Adrienne Perry

By Carolyn S. Nolte
Photo by Ron Coleman, C4 Photography

Thirteen years ago, Adrienne Perry applied to be a member of the Women’s Fund of Omaha’s inaugural Circles Class 1. “If you had asked me, at that moment, what would Circles become, and what it is now, I would have had no idea that Circles would remain such a fundamental experience of my 30s,” Perry said.

Perry’s experiences in Circles sparked her interest in the Women’s Fund, and for a number of years, she maintained her connection in various ways. After taking a pause from direct involvement, Perry has returned this year to begin her next chapter as a member of the Women’s Fund Board of Directors.

“My interest in the Women’s Fund has been long running for a number of years, mainly driven by my interests in gender equity, being a businesswoman, and also working at Borsheims,” where, as Perry pointed out, women account for 87 percent of employees. As Borsheims’ chief revenue officer and a parent of two daughters, Perry understands the role that data-driven, intentional leadership practices have in developing and supporting equitable workplaces and communities.

Because her membership with the inaugural Circles class took place during the same time that she served in a board capacity for the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, Perry gained a unique perspective. As a young leader and business woman at a stage in her life when she was learning about different leadership approaches, her tandem experiences with Circles and the Omaha Chamber of Commerce deeply affected her. She sees those two coinciding experiences as bookends to her professional growth.

“If the Omaha Chamber gave me a broad network of businesses in Omaha and leaders within it, Circles gave me an authentic way to find my own type of leadership ability.” Perry’s experiences with Circles supported a space where she could engage with other women leaders, and that, she said, “was really illuminating.”

Perry said that the ability to engage with different types of women in leadership and at various stages of their careers through Circles was and continues to be deeply impactful. When reflecting back on her time with Circles, Perry said, “Fundamentally, what I learned was confidence.”

When Perry’s membership with Circles concluded, she helped lead the application process for another Circles class. “Trying to make a fair and equitable and diverse cohort of women for Circles with a smaller group of existing Circles members already participating was really eye-opening,” she said.

Perry explained how the methodology that the Women’s Fund recommended piqued her interest, and that collaborative work on the application process eventually led her to new ways of thinking.

“We weren’t really talking collectively as a society about unconscious bias, but the Women’s Fund, in their methodology, had ways to reduce our own internal perceptions of candidates and grant opportunities.”

Perry’s work on the application process furthered her interest in the Women’s Fund, and for a time she continued learning about data-driven methodologies through her work on their grants committee.

Following Circles and her service on the granting committee, Perry’s advocacy interests led her to become a board member of Omaha’s Child Saving Institute. Additionally, she served the Omaha Performing Arts through their Guild and worked on various projects. She also continued to grow her career at Borsheims. Throughout that time, Perry sustained connections to the Women’s Fund by attending annual Lead the Change luncheons and participating in Circles alumni gatherings. When her other commitments were winding down, Perry circled back to the Women’s Fund. When she was asked to serve on the Board of Directors, “the very stars aligned,” she said with a smile.

Since her time with Circles, Perry continued following the Women’s Fund closely. Informed by her experiences as a working parent and as an employer, she found herself particularly interested in their work advocating for paid sick leave. LB78, the Domestic Violence and Sex Trafficking Survivor Assistance Act, also got her attention. LB78 and the Women’s Fund work on housing safety for domestic violence victims “resonated with me in this legislative term. Survivors having a safe place to go or remain in their homes safely with requirements to remove perpetrators from leases was of keen interest.”

Advancing gender equity and advocating for women’s rights are values anchored to significant roles in Perry’s life. “I think about, especially, my own daughters and ensuring they have the same rights and access that I have. I think about that on a personal level. As an officer of Borsheims, I think about how we are daily creating a positive work environment for women and being mindful of the flexibility and needs that women have at all stages of their career, whether new to Borsheims or existing.”

Perry, who was raised in a gender-equity household, attributes her values—particularly the importance of giving back—to her parents, who viewed stewardship as a significant value and practice.

“Stewardship was baked into me at a young age by my parents, and so that’s what I also hope to model as well.”

Returning to the Women’s Fund of Omaha, Perry brings her vast experiences with her.

“When I look to the Women’s Fund, when we advocate for women and girls, we’re advocating for girls like my daughters and their friends and for so many other young women, and young men, who will experience the world in a better place because of the work that the Women’s Fund is doing through advocacy and through change.” W