Carroll is dedicated to connecting every corner of the Midwest. ImOn will add 50,000 serviceable addresses this year, bringing its total footprint to more than 215,000 locations. She takes her role and influence as one of the few female CEOs in the industry seriously, and female executives have been promoted to head ImOn’s IT and Network Operations divisions as well as efforts to transform operational systems. ImOn has tripled in size over the past three years, growing to more than 275 employees.
How do you personally define “powerful” in the workplace today? Power today isn’t about hierarchy—it’s about influence, integrity and impact. True power is creating environments where others can thrive, decisions are data-driven and human-centered and innovation serves communities. When you empower people with purpose, they push boundaries together.
What kind of innovation will ultra-fast, ubiquitous broadband unlock in the next decade? Ultra-fast broadband will be the backbone of equitable innovation—fueling precision agriculture, telehealth, AI-driven education, and small-business automation. It will bridge rural opportunity gaps and redefine how communities connect, work, and learn. With connectivity as the great equalizer, broadband becomes less a service and more an engine of social and economic transformation.
What is the one piece of advice you would give young women entering the business world today? Don’t wait for permission to lead. Raise your hand, ask questions, and make yourself visible. Confidence doesn’t come from knowing everything—it comes from being curious, adaptable, and unafraid to grow in public. Build your network early, lift other women as you rise, and remember that influence comes from courage, not titles.
How will the next wave of broadband investment transform business models or create new revenue opportunities? The next wave of broadband investment will move beyond connectivity—it will power entire digital ecosystems. From smart cities to AI-enabled businesses, fiber networks will underpin how data flows, decisions are made, and communities grow. Providers that think like tech innovators, not utilities, will unlock the real value: transformation through connection.