Ten years ago, I was a stay-at-home mom.
Today, I was named one of Utah’s “40 under Forty.”
About the Award
It was 2006 when Utah Valley BusinessQ Magazine featured its first round of 40 under Forty—which makes 2026 the 20th anniversary for 40 Under Forty Hall-of-Famers. BusinessQ celebrates this year’s honorees and the roots of their careers, the challenges that helped them grow, and the dreams still taking shape.
This year’s 40 honorees are balancing parenthood with Excel spreadsheets and stockholders with side gigs. But one thing is common amongst them all: They have big, bold dreams — and they’re using heart and hustle to take them off the whiteboard and into the wild.
Photos were taken by Dani Corbett with Lake City Photos at Lehi Kiln 2. BusinessQ celebrated the following honorees at Wadley Farms on July 9, 2026. Their full features can be found on businessqmag.com.
One Lesson Learned
At the event on July 9th, BusinessQ asked each of us to share one of our lessons learned. Here’s what I shared:
When I was in high school, my dad sat me down and asked, “What do you want people to remember about you at your 20-year high school reunion?”
At the time, that reunion felt impossibly far away. Today, it feels a little too close.
He challenged me. He said, “I don’t care if people remember that you were in choir, or on the honor roll, or played water polo. I hope when they see you, they’ll remember Rachel was kind to me.”
I’ve tried to take that challenge to heart. Of course, I’ve also learned that kindness is more than one dimensional.
Kindness is taking a job to put food on the table for your family.
Kindness is clear feedback.
Kindness is having the courage to speak up to a toxic boss.
Kindness to yourself is being curious enough to unpack your beliefs and rebuild a life that aligns with values.
Kindness is noticing all the opportunities that you’ve been given and going out of your way to pay it forward, as an ally to others.
So while I’m still not sure what they’ll say at my high school reunion, I hope that in the next 20 years, I can be more curious, brave, and kind.
Honestly, I’m floored
I seriously can’t believe that I was included in this list of amazing dreamers and doers.
When I think about that twenty-something girl of ten years ago, I want to tell her a few things.
I don’t want to reassure her that everything will be okay. Sometimes it’s not. But I do want her to know that life will surprise her, and that’s a good thing.
I want her to know that she can and will roll with the punches.
I want her to know that her curiosity and candor will become her greatest superpowers.
I want her to know that her teacher’s heart—motivated to make a positive impact in the world—will serve her well, even in corporate.
I want her to know that her love and kindness still matter, even when organizations tell her otherwise.
I want her to know that her unique viewpoint and story are a competitive advantage.
Sometimes my husband and I laugh at the “corporate girlie” I’ve become. That songwriting, artsy, teacher-turned-stay-at-home-mom of ten years ago might be shocked.
But I hope she’d also appreciate who I am today, and the way I’ve tried to hold strong to my values.
The road hasn’t been easy; it’s been more of a roller coaster.
But I’m grateful for all of the twists and turns along the way—they brought me here.
It’s an honor to celebrate that growth with this 40 under 40 award.
Rachel Cottam 