Tiara Mays

Manager, contract negotiation, Aetna, a CVS company

Age: 32

Children: Prince Mays, Tiana Mays 

Mentor: Mary Wells, Polk County treasurer

Reasons she is a Forty: Tiara was the first woman of color to be elected to the Heartland Area Education Agency board of directors in 2021. She is a published children’s’ book author: “#TwinChronicals Presents: The Adventures of Prince and Tiana.” In 2019 Tiara published a magazine article in Autism Parenting Magazine titled “This Is My House.” She was a storyteller in the 2021 “Stories to Tell My Daughter.” Tiara also serves as a board member for the following organizations: Red Cross of Central Iowa, Investing in My Future, and the Jungle Vine Foundation.

What are your goals in your role at your company? My biggest goal in my position at Aetna is to ensure that our members have an adequate network of providers, for all specialities, throughout the state of Iowa. 

What are your goals for your community involvement? My son was diagnosed with autism when he was 3 years old. Since that time I have learned a lot about how to manage his care. I offer free consultations to parents, to discuss with them how to navigate and set up services for their children. Within the next five years I would like to begin a nonprofit organization to provide support for families. 

What's your biggest passion, and why? My children and I have a saying at the beginning of each day: Time to get out and change the world. 

That is my passion: to wake up each day and do something that will leave the world a better place. Change does not have to be major and you may never get recognition for the difference that you make. But we can each do something to make a difference. We can help our neighbor, we can help our community, we can help our world. 

What is it that drives you? My twins are what drive me to be the best person I can be. The day they were born, my life changed. I wake up each day with motivation to go harder in everything I do … just for them. My community benefiting from that motivation is an added bonus. 

What are your future aspirations? My next aspirations are to serve our state as a Statehouse representative. My hope is to continue advocating for health care, education and working families. 

Three hobbies: I enjoy going to the movies (drive-in theater during the summer), roller skating, and sporting events, especially basketball. 

Fun fact: She studied abroad during her time at Iowa State University in Brazil. She traveled to Bahia, Boipeba Island and Rio De Janeiro. 

One word to describe you: Determination. 

What is your wish for the Central Iowa business community? As the mother of a child with special needs, I would love for our business community to continue to create spaces of professional opportunities that allow for children, teenagers and adults with different needs/abilities to work for your organizations. Let’s work on creating inclusive work opportunities for all Central Iowans.

What's one piece of advice that you would give to a young professional? Do it scared! If the opportunity that presents itself makes you feel uneasy or scared – do it. It’s outside of our comfort zone where we grow and thrive. 

What is one issue you would like to see Central Iowa leaders address? Diversity, equity and inclusion is an area in which I believe our Central Iowa leaders can continue to grow. Absolutely everyone can benefit in learning how to change their mindset and be more inclusive to all groups of people. We may not all agree on everything, but it is important to consciously learn ways to work together in a space of respect and understanding.