning from mistakes. Seek out mentors and role models who can offer guidance and advice based on their own experiences. Additionally, aim for a realistic work-life balance. Work hard and play hard; excel in your profession but maintain healthy boundaries to enjoy life outside of work.

Brandon Geib, Government relations counsel, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Schedule the coffee. So much of professional success is determined by who you know. When opportunities arise, you want to be thought of by the decision-maker. That only happens when you invest the time and energy to build relationships. Find someone you admire and set up a coffee.

Rebecca Goldsmith, Program planner, Iowa Department of Health and Human Services
As an alum of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute, which is now Lead DSM, (’19 – best class ever) and a current member of Leadership Iowa (also best class ever), I highly recommend each of these programs. They opened my eyes to important issues in our community and state and helped me become connected to other leaders.

Janae Gray, Vice president of marketing and supplier diversity, Mittera
The saying “a jack-of-all-trades” is not a negative connotation. Prioritize experiences and opportunities that diversify your skill set, protect your curiosity and empower you to evolve. Be intentional with the spaces you enter; your environment will become you. Most importantly, always know your worth.

Ivania “Gabby” Guerra Ceron, Interim executive director, Please Pass the Love
Cultivating authentic relationships is critical to support your professional growth and creating a space for mutual support. We need a solid community to achieve our goals, and relationships help us accomplish this. 

Blake Hanson, Attorney and shareholder, Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor & Fairgrave PC 
Take time every day to think, set goals and push forward. Monitor your progress. When you reach a goal, make new ones. Don’t hesitate to seek out mentors and reach out to leaders you would like to learn from. You may be surprised by how willing they are to help you.

Katie Hart, Vice president and private banking officer, Bankers Trust
Love big, assume the best in people and act. We have one of the best communities you can be part of – it’s just the right size to get involved in whatever lights your fire and truly feel like you can make an impact.

Jessica Hendricks, Vice president of agency development, EMC Insurance Cos.
The best way to grow professionally and personally is to get involved and say yes to new opportunities, even if they seem scary and out of your comfort zone. You will learn new things, make important connections and start building a network that will support you throughout your career.  

Marcela Hermosillo-Tarin, Employee engagement manager, Broadlawns Medical Center
Enjoy the journey and be patient. About seven years ago, I stopped worrying about my job title or the desire to formally be a manager of people. When I changed my mindset and committed to being the best in areas that align with my core values, opportunities that I couldn’t even imagine opened up. Sometimes, all it takes is one person to believe in you more than what you believe in yourself. 

Katherine Hutchison, Founding partner and artist, Project7 Design
A piece of advice I received when we started Project7 was in regards to pricing our services, and it is still on a Post-it note on my desk. Three words: want, afford, fair. If you consider this every time a deal is proposed, it will work out. Make sure the work is something you want your business to do and that it is something the client also wants. Make sure it is affordable on both ends financially and fair for all involved.

Caleb Knutson, Senior planner, Mid-Iowa Planning Alliance
Don’t be afraid to bet on yourself. Always be your authentic self. Especially if you find yourself in a room where you’re the only person from your demographic background. Believe that you deserve to be in the room where it happens. 

Tanner Krause, CEO, Kum & Go
Think independently. Stay open-minded and explore different approaches to everything. Follow the evidence on what is most effective and advocate for that. 

Carrie Kruse, Economic development coordinator, city of Des Moines
I highly recommend getting involved with any of the programs offered through Lead DSM. Through this organization I was able to learn so much about myself and our community. The experiences offered in the Lead DSM programs really helped me align my passions with my community leadership and volunteerism efforts.

Cynthia Lande, Member, BrownWinick Law Firm
Work hard, be kind and just keep showing up.

Corey Dion Lewis, Clinical health coach, Broadlawns Medical Center
Never stop learning. Find your community and build with people that may not see your vision, but love you enough to help you bring it to life.

Leah Lint, Diversity, equity and inclusion manager, Krause Group
Never stop growing. There is always something new to learn, someone new to meet and something new to experience. Leaders that grow and evolve with our ever-changing world will make our community stronger.

Blaire Massa, CEO, Ballet Des Moines
Working your way up is something to be proud of. The best managers understand what it’s like to do every role they oversee, and can legitimately empathize with and advocate for their team. 

