In reviewing the seven core actions that embody bold individuals, Rachel Wade’s nominator suggests that Rachel epitomizes every one of them, but quickly notes that her ability to pair action with knowledge sets her apart because she perpetually does her research, determines who all of the stakeholders are, and makes certain that each of those voices are at the table. That’s the ultimate in advocacy, a talent that Rachel employs every single day in her role as Vice President of Strategy for the United Way of Southwest Michigan. While Rachel stands out in the crowd for a multitude of reasons, her nomination suggests that it is her bravery that most often sets her apart. She is not afraid to speak the words that others are afraid to say, to include voices that are underrepresented, to question the status quo, even when it is difficult to do so. Regardless of the circumstance or the potential result, Rachel leads with integrity and strength, always trying to make sure that the right thing is done, not just the easy thing. She is a driver of change in our region, earning her a spot at the top of the Bold Women of Business for 2021.
Name
Rachel Wade
Where do you live?
Stevensville, MI
Company or Organization
United Way of Southwest Michigan
What is your job or role there?
Vice President of Strategy
How do you think that Bold Women of Business demonstrate being bold?
By being true to who we are. There is nothing bolder than owning, embracing, and celebrating all of the things that make you “you.” Women are often told that we should be more of this, or less of that, without acknowledging what is powerful about what we already are. When we lean into and leverage that power to influence the world around us to be a better place, well that’s pretty darn bold.
Bold women are often defined by a number of descriptors. Please choose from the following descriptors to produce the top three that you would say most exemplify your personality?
Bright…Strong…Distinctive
Please provide an example of when you feel you were at your very best in taking action on the job or in your role.
I think I’ve been at my very best when I’ve been supporting those around me as they accomplish great things. I can think of projects that every person on my team has just absolutely nailed, and the pride I felt for them in those moments far eclipses anything that I’ve ever felt about my own work.
What’s the funniest thing that ever happened on your road to success?
When I was in college, I did an internship at Easter Seals, which was located in the building that United Way of Southwest Michigan now occupies. As my internship was wrapping up, the Executive Director called me into her office to ask me about what I wanted to do after graduation. I told her that someday I would love to work for a nonprofit organization, maybe an organization like United Way. Ten years later, I moved into that very office as a United Way of Southwest Michigan employee.
That’s not really a “ha-ha” kind of funny thing, but more of a “funny how life works out” kind of thing. Most of my “ha-ha” kinds of funny stories involve Ryan Cheevers, so I’ll save those for another time.
Who most inspires your personal drive for success every day?
Definitely my children. I have two teenaged sons, and I’m keenly aware that everything I do sets an example for them, whether I intend for it to or not. That alone is the biggest and most sacred responsibility that I have. I do the work that I do because I want to leave a better community for them. And hopefully I’m raising them to want to do the same for their children.
What is your best advice to women in Southwest Michigan looking to succeed, as you have, in business?
Surround yourself with people who know things that you don’t yet know, and who can do things that you can’t yet do. I feel like everything I have to offer the world is just an accumulation of what other people have poured into me. Be open to that. And don’t ever let it stop! Someone recently told me that there is no such thing as a perfected worldview – it should always be evolving as we learn more and experience more. That requires a level of vulnerability that women are often discouraged to show. Forget that! Allow yourself to be vulnerable, because that’s the only way you can grow.
What does your selection to the first ever Bold Women of Business from Moody on the Market mean to you?
Honestly, it’s a bit of a mixed bag of emotions. I wish we lived in a society where the contributions and accomplishments of women were just naturally acknowledged on equal footing with our male counterparts. Sadly, we’re not there yet. So until we are, I’m grateful for opportunities such as the Moody on the Market Bold Women of Business that can shine a light on the tremendous women in our community who are doing incredible things.
