Claudia Schabel joined the Iowa Women’s Foundation as the Vice-President of
Programs in June of 2025.
In her roles as a business owner, employee and volunteer, Claudia has demonstrated a
sincere long-term passion to build workplaces and communities that are intentional and
effective in their efforts to ensure that everyone can thrive. She is very excited about
engaging her experience and many connections to positively impact the lives of all Iowa
women and girls.
Claudia was born and raised in Brazil and lived and worked in Japan for five years prior
to moving to Iowa in 1999. She earned a BA in International Relations from Drake
University in Des Moines, where she has made her home with her spouse, Brad, and
their loving and mischievous Golden Retriever, Charlie.
Her work background includes ownership of a workplace culture and leadership
development consulting and training firm (Schabel Solutions Inc.) as well as
employment at multinational Fortune 100 and 500 organizations (DuPont and Principal
Financial Group, respectively) and a Des Moines-based non-profit (the Iowa Council for
International Understanding – now the Iowa International Center).
For over 20 years, Claudia has been very active as a volunteer. She is a former
commissioner on the City of Des Moines Civil and Human Rights Commission, board
member of the Iowa Association of Business and Industry, Advocacy Chair of the Iowa
Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) and
trainer/facilitator for the Iowa Network Against Human Trafficking and Slavery. Claudia
currently serves on the Iowa Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) State
Council as the Director of Diversity, Grand View University Board of Trustees, the
National Small Business Association’s (NSBA) Leadership Council, the U.S. Small
Business Administration’s (SBA) Region 7 Small Business Regulatory Fairness Board,
Capital Crossroads as well as the boards of the Science Center of Iowa, Greater Des
Moines Botanical Garden, West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club of
Des Moines.
Her many years of leadership within the community led to honors and recognition such
as the Drake University Zimpleman College of Business Women’s Impact Award (2024),
Business Record’s List of Business Leaders You Need to Know (2024), Business
Record – Iowa State University Ivy College of Business Woman Business Owner of the
Year Award (2023), CITYVIEW Business Journal’s 22 from 2022 Award, Iowa
International Center Passport to Prosperity Award (2014), State of Iowa’s Robert D. Ray
Iowa Latino Ambassador Award (2010), and Business Record ‘Forty Under 40’ Honoree
(2008).