2023 40 Under 40: Kathryn Wall

Kathryn Wall found her career passion early in college by being accepted to a program that focused on empowering women.

Post college, she dedicated her time to a two-year journalistic project called the “Every Child Promise,” aimed at meeting the needs of children in the community.

Wall, 36, has always been passionate about giving back. She moved on to work in health care, specializing in mental health efforts, and from those experiences she realized the power in telling the stories of others.

Wall joined Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks in April 2021 as the director of community engagement. She launched the BCFO’s first new program in more than a decade, focusing on women under 35 diagnosed with breast cancer. She raised $6,000 to fund it within five weeks.

Your proudest moment? Getting to stand on the stage at the Gillioz Theatre surrounded by breast cancer survivors making the announcement to launch our under-35 diagnostic mammogram program. There’s something really special about sharing an accomplishment with a group of people who understand that need better than anyone could.

Best piece of advice you’ve ever received? You don’t make friends when you need them. If I had tried to introduce myself to community partners as the pandemic started, I couldn’t have made an impact.

Favorite food item to order in the Springfield area? Anything from Cesar’s Old Mexico.