⏰ Morning Routine: How Connie Wimer starts her day

Driving the news: Now, with more than 45 years of leadership experience under her belt, Wimer continues to run Business Publications Corp., one of the few Iowa-based independent media companies in an industry riddled with economic struggles.

State of play: Through her own experience of taking risks, Wimer has a piece of advice for other women: Be fearless.

• Even if it's scary, each time you take a chance on something and it works out, that builds confidence inside.
• "I've made so many mistakes and I've had lots of failures," Wimer tells Axios. "Experience helps. But if you've never taken any risks, it doesn't build."

Here's how she starts her day:

⏰ Wake up: Earlier in her career, Wimer would wake up at 4:30am every day, but now, it could be anytime between 6-8am.

🍳 Breakfast: Coffee from Cafe Bustelo with a little bit of cinnamon and dried orange slices.

• Wimer owns a second home in Mexico and loves coffee from there.

📚 What she's reading: The New York Times, the Washington Post and the Register.

🗓 Her pro tip for other women: Learn to love negotiations.

• In her first 25 years of running her company, every man would negotiate his starting salary with her, but not one woman ever did.
• Wimer encourages women to not only learn how to negotiate, but "love" the process of it. While it may feel uncomfortable to negotiate, in a good discussion, both parties end up getting something they would not have otherwise, she says.