Heather KosKellstadt Graduate School of Business, MBA 1979
Vice President of Investor Relations
and Corporate Communications at
Ingredion Inc.
and Corporate Communications at
Ingredion Inc.
Heather Kos is a Kellstadt Graduate who currently holds the position of Vice President of Investor Relations and Corporate Communications at Ingredion Inc., a Fortune 500 Ingredion solutions company. She began her career at Price Waterhouse Coopers as a tax consultant, eventually transitioning to BMC and then to Navistar Int. where her career progressed from management to executive-level. With rich experiences in both the public and private sectors, Heather shares the following personal experiences and insights on women in business.
What inspired the transition into Investor Relations from a background in accounting and finance?
Heather was selected to join the Investor Relations team at Navistar Int. when the CEO recognized her ability to conquer challenges and have the right amount of energy to work with the investors and other leadership. Personally, Heather accepted the position as she saw how Investor Relations had multiple disciplines, which she was sure she could master. With a strong background in accounting, finance and marketing, acquired through her MBA from Kellstadt, she is well versed in financial metrics and accounting jargon necessary to market the company’s brand to potential investors.
Having started as a tax consultant at PWC, how has the business environment changed for women over the last few years? Heather has seen progress in the right direction with an increase in women in the accounting field, such that, women now outnumber men in this field. Even though the pipeline has increased, she has unfortunately not seen the same increase in diversity in upper management. However, she noticed more and more companies now have pro-inclusion agendas, public and private alike, that facilitate the development of women from all levels and sectors of a company. More specifically, in the Investor Relations field, though there are women, you find that they are either younger women or women who have grown children. With a travel intensive career, it is difficult for women to carry traditional roles without a supportive partner or network when there are younger children at home. No matter what stage in your life, it is important for women to prioritize according to personal values.
What inspired the transition into Investor Relations from a background in accounting and finance?
Heather was selected to join the Investor Relations team at Navistar Int. when the CEO recognized her ability to conquer challenges and have the right amount of energy to work with the investors and other leadership. Personally, Heather accepted the position as she saw how Investor Relations had multiple disciplines, which she was sure she could master. With a strong background in accounting, finance and marketing, acquired through her MBA from Kellstadt, she is well versed in financial metrics and accounting jargon necessary to market the company’s brand to potential investors.
Having started as a tax consultant at PWC, how has the business environment changed for women over the last few years? Heather has seen progress in the right direction with an increase in women in the accounting field, such that, women now outnumber men in this field. Even though the pipeline has increased, she has unfortunately not seen the same increase in diversity in upper management. However, she noticed more and more companies now have pro-inclusion agendas, public and private alike, that facilitate the development of women from all levels and sectors of a company. More specifically, in the Investor Relations field, though there are women, you find that they are either younger women or women who have grown children. With a travel intensive career, it is difficult for women to carry traditional roles without a supportive partner or network when there are younger children at home. No matter what stage in your life, it is important for women to prioritize according to personal values.
What is the biggest obstacle women face in the workplace today and how can they overcome it?
Women vary in their relational styles; however, research shows most are very collaborative and personable. This type of interaction fosters inclusion, but may place women in a situation where they avoid being outspoken and avoid conflict. Contrastingly, Heather believes that it is crucial to be self-confident and proactive in order to have a spirited dialogue aiming to provide new ideas and solutions, especially amongst peers. With a self-confident outlook, a woman can also gain more power in the discussion, steering it in the direction she feels best to solve the problem at hand. It is also important to help other women who are coming up behind you via informal and formal mentoring.
What is the best advice for someone looking to make a change/transition in today's job market?
The very first thing is to update your LinkedIn profile. A well-written, robust summary that outlines all the advantages an individual can bring to potential employers can open the door to many valuable connections. It’s important that those contacts are used to build a professional network aiming to develop skills sought after in the workforce. Aside from social media, volunteer activities and joining auxiliary non-profit boards are great environments to foster professional connections while growing one’s leadership skills. With a MBA, you can become even further well rounded, opening your eyes to connections and trends in both your social and professional milieu.
What is the best advice for someone looking to make a change/transition in today's job market?
The very first thing is to update your LinkedIn profile. A well-written, robust summary that outlines all the advantages an individual can bring to potential employers can open the door to many valuable connections. It’s important that those contacts are used to build a professional network aiming to develop skills sought after in the workforce. Aside from social media, volunteer activities and joining auxiliary non-profit boards are great environments to foster professional connections while growing one’s leadership skills. With a MBA, you can become even further well rounded, opening your eyes to connections and trends in both your social and professional milieu.
