Deloitte is a pretty large and competitive company. How did you work your way up to the top?

I’ve spent the majority of my work life outside of Iowa. After I graduated from UNI with a degree in accounting, I worked at a small firm in Fort Dodge. I didn’t get the Deloitte connection until I lived in Omaha. After three or four years, I took a management leadership course and was offered a position in New York City; that’s where I moved out of auditing and into mergers and acquisitions. Then we moved to Columbus, Ohio, but it was cut short when my husband was offered a job in Omaha, so we actually moved back to Nebraska. I was very fortunate that I could transfer. I was admitted to the partnership there, and the leadership knew I was originally from Iowa and offered me the position (in Des Moines).

What do you think helped you get there?

At any position, it’s the hard work and dedication that has made me succeed. I grew up in an atmosphere where you work, and you work hard. I worked all the way through high school and college, so that ethic was really ingrained in me all through my time at Deloitte. Also, professional and technical skill development was important – the management program really helped. But continuous training has really helped me do these things. On the tech and relationship side, I’ve been fortunate to connect with partners who have served as mentors. And moving around actually helped me take on new assignments and make new relationships, which helped build my network. But also I’ve had an amazing support system at home. My husband works full time, but he has always been supportive, and that’s been a huge aspect of my success.

What’s it like to be the first woman to head a major accounting firm in Des Moines?

I took it as a compliment. I was honored to be asked, and the leadership thought I could be effective in this marketplace. I’ve met a lot of business leaders and am starting to develop that network of women leaders to rely on.

Do you think women have enough opportunities to serve in leadership roles here?

Well, I’ve only been in Iowa for three months. But overall, I think there are opportunities for women. I’m getting to know the women I work with, and there are some extremely talented women who will eventually become leaders. And, you know, that’ll be part of my job – helping them improve their skills, talking to them about their options. Deloitte has a women’s initiative program within the company that helps attract and retain women leaders. So this is something they realized we need to focus on.

Since returning, what’s been your favorite part about Iowa?

The people are wonderful here. In the short time I’ve been here, I’ve noticed that people are so willing to help me make connections. People are also very giving of both their time and their money. I’m very excited to get involved with organizations. I’m not sure if it’s this new role that I play now, but I’ve seen a lot more of the community and its closeness here than other places, which makes it easier to connect.

What do you do in your spare time?

In my spare time, I love to run; half marathons are what I’ve been focusing on. My sister runs them too. She lives in Denver, so it’s something we can do together even though we’re in different states. My goal is to run a half marathon in every state before I turn 50 – I have about a dozen or so done. I also have some friends who run them, so if I can’t run a half marathon with my sister, there’s usually someone else I can find to run it with. One of my favorite half mararthons was in New Orleans. Running through the old streets was just beautiful.