VizyPay, Mwirotsi named 2022 innovationIOWA award winners

The Business Record announces today the winners of the 2022 innovationIOWA awards.

VizyPay is the recipient of the Corteva Agriscience innovationLEADER of the Year Award, and Pi515 founder and Executive Director Nancy Mwirotsi is the recipient of the innovationENTREPRENEUR of the Year Award.

The recipients of the innovationIOWA awards are nominated by members of the community and selected by Business Record leadership.

VizyPay is a Waukee-based payment processor focused on serving small businesses and rural communities. It was founded in 2017 by small business owners Austin Mac Nab and Frank Pagano.

Mwirotsi started Pi515 in 2014 with the aim of empowering underserved youths to explore STEM fields. We profiled each winner in this year’s innovationIOWA magazine. Here is one question we asked them:

How do leaders effectively guide a team through times of uncertainty?

Mac Nab: Transparency, compassion and a solutions-driven mentality are the keys to guiding a team through a time of uncertainty. Innovation often comes to light during these periods, but only leaders who are willing to learn, unlearn and relearn can successfully navigate teams through the unknown. Uncertainty is uncomfortable, but so is growth. Leaders who are flexible with their ideas remain teachable and curious. Moreover, a leader that keeps a positive attitude through uncertainty and challenge can shift a team’s thought process to be more open towards change. There is always an opportunity waiting to be capitalized on within challenges, and leaders who truly put their people first will find a way to twist uncertainty into opportunity.

Mwirotsi: The most critical skill for an effective leader is listening to those around them. People may put forward unexpected ideas and solutions, and a good leader creates space for this to occur. An effective leader also manages to balance empathy with their responsibilities.

Read their full profiles in the magazine, which will be unveiled at the launch party next month. We hope you can join us!

WHEN: Monday, July 11, 5-7 p.m.
WHERE: Corteva Agriscience, 7000 N.W. 62nd Ave., Johnston

RSVP HERE