Leading for a Cause

After a brief career in media, Kristin Roberts ’20 MSL saw her journey take an unexpected, but fulfilling turn.

“After working in the television industry, I transitioned to fundraising—a career I never would have expected to go into,” said Kristin. “However, the skill sets are similar; both are about creating relationships and hearing peoples’ stories.”

Those stories led Kristin to her own passion: service to her community. As president and CEO of United Way of East Central Iowa, community is at the center of her leadership style.

“It’s fun when you realize you’re at the point where you can really start making an impact on other peoples’ lives. What’s even neater is seeing how mentoring others improves your own growth as a leader.”

"Many people have invested their time in me and shared their own leadership experiences for me to learn from,” said Kristin. “It’s fun when you realize you’re at the point where you can really start making an impact on other peoples’ lives. What’s even neater is seeing how mentoring others improves your own growth as a leader.”

Kristin’s leadership has also carried over into motherhood, a connection she made during her time in Mount Mercy’s MSL program.

“If you think about it, as parents, we’re leaders for our kids too,” said Kristin. “We’re raising our children to be critical thinkers, to be empowered, and to be part of a larger community. The correlation was something that struck me immediately during my studies and never left.”