Each year, the Corridor Business Journal shines a spotlight on young professionals who have made a meaningful impact on the region early in their careers. We are proud to introduce you to the 20th class of Forty Under 40 honorees, chosen by a committee of past honorees. Sara Kuennen Digital Marketing Director | Informatics Inc. […]
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Sara Kuennen
Digital Marketing Director | Informatics Inc.
Age: 33
Family: Husband, Kyle; children, Lucy, Asa, and Quinn
Residence: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Education: University of Iowa — Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies
Who do you consider your local mentors? John Osako, President & CEO, Informatics;
Stacie Osako, Chief Experience Officer, Informatics;
Autumn Paine, Chief Development and Marketing Officer, Waypoint.
Best advice you ever received? The best advice I ever received was that it is OK to lead with empathy. Crucial conversations are hard, and I often thought a good leader was one who held others accountable, no matter what. But the advice I received was that it is OK to hold true to my values. It is okay to hold others accountable and be empathetic and respectful in the process. If you state your feelings and intentions outright - "This is going to be a difficult conversation and I'm a bit nervous about it, but I want to share with you some feedback because I care about you and your growth." — it is amazing what sort of open and honest conversations you can have.
What would most people be surprised to learn about you? I'm a history buff! I have always enjoyed the storytelling aspect of history — it was date memorization that tripped me up in school. I love to visit a good museum, dive down a Wikipedia rabbit hole, catch an interesting documentary (Waco: American Apocalypse is amazing!) and fun fact — in second grade I had my birthday party at the Brucemore mansion.
What’s the biggest issue facing the Corridor? There is a lot of opportunity to continue improving safety in the Corridor, mental health awareness and support, and homelessness prevention and support. These all really go hand in hand with one another, and I think a concerted effort on one will in turn affect the others.
