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Working on a new project at Principal Financial Group Inc. is not something new for Nora Everett, who as been with the company since 1991. But her role as president of Principal Funds is. Since March 1, her focus has shifted from acquisitions as senior vice president and deputy general counsel to overseeing Principal’s mutual fund operations. After graduating from Iowa State University and receiving a juris doctor degree from the College of William and Mary School of Law, Everett worked at a private law firm in Washington, D.C., for five years before joining Principal in Des Moines.

What excites you about this new role?

I started out on the legal side and did that for 16 years, but did a lot of different things. You name it; I’ve done it. I’ve worked with every business unit within the Principal. The last 10 to 12 years, my primary responsibility was merger and acquisition work, with a legal hat on, but oftentimes helping lead those teams in negotiations and getting those deals done. There are a couple of things about (this job) that are exciting to me.

First of all, we’re actually a very large operation within a very large company. We have $60 billion in assets. We’re one of the top 50 mutual (fund families) in the country and with these lifecycle funds, I think we’re fifth in the country. That really is the product line that a lot of people are going to.

So what was exciting to me about the opportunity is we’re already a very big business, but we have this amazing upside potential, because what we’ve got here at Principal is a world-class investment management expertise in what we call Principal Global Investors.

What’s your greatest career accomplishment so far?

I have been amazingly blessed with the kind of work I’ve gotten here at the Principal. It has been one exciting project after another. I have to say that the most significant project that I worked on and absolutely enjoyed was Principal’s own IPO (initial public offering). We went from a private mutual company before 2001 and we converted ourselves through a demutualization and then an initial public offering into a public company. That was absolutely the biggest project I worked on here, and to be able to stand on the New York Stock Exchange and be a part of that team after many many years of hard work was a lot of fun.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

My first love is athletics. I grew up in the sports arena. I do quite a bit of swimming, walking, and within the last year took up kickboxing at Farrell’s (U.S. Martial Arts & Fitness), and I’m loving it. I’m re-energized. I now have teenagers. I used to spend a lot of time with my kids; they now have lives of their own. But because I’m from this very big family, we go from one event to another, and I love it.

What are you most involved in with the Chrysalis Foundation?

Our after-school program. That is part of the framework of making sure we’ve got programs in place for (teenage) girls that work with financial literacy and other programs that help them stay strong and keep their voice.

Did you ever imagine yourself in more of the business role?

Even coming to Principal, I was still very much practicing law for a single client and getting a much deeper understanding and education on the business side, which is what I really thrived on. I enjoy the business side and problem solving and very much (enjoy) having a long-term relationship with one client.

How did you make your first dollar?

All the way through Iowa State, I made my money by teaching swimming and coaching diving.

What’s the best advice you can give?

One thing I’ve done is remind myself and the people I work with to keep this thing called a job and career in perspective. It is so important to have those other pieces in your life be just as rich and engaging as your job. And have some fun at the job.