Lindsay Cannaday

Vice president and business development director, GreenState Credit Union

Age: 32

Partner: Jeremy Rone 

Children: Ryan Stevenson

Reasons she is a Forty: This year, Lindsay has successfully implemented enhancements to GreenState’s HOME Program and focused on expanding financial literacy. She serves on Ladylike DSM’s strategic planning committee, where she helps to activate the Black women-owned business micro-grants. Lindsay invests countless hours into developing female athletes through coaching track and cheerleading at Roosevelt High School. She founded the United LEAGUE during her time at United Way of Central Iowa. United LEAGUE is a network of motivated donors who identify as Black or as allies, those who are eager to address disparities in economic opportunity through volunteerism and advocacy. 

What are your goals in your role at your company? My goal is to make GreenState Credit Union the preferred financial institution for the unbanked and underbanked. I want my team to be a true representation of those we’re looking to serve. I also want to increase access to financial services to BIPOC communities across our field of membership.  

What are your goals for your community involvement? I’d like to address the need for housing options across the state with agencies (public, private, nonprofit and government) that have an interest in implementation. Drawing from our misses and hits, it’s imperative to begin acting on a solution, not just talking about it.  

What's your biggest passion, and why? I’m passionate about cultivating a culture of collaboration across my community. With scarcity of resources and investments, I want to build bridges in the spirit of collective impact. It starts with me and my sphere of influence, which includes everyone that reads this.  

What is it that drives you? When I gave birth to my son at the age of 19, I recognized I couldn’t let my circumstances limit the goals I’d set for myself. I want to inspire other women of color to be and do exactly what they want. Ladies, do not shrink yourself; take up space and be unapologetic about your goals.  

What are your future aspirations? I want to be in a position to promote Black women. I want to provide opportunities and spaces for them to show up authentically. I aspire to invest in Black women-owned businesses to help them build the generational wealth that they deserve.  

Three hobbies: Brunching on the weekend at local restaurants, catching a class at Orange Theory Fitness, traveling to new places.

Fun fact: I am a Beyonce Giselle Knowles-Carter stan!! I live for her music, visuals and philanthropy.  

One word to describe you: Intentional.

What is your wish for the Central Iowa business community? My desire is for Central Iowa to start executing our equity initiative. Let’s move from talking about the “why” to implementing the “how.” It’s time to make an impact, and it starts with electing and promoting people of color.  

Anything else you haven't addressed that people must know about you? You can typically find me wearing green. It’s on brand for my employer, GreenState CU, and sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. I honestly love the color green; to me, it symbolizes growth, recycling, rebirth and permission to go forth.  

What's one piece of advice that you would give to a young professional? “It is not only for what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.” Take accountability for your mistakes, because you will make mistakes. By taking ownership, you control your outcomes – good or bad. 

What is one issue you would like to see Central Iowa leaders address? Central Iowa needs to address the issue of housing stock by championing a solution that will increase affordable housing units across the metro. As we all drive, run and walk around Central Iowa we see abandoned buildings and uninhabited spaces that could be revitalized for the purpose of increasing our housing stock. Investments into affordable and equitable housing impact all of us for the better.