.floatimg-left-hort { float:left; } .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} Heather McDermott, like most Forty under 40 members, has many responsibilities and roles. But she has a new great-big little one that’s proved to be a life changer.

She’s a first-time mom.

“Becoming a mother has obviously proven to be a life-changing event, one that has helped me to keep things in perspective and appreciate balance in life,” McDermott said of the birth of her daughter seven months ago.

And balance she must. McDermott works at Principal Financial Group Inc. as a manager, claim administration, in the specialty benefits division, where she provides strategic leadership for the business unit and assists in optimizing value for customers while lowering their costs.

Outside of her career, McDermott has been actively involved with Principal’s United Way of Central Iowa campaign and has been the main point of contact for United Way’s Emerging Leaders Initiative (ELI) at Principal.

“Basically we recruit members or employees to be a part of the ELI, and create awareness to the mission of emerging leaders, which is basically helping kids succeed in school and transition from middle school to high school and graduate on time,” she said.

McDermott has also been a member of ELI’s Advisory Council since 2007, and she initiated and developed in collaboration with United Way the ELI Volunteer Committee, which helps develop volunteer opportunities by supporting programs that ELI invests in. She now serves as chair of the committee.

McDermott also serves on the advisory board for Children and Family Urban Ministries’ Whyld Girls’ program, has been involved with Airedale terrier rescue and adoption, and served on the selection panel for Youth Venture.

Looking to the future, McDermott would like to focus on providing additional volunteer opportunities for ELI members and hopes to inspire people within the organization and the community to become more involved in the community.

McDermott believes her variety of experiences helped get her to where she is now.

“I think that has really helped me develop a strategic perspective and really develop and hone effective time-management skills by balancing different priorities and commitments,” she said.

All great skills for raising a child.