Lindsey White

Control management senior manager, vice president, Wells Fargo

Age: 34

Spouse: Marlis Lovelace

Children: JaiShon White

Mentor: I don't have a mentor, more of a village of advisers.

Reasons she is a Forty: Lindsey is a woman on the rise, an inclusive and innovative leader, and a community change agent, specializing in the wholly impossible. Lindsey began her service to Central Iowa in 2011 as a volunteer with Back 2 School Iowa. She has since served as its board secretary and is currently serving as board chair, aiding in the distribution of over 10,000 backpacks to students as they prepared for the upcoming school year. She has expanded her community involvement through Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Iota Zeta Omega Chapter, Des Moines Chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc., LadyLike DSM, African American Leadership, Black Urban Professionals, Greater Des Moines Leadership Community Leadership Program and Waukee Board of Appeals.

What are your goals in your role at your company? At Wells Fargo my role is to lead and develop a top-producing team responsible for comprehensive risk and control assessment. My goal is to create equal access to opportunities in elevated roles for employees of diverse backgrounds through my work with the Black & African American Employee Resource Network and Central Iowa Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Council.

What are your goals for your community involvement? LadyLike DSM is an initiative to inspire and connect African American women across Central Iowa. We started off as just an empowerment brunch and have grown into a resource for personal and professional development and a small business incubator. My goal is to continue to expand on this critical work.

What's your biggest passion, and why? Helping others grow, develop and soar, whether in work, business or personal. I like to stay behind the scenes but I don't just sit back and watch, I'm always trying to do something. I enjoy taking a big idea and executing upon it. That's what fuels me.

What is it that drives you? My son, JaiShon. We moved to Iowa when he was 9 months, and he's now 14. Life doesn't look anything like I thought it would when I hopped in a U-Haul from New Mexico in 2008 – it is so much better. JaiShon is my motivation, not only to provide for him but to show him the infinite opportunities ahead of him.

What are your future aspirations? As I continue to grow in my professional career while serving the community, I am hoping to allow those spaces to connect more. I am not sure what that looks like, but continuing to break barriers to entry and to success for Black and brown communities is always paramount. 

Three hobbies: I spend most of my time off the clock in the bleachers cheering for my son, JaiShon, at his basketball or football games. I also enjoy brunch with friends.

One word to describe you: Ambitious.

What is your wish for the Central Iowa business community? Increased opportunities for our small businesses. This would include financial capital, education, resources and physical capital. If we want this to be a place where our community members can live, work and play, we need to ensure we are caring for our small businesses, not just to open but to sustain and thrive.

What's one piece of advice that you would give to a young professional? Dive in. There are so many young professional organizations with events going on all the time. A great way to get involved in the community is to attend events and find volunteer opportunities through those networks.

What is one issue you would like to see Central Iowa leaders address? The One Economy Report compiled by the Directors Council highlights a tale of two cities with data showing significant racial disparities in financial inclusion, education, employment, health and housing in Polk County. While Iowa, specifically Central Iowa, often ranks high on national surveys on these topics, it is imperative that all Iowans share in the same experience. I'd like to see these issues be addressed by Central Iowa leaders through taking action on strategic goals outlined in the Blueprint for Action.