For the past 20 years, the Business Record has celebrated Forty Under 40. The honor has long recognized up-and-coming business leaders and the powerful impact young professionals make in Greater Des Moines.

Erin Kiernan, Class of 2007
Anchor/reporter, WHO-TV

What advice would you give to young people who want to make an impact?

My advice to young people who want to make an impact is to find your passion. I spent many years trying to be all things to all people, and I could have been making a bigger impact by being more selective in the stories I chose to report and the causes for which I chose to volunteer.

What’s one experience that helped you become a better professional?

My first full-time job has helped me in every position I’ve held since. I was working at Channel 5 as what we call a “one-man band.” It’s when you see someone out on a story all by themselves. You shoot the video, write the story and edit the story all by yourself. I was terrible at it and it was enormously frustrating. There were many days I wanted to quit. The experience taught me perseverance, patience, time management skills, work ethic and how to multitask. Now that I’m in a leadership role, it helps me empathize with what our young reporters are dealing with on a daily basis.

How do you handle setbacks?

It’s taken me a long time to learn how to deal with setbacks in a healthy way. I find it most helpful to channel my Grandma Susan. When something bad happened, she used to say, “No time is forever.” It’s a good reminder to take the long view. A tough workout also helps me hit the reset button and move forward.

Class of 2007

• Andrew Allen
• Chad Alley
• Marc Beltrame
• Ashley Canney
• Scott Carlson
• Wade A. Den Hartog
• Kendall Dillon
• Sally Dix
• Rachel Flint
• Malcom Goodwin
• Brando Guerrero
• Nate Hoogeveen
• Amy Jennings
• Tanya Keith
• Erin Kiernan
• Rebecca Lowry
• Leslie Malcolm
• Tim McCulloh
• Chris McDonald
• Ed McGill
• Matthew Meline
• Michael Milligan
• Sarah Oltrogge
• Stephanie Pearl
• Marcus Pitts
• Kelly Portz
• Brett Ridge
• Tom Rupprecht
• Laura Sauser
• Chad Schaller
• Charles Schneider
• Ray Seidelman
• Jill Smith
• John P. Smith
• Phillip Stover
• Channing Swanson
• Kevin Tiffany
• Mindy Toyne
• Ben Washburn
• Charles Wittmack