Meet Kathy Taylor!

Kathy Taylor has long been an advocate for equity in education and business. She is a strategic businesswoman, captivating thought leader, community builder and steadfast advocate for women and entrepreneurship.

From her early days in law and as an executive of Dollar/Thrifty Car Rental to her most recent post as the Dean of the Collins College of Business at the University of Tulsa, she has focused on mentoring others to grow to their potential. Kathy has set the standard for including women in the highest ranks of decision making, serving as Mayor of Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Secretary of Commerce, Tourism and Workforce and on national boards, including Sonic Corporation, National Car Rental and Dollar Car Rental.

In her work towards gender equity and women’s advocacy, Kathy co-founded VEST, a robust network dedicated to unlocking women’s innovations, career potential and lifetime earnings through executive coaching and connections across industries.

Kathy’s passion for her community and vision for Tulsa’s future extend far beyond economic development. As the founder and CEO of Impact Tulsa, she worked to improve education outcomes for Tulsa children. She also served as chair and director of Reading Partners, which focuses on improving reading proficiency for students. As part of her legacy of service, she and her husband founded the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation.

Most recently, Kathy has supported community development through her latest venture, Anybody’s Guest, a retail store on Route 66 focused on increasing authentic relationships and community building.

Her service to her community is renowned. Serving on the Tulsa World Community Advisory Board, Kathy is a trusted leader in the community. She has been honored by numerous civic and education organizations, including the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame, the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice and the U.S. Navy as the Ship Sponsor for the USS Tulsa LCS-16. Most recently, she was awarded the Raymond and Nancy Feldman Lifetime Achievement Award by Tulsa Global Alliance.