Kathleen McGuire, Director, finance and capital markets, Invenergy LLC
Practice, practice, practice! Just like with sports, you have to practice the skills you want to improve in your professional career.  

T.J. Meyerholz, Director of preconstruction, Ryan Cos. US Inc.
I encourage you to be involved in personal and professional organizations early and often. Once you do get involved, be all in. Don’t simply show up. Volunteer for committees, get involved in messy challenges and build great relationships along the way. Use these platforms to surround yourself with great people and mentors who will teach you how to become a continuous learner.

Srikant Mikkilineni, Director and senior counsel of global privacy and data protection, Vontier
Find ways to give back to your community as early in your career as possible. Volunteer for challenging assignments and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Don’t get caught up in existing processes, be an entrepreneur, create your own path by really listening to customers’/clients’ problems and addressing them.

Anna Nalean, Community impact coordinator, Delta Dental of Iowa 
I’ve got a few. Choose courage over comfort and get comfortable being uncomfortable, as that’s where the growth happens. Know what your own personal and professional definition of success is and let that guide you. Each of us exerts influence in both big and small ways every day. How will/do you use yours? You don’t need a specific title or position to be a leader, but a willingness to serve others, so jump in. 

Mary Katherine Nelson, Shareholder/attorney, Nyemaster Goode PC
Don’t wait – find a cause you are passionate about and jump right in on a committee, event or initiative. There are limitless opportunities for young professionals to truly engage and drive positive change in the Des Moines business and nonprofit community.

Abi Reiland, Senior associate, JLL (Jones Lang LaSalle) / owner, CrossFit 8035
Do not fear failure. Some of the greatest lessons I have learned, and some of the best opportunities for personal and professional growth, have come from experiencing a failure of some kind.

Candice Revita-Ramirez, Assistant director of events, Des Moines University
Your lived experiences hold great value and should be seen as a superpower. With this superpower you can uplift and inspire others, you can enact long-lasting change. I’ve learned over time that the opportunities I’m searching for may not always come with an invitation – the confidence I need to make a seat at the table lies within the understanding of my innate value. No one can take that away.

Bridgett Robinson, Diversity and inclusion mortgage loan originator and outreach coordinator, Neighborhood Finance Corp.
Take time for self-care. Being a leader is a thrilling and rewarding role, but also stressful. If you don’t take time to pause and create calm, you will burn out quickly. Saying no is OK; not everything you thought was going to fit is going to fit.  

Madison Sconiers, Training specialist, Polk County Treasurer’s Office
Speak up when something is unjust or inequitable. Never stay in a role that makes you question your integrity. Go where you are celebrated, not tolerated. Leading by example is always the best policy. Lastly, “no” is rarely the final answer; either pivot your approach, or change your audience.

Tony Tandeski, Data analytics and SEO manager, DHI Group Inc. / owner, the Rook Room
Be open. Des Moines is full of opportunities and ways to make meaningful change in your community, and there are tons of exceptional people more than willing to help you reach your goals and support you along the way. You just have to be open about your goals and ready to take that first step. 

Krista Tedrow, Executive director, South Central Iowa Local Workforce Development Board
Know your purpose, who you serve and your values. Be you and stay curious. Believe there are seats at many tables meant for you. You belong. Use your seat to amplify the voice of those who aren’t represented. If there’s no seat at the table, bringing a folding chair is always an option.

Katheryn Thorson, Member, BrownWinick Law Firm 
Focus on the moment. Separating our professional and personal lives has become even harder the past few years with more remote work and our phones constantly in our hands. Presence isn’t enough – your intentional focus on a moment makes it much more enjoyable for all. 

Elizabeth Van Arkel, Shareholder, Dentons Davis Brown PC
Say yes. Say yes to the coffee run, to the lunch, to the volunteer opportunity. You never know what it will lead to or what you will learn about the person you are meeting.

Shannon Winters, Vice president of finance and human resources, Catch Des Moines
Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Have the conversation. Ask questions. Attend the event. As an introvert, I know this can be intimidating, but I’ve been pleasantly surprised over and over again. Your voice matters, and this community is welcoming and eager to collaborate. 

Diana Wright, Startup community builder, Greater Des Moines Partnership
Get comfortable charting your own course rather than be hindered by traditional ways of working. Do come up with ideas based on how things can be done differently. Start something you’re passionate about, and know there is a community here of other kindred spirits who want to support you and see you be successful.