Behind the Blue

Highlighting Women in Business at UK

BY KODY KISER AND LINDSEY PIERCY

For Jennifer Siebenthaler, her entrepreneurial spirit started at a young age.

“The earliest memory I have was when I set up a bank in my house, so that I could loan money to my older brother,” she said. “But the regulators of the household — my parents — shut me down, because they didn’t approve of the interest rates that I was charging him.”

As the associate dean for undergraduate affairs and senior lecturer in the Von Allmen School of Accountancy in the University of Kentucky Gatton College of Business and Economics, Siebenthaler still has an undeniable passion for business.

But she admits, there were many barriers she had to overcome throughout her 30-year career.

Siebenthaler’s background as a CPA has led her to work as an auditor specializing in health care and other nonprofit entities, and to consulting various businesses before transitioning to education.

“The earliest memory I have was when I set up a bank in my house, so that I could loan money to my older brother…But the regulators of the household — my parents — shut me down, because they didn’t approve of the interest rates that I was charging him.”

—Jennifer Siebenthaler

“Early in my career, there were not a lot of role models at the time to even stand up and say, if you want to do this, this is the support you’re going to need,” Siebenthaler continued.

According to the National Women’s Business Council annual report, 42 percent of all U.S.

businesses are owned by women, and in 2019 those businesses employed more than 9.4 million workers.

However, based on the annual Women in the Workplace study by LeanIn.org and McKinsey & Company, “Women leaders are switching jobs at the highest rate we’ve ever seen, which could have serious implications for companies that are already facing underrepresentation in those roles.”

Understanding the challenges women face as backers and founders, leaders and earners, Siebenthaler now serves as a mentor for students and colleagues.

Susan Zhu, who joined Gatton College three years ago as an assistant professor of management, believes having support is invaluable. “I don’t take for granted that I’m able to be in a position where I’m part of the school and part of the business community,” she said. But, Zhu believes, there’s still more work to be done.

In an effort to build and grow a diverse and inclusive student, faculty and staff community, Gatton College launched Women Business Leaders — a mentoring program that aims to empower undergraduate students.

“Part of mentoring is reminding everybody who is going into the workplace — don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself, especially women,” Zhu said. “Just ask for what you want. Advocating doesn’t hurt, and try for all different types of opportunities.”

Zhu and Siebenthaler hope more opportunities will create a new generation of women leaders — across the Commonwealth and beyond.

Closings

Steve Hein, of E. Stephen Hein Florist, has announced plans to retire, and to close the iconic Lexington floral shop after more than four decades. The last day of the shop is planned for June 30, so there’s still time to celebrate one last Mother’s Day.

Business Calendar

WED MAY 3

May’s Chamber Business Link is at 4 pm at Guide Realty.

WED MAY 10

“How to Do Business with Local Government & Quasi-Government Organizations,” 5 pm, 450 Park Place.

THU MAY 11

LYPA’s May Networking event is sponsored by U.S. Bank and hosted by Par 6 Social, 5:30 pm.

MON MAY 15

Apply Now for Leadership Lexington. Leadership Lexington is an eleven-month leadership development program sponsored by Commerce Lexington and directed toward individuals who demonstrate leadership qualities. The program gives participants the opportunity to better understand our city and to prepare for the challenges it faces by meeting with and learning from today’s leaders. Applications for the 2023-24 class will be open until May 15, 2023. Tuition is $1800 and scholarships are available.

WED MAY 17

UK Women’s Basketball coach Kyra Elzy will deliver the morning keynote at Women Leading Kentucky’s Business and Leadership conference, Marriott Griffin Gate.

SAT MAY 20

Fayette County residents may bring up to five boxes or bags of material to be shredded at no cost at Lexington’s Spring Paper Shred event. Shred-it securely destroys documents on-site with their fleet of mobile shredding trucks. The material collected is recycled. 9 am to 2 pm, 1631 Old Frankfort Pike.