Kylie Stupka, President of Empowered, doesn’t believe in a one-size-fits-all education paradigm. During her time at Forvis Mazars (legacy firm BKD) and now in her executive roles with two closely aligned nonprofits, she’s fighting for transformation. Here, Kylie shares her passion for personalizing learning and empowering educational entrepreneurs during this next stage of her career.
Kylie, you currently serve as president of Empowered and vice president of Strategic Initiatives of Stand Together, two nonprofits focused on solving some of our nation’s toughest social issues. What do these organizations do and how are they related?
Empowered and Stand Together are two philanthropic organizations that support our communities and the people in them in high-impact ways. Empowered was formed in Wichita, Kansas, in 1991 to help local educators teach principles of entrepreneurship to their students. Stand Together is an umbrella organization that serves as a catalyst for Empowered and other nonprofits focused on solving larger social issues such as poverty, homelessness, addiction, criminal justice reform, and education transformation, which is where I come in.
And how did you become involved?
Empowered, then called Youth Entrepreneurs, was a client of the firm, but also a well-respected community organization with which the firm was heavily involved. I mentored and worked directly with students in and beyond the classroom and just loved it. They deploy a highly experiential “do first, talk later” approach very much ahead of its time. When its leader announced they were moving on, I saw it as the perfect opportunity to engage the strengths I developed at the firm, coupled with my strong belief in markets and entrepreneurship. I was hired for the job and became executive director in 2007. Later, when Stand Together was formed, I was tasked to work with external and executive audiences to align on a unique new paradigm in education transformation.
What is Empowered doing today?
They’ve grown substantially. When I joined, we were very boutique, working with just 28 educators and maybe 80 to 100 students. Today, we’re working to uplift approximately 30,000 educators nationwide—and inviting all education entrepreneurs—who are interested in transforming education to do what’s best for the kids. We believe that education should be an open marketplace where students, families, and teachers have agency to discover where each student thrives and help them learn, apply, and then contribute those strengths back to society.
How did your time with legacy BKD, now Forvis Mazars, help prepare you for your current roles?
Well, first, it introduced me to Empowered. In hindsight, working for the firm in such a diverse capacity gave me the knowledge, confidence, and connections to align and articulate the importance of my work on the future of business success. When I joined in 1995, the Wichita office was primarily focused on healthcare but was working hard to grow its manufacturing and nonprofit practices (which is where I spent most of my time). It’s that unique, dual skill set—business and nonprofits—that’s foundational in my role as a catalyst for removing barriers that hold people back.
Was your goal always to become an accountant?
Actually, the plan was to become a lawyer. But while I was taking an introductory accounting class, the professor pulled me aside and suggested I consider accounting as a good “fall back” career, since I seemed to have a knack for it. I was still thinking law school when I was hired by the firm, but soon realized a steady paycheck was considerably more attractive than the cost of law school. And I’ve never regretted the decision.
What advice do you have for young people at Forvis Mazars or considering the accounting profession?
If it’s okay, I’d like to narrow my response to women. I would encourage career-focused women to take more risks in their careers. Things are very different in the accounting profession today. There’s much more flexibility and transparency. Don’t be afraid to say yes to the next opportunity.
What does it mean to be a Forvis Mazars alumna?
I’d say it’s all about community and connections. When I first joined, I remember how we’d run the audit trail by day and file tax returns by night. Sure, it was hard work, but we were young and had lots of fun and formed deep friendships that remain today. I still have very close relationships with my former teammates, people I continue to lean on for advice and peer mentoring. It was a great experience, and I have nothing but fond memories.
More About Kylie
- Was born in northeast Colorado and moved to western Kansas in high school
- Was an All-American Academic volleyball player and attended junior college on a volleyball scholarship
- Received her accounting degree from Kansas State University
- Joined the firm’s Wichita office in 1995
- Served as recruiting lead and nonprofit industry lead for the firm’s Wichita office
- Has been married to her husband, Dustan, for 27 years
- Has three sons ages 17, 20, and 22, one at Andover Central High School and the other two students at Kansas State University
- Serves on the Kansas State University School of Entrepreneurship Advisory Council
- Enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time at the family’s lake house on Table Rock Lake
For more information on Empowered, visit https://teachempowered.org/.
For more information on Stand Together, visit https://standtogether.org/.
