Aluma Spotlight January 2016: Sarah (Lund) Clapper

Sarah (Lund) ClapperDePaul's School of Public Service, MS 2014

Operations Manager
Rainbows for All Children

This month we spotlight an alumna from DePaul's School of Public Service, a specialized Masters program for those preparing for a career of service.

How has your DePaul MS degree helped your career? 

When I was applying to the School of Public Service at DePaul, all I knew was that I wanted to help people. I wanted to make a difference somehow. By obtaining a Master of Science in Public Service Management, I was able to learn about all of the many ways I could make a difference in the non-profit and public sectors—from launching an effective grass roots campaign to non-profit financial management. Since obtaining my degree, I quickly learned that working at a small non-profit organization requires you to wear many hats. My education from DePaul’s School of Public Service has allowed me to do just that.

Is there anything specific about your current company/role that you would like to share with the DePaul Graduate community? 
Rainbows for All Children (Rainbows) is dedicated to being the premier source of support for all youth as they navigate grief and heal from loss, whether from death, divorce, deployment, or other trauma. Rainbows fosters awareness that youth require support to heal. We nurture a community of effective Rainbows-trained Facilitators, supported with a repository of resources designed to guide youth in their grieving process.

What is the one thing you wish you would have taken advantage of, but didn’t, or just wish you had done differently while enrolled at DePaul? 
DePaul frequently hosts great panel discussion, workshops and seminars. I wish I would have attended more of them. 

{Note from GWB: Although we in no way solicited this answer, we totally agree! Check out our Women Insiders winter panel series for great networking and industry insights!}

What has been the most difficult business lesson you have learned since graduating? 
Learning to let some projects go. You might be at a small

In your opinion, what is the biggest obstacle women face in the workplace today and how can they overcome it? 
Equal pay and opportunity. Women earn less than men do for doing the same job. But when you compare the number of women to the number of men in executive positions, holding board seats, in management positions in the tech industry—it’s staggering; it’s sad.

I don’t think it’s the responsibility of women to overcome inequality in the workplace. It’s everyone’s responsibility. Changing the culture of the workplace requires a collective effort, including from individuals at the top level. Things like re-evaluating your organization’s hiring process to identify and eliminate bias, and expanding your organization’s network and expanding where you recruit from are small steps to creating a more diverse culture. 

non-profit, but the organization has big aspirations for growth. You have your priorities set and detailed calendars, but there will always be something that has to be set aside temporarily because it doesn’t “fit the screen.” You have to remind yourself that “this isn’t a bad thing.” It allows you as an individual, and your organization, to really focus on the projects that fit within your strategic plan, and come back to those other projects later.

Alumna Spotlight December 2015: Heather Kos

Heather KosKellstadt Graduate School of Business, MBA 1979

Vice President of Investor Relations 
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 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.