Ten Leaders to Know: Jenn Neumann [Full Profile]

Company: de Novo Marketing

Title: CEO

Birth CIty: Bettendorf, Iowa

Current City: Cedar Rapids

How did you get where you are today?

I believe a genuine sense of curiosity in others and caring about how they achieve their goals is at the heart of my company's success. We exist to help our clients meet their goals, which comes from my core beliefs. Couple that with connecting with and hiring the smartest people I can find who share that value, and you have a formula that elevates everyone. I also believe that being involved in the community has helped me build a network of support and mentors to whom I can turn for inspiration and advice.

What excites you the most about the business you work in?

First and foremost is the opportunity we are afforded every day to be creative and produce results in ways that are refreshingly meaningful for the people and organizations we work with. But that also ties back to helping people. In many ways, our work helps others. Whether we are helping a company, community or non-profit succeed, or their mission helps others find success, it's hard not to be excited about that.

What do you see as the next big trend in your industry?

Artificial Intelligence is changing the landscape in our industry. As we use AI to work faster, it also will change the services that we offer to our clients. We can produce and automate the more repetitive tasks and patterns, but that also frees us up to apply real intelligence and creativity to solve big problems and find better solutions.

What does effective leadership mean to you?

Effective leadership (to me) means leveraging a team's strengths to achieve together. It also means understanding areas where you or others on your team have weaknesses or frustrations, emulating honesty and compassion, and leading with both your heart and mind.

What is your favorite thing about Iowa?

Iowa is a beautiful state, and I feel so lucky to have grown up here, raised our kids, and found success as a business owner and community leader. Connecting to others here and finding your own community is so easy. I love to travel the world, but coming home to Iowa is always wonderful.

What piece of advice would you give your younger self?

"Slow your roll." Sometimes it feels like my brain is a Ferrari with no brakes. I am not patient, and my need to move fast has tripped me up more than a few times. Once you figure out how to optimize for that, it also serves as a driving force. I'm still working on mastering that at 52.Ten Leaders to Know 11 / 29 

Why are you a member of ABI?

I found ABI as a result of Leadership Iowa. I joined and remain a member because ABI invests in Iowa Businesses and works to keep us connected and thriving. Whether it's education, networking or emerging issues, I can count on ABI to have the interests of Iowa's economy at heart. When Iowa's economy is strong, more Iowans can find prosperity and success.

Who do you look to for mentorship?

I often look to other agency owners, specifically within the Agency Management Institute peer group I belong to. I also deeply admire community and business leaders who have walked a similar path and found success through community involvement. I love asking someone like that out for coffee and asking them a million questions.