Janae Gray

Vice president of marketing and supplier diversity, Mittera

Age: 34

Reasons she is a Forty: Recently named Big Sister of the Year by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Iowa, Janae serves as board vice president of the after school arts program and marketing adviser to the B.Well Foundation. She also owns two businesses: Janae Patrice Photography and Nae Clay Co. where she provides a glimpse into entrepreneurship for teenagers. As the first senior-level woman of color, Janae not only leads the organization’s national marketing platform, but is front and center in the expansion of Mittera’s diversity initiatives. Where representation of Black women often lacks, Janae is seen by her peers as a multifaceted catalyst complementing an enormous opportunity that can be transformative for young women of color in the Greater Des Moines community. 

What are your goals in your role at your company? In addition to driving brand awareness to Mittera's national multichannel platform, my goal is to preserve our mission in staying responsive to change. We’ve cultivated a successful environment where diversity suppliers have access to resources and relationships to remain competitive within our supply chain, and recently implemented ownership opportunities specifically for diverse employees at Mittera.

What are your goals for your community involvement? Much of my community involvement is centered around protecting youths from cycles of inequities. With recent shifts in funding and grants greatly affecting our most vulnerable, my goal is to continue to bring awareness to the importance of protecting the arts and to promote creative ways that bridge gaps in access to resources.

What's your biggest passion, and why? My lived experiences fuel my passion for authentic storytelling through photography. Being mixed, I’ve had to moderate my Blackness while also recognizing my white privilege. I grew up in a white family who naturally didn't see me as different, but the outside world did. The complexities of stories like mine are not often heard or encouraged to be told. Storytelling is the key that holds our differences and unlocks what can connect us. I am passionate about encouraging others to be proud to tell their story. If you don’t, someone else will.

What is it that drives you? Growing up, I never had a teacher, a doctor, a boss or a therapist that looked like me. I'm driven to change experiences like mine for the next generation. Representation is critical to progress. When young people see shared experiences in leaders who not only look like them but are achieving the same aspirations, it opens up a bigger and brighter world of realized opportunities.

What are your future aspirations? By design, many barriers still exist for young women and people of color. I want my contributions to be a vessel in challenging those obstacles. Through mentorship, leadership and ownership, I plan to continue advocating for reimagined solutions that break down cycles of inequities.

Three hobbies: I love a good music festival, traveling and making sure Tito (our mini golden-doodle) is always living his best life!  

Fun fact: She played guitar with Dierks Bentley onstage at the Iowa State Fair Grandstand.

One word to describe you: Determined.

What is your wish for the Central Iowa business community? More innovative initiatives that support community and small businesses. Imagine repurposing a vacant building into a vibrant community-centric city market … a collective of affordable retail for small local businesses, apartments, restaurants, art, nightlife and rooftop views. Big-city vibes, with an economic stability focus.

What's one piece of advice that you would give to a young professional? The saying "a jack of all trades" is not a negative connotation. Prioritize experiences and opportunities that diversify your skill set, protect your curiosity and empower you to evolve. Be intentional with the spaces you enter; your environment will become you. Most importantly, always know your worth.

What is one issue you would like to see Central Iowa leaders address? I would like to see actionable resources centered around empowering our young people to build personal wealth, explore entrepreneurship and have access to career paths that don’t fit the traditional mold. By nurturing a focused foundation where young people are encouraged to be curious and make mistakes safely, we can build a robust generation of change-makers who don't just see the world as it is, but are inspired and uplifted to build something greater.