Vice President / Age 39
Red Shoes Inc.
Maria Nelson got an early start in her career as a communicator when one of her high school teachers gave her a special opportunity. “When I showed an interest in writing, he helped me get a job as a part-time sportswriter,” Nelson recalls. That experience at age 16 taught her “that if you prove yourself as hard-working and trustworthy, people are willing to help you out in your career.”
Nelson, who like many women is trying to balance a rewarding career with being an active parent, is most proud of creating a culture at Red Shoes Inc. “that recognizes the many hats employees wear to work every day,” she says.
With Nelson at the helm, Red Shoes was named a finalist in the Best Workplace of the Year category for Wisconsin’s MARKETPLACE Governor’s Awards, says nominator Raquel Lamal.
In the community, Nelson sees economic equity as a key issue: “There are a lot of amazing resources in our community, but simply providing resources isn’t enough. We need to do the work to understand what barriers exist for those who need to access these resources.”
