Ryan Stowers
Charles Koch Foundation
Wellsville, UT USA
"We’re all capable of extraordinary things, but in a very unique and individualized way."
Career Roadmap
Ryan's work combines: Non-Profit Organizations, Business, and Helping People
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
It's important to really take time to take a real introspective look at what you're good at and what you're not really inclined for. Try to find a pathway that aligns with those things you're good at. When I was younger, I thought I knew what I wanted to become. As I grew up and went through school, I realized that I was actually better suited for other things. I encourage you to pay attention to the things you're good at rather than trying to fit into a standard box that isn't right for you.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
Utah State University
Bachelor's Degree
Political Science and Government, General
Utah State University
Graduate Degree
Political Economy
Utah State University
Life & Career Milestones
I've taken a lot of twists and turns
1.
I grew up in rural Utah in a very religious family that really focused on helping others.
2.
I served a two-year mission in Hungary after high school—my service combined with my mother’s influence as a nurse made me decide that I wanted to keep helping others by becoming a doctor.
3.
After completing my mission, I came back to Utah for college.
4.
While studying, I also started to engage in different medical training programs and gain experience in the medical field—I worked as a nurse’s aide, a phlebotomist, and a surgical tech.
5.
As I gained more experience, I realized there were aspects of medicine that I didn’t enjoy—I also grew more interested in my humanities classes and the impact that ideas can have on humanity.
6.
I decided to leave medicine and pursue humanities instead—I earned a bachelor’s degree in both liberal arts and political science, and then a master’s in political economy.
7.
I started working in program management and then joined the Charles Koch Foundation as program officer.
8.
I’ve been at the Charles Koch Foundation for the last 15 years and have worked my way up to my current position as executive director.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
You need to become either a doctor, lawyer, or accountant.
How I responded:
There were various influences that pushed me towards these careers. Some came from my parents, some from the way I was raised, and some from my "check the box" mentality that these are the careers I had to pursue to live the life I wanted. I eventually realized the world is much more dynamic than that in regards to the opportunities there are for people to build fulfilling careers. If I could go back, I'd pay more attention to passion and aptitude from the start and chart a course based on that.