FARED ADIB

He’s still just 35, but Fared Adib has the resume of somebody twice his age. Rightfully named by Fortune as one of the Smartest People in Technology in 2011, Adib is breaking technological ground for Sprint Nextel. He and his team delivered the first 4G handset in the U.S., the first dual-touchscreen smart phone and the nation’s first 3-D phone and brought the Apple iPhone to Sprint. His leadership and entrepreneurial spirit have led him straight to the top; he currently holds the role of product chief and vice president of product. He is responsible for obtaining over $10 billion worth of devices and services, and consistently meets the challenge.

Recently Fared became involved in a project that will help stop young drivers from texting and driving, through parental controls and new technology. He revolutionized national service and repair operations into a $1.1 billion dollar line of business that drove the second-highest customer satisfaction rating in the industry—and did it in a six-month time frame.

Born in Afghanistan, Adib lived in London for several years before making the United States his home. Having the ability to draw from multiple cultural experiences, he says, allows him to see new solutions and bring innovative ideas into the same-old experiences. He received his bachelor’s from Mizzou, his MBA from the University of Chicago and an executive leadership certificate from Georgetown University, a hefty tripod of higher education. He and his wife Rachel call Overland Park their home.

BRANDE ANDERSON

Raised on the values of hard work, integrity and leading by example, Brande Anderson has demonstrated what it means to serve the community—on the job, and off. She’s the not-for-profit services relationship manager for M&I Institutional Trust Services, helping charitable organizations attain their financial goals.

Her favorite part of the job, says this 37-year-old, is “having the opportunity to witness the wonderful work these organizations do and the impact on the community.” With a personal mantra of “treat others the same way you want to be treated,” she has learned the importance of respect and teamwork. Reaching goals takes dedication and comm-unication, but she also believes that “following through and respecting commitments, having personal integrity and making sure we’re all working together to reach a common goal,” is a vital part of working with not-for-profit organizations. She also serves the St. Louis and Arizona markets and clients in eight other states.

A combination of personal motivation, openness to opportunities and a strong support network, she says, has been the key. That works outside the office, as well, she says, and Anderson is dedicated to benefiting the broader community. A member of American Bankers Association, Estate Planning Society of Kansas City, Nonprofit Connect and Central Exchange, she has taken advantage of every opportunity that has come her way.

WENDY BLACKBURN

If you want to achieve, Wendy Blackburn will tell you, then lead. That formulation has worked well for the 38-year-old executive vice president for Intouch Solutions in Overland Park. She joined the company in 2003, and within six years, she had become not just the EVP, but part-owner of the company that specializes in pharmaceutical marketing. How? It’s that leadership thing, she says: in mentoring, to help associates grow professionally; in helping the fast-growing company secure millions of dollars in new business; and in becoming a digital face and voice for the company by demonstrating her knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry with a company blog.

But you can’t lead if the tool box doesn’t have the right equipment. “A strong work ethic, integrity, teamwork, helping others grow and succeed, and ensuring that Intouch is a great place to work” are all vital components of her success—and the company’s. As is simple human decency: “Even in a tough business like ours,” Blackburn muses, “it’s important that we’re still nice to each other at the end of the day.” Her commitment to health care started early, with an internship at a hospital. “Working in this industry,” Blackburn says, “is something that is important to me—feeling the fruits of my livelihood contribute toward helping others.” That sentiment extends beyond the office, with he commitment to animal-welfare causes. She and husband Darren live in Overland Park.

JOHN BURGESS

A supportive wife. The right core values instilled by parents. And the right employer to let you pursue your entrepreneurial dreams. John Burgess hit the Life Trifecta with that combination. It is also proving to be a winner for Walsworth Publishing Co., where Burgess is the director of strategy and innovation in the Kansas City office. He’s responsible for the company’s strategic planning, business development and innovation efforts.

“I thrive on encouraging everyone to think big, propose ideas and go for it,” Burgess said. That approach is vital in an industry that’s undergoing significant change, he said. From its staple of print production, Walsworth is moving into the digital media realm, thanks in large part to its acquisition of Burgess’ Interactive Media Holdings—he founded it and was CEO—in 2009. An award-winning entrepreneur with that venture, Burgess believes the long-term economic success in this region will be measured by how effectively we prepare the entrepreneurial seedbed for future Kansas Citians.
“It is important to prepare the next generation with essential entrepreneur skill sets,” he says, and he acts on that as a volunteer for Junior Achievement.

Before he launched Interactive, Burgess spent 11 years with Sprint Corp., working in the business development unit and the strategic ventures group. The 39-year-old Burgess and his wife, Amber, make their home in Mission Hills.