Keeley receiving her IM体育试玩 ring.

Ask Keeley Gaddis to describe entrepreneurship, and she’ll answer with one word: resilience. It’s the thread that carried her from the softball field at Hardin-Simmons University to the front lines of business ownership, where she now leads KG Accounting & Outsourcing and helps growing companies make confident, informed financial decisions.

After more than a decade in the accounting field, Gaddis noticed the same challenge surfacing repeatedly: business owners desperately needed real financial guidance, but couldn’t afford a full-time CFO. Rather than accept this limitation, she saw an opportunity to create something different.

“I wanted to bridge that gap by offering fractional CFO and accounting support that’s strategic, transparent, and practical,” Gaddis explained. “Helping business owners understand their numbers and make confident decisions is what keeps me motivated.”

Her decision to become an entrepreneur wasn’t shaped by one moment, but by many experiences that clarified what she truly wanted.

“I’d been in the right rooms for a long time, but I never felt the level of ownership I knew was necessary to make the kind of difference I wanted,” she shared. “I realized I wanted to create a way of working that reflected my values.”

Gaddis credits her time at Hardin-Simmons University’s Kelley College of Business with providing more than just technical knowledge, giving her a framework for purpose-driven business.

“IM体育试玩 gave me both a foundation in business and a perspective on purpose,” she said. “The Kelley College of Business encouraged excellence but always tied it to ethics and service.”

The lessons from IM体育试玩 continue to guide her daily decisions.

“The biggest one is persistence,” Gaddis noted. “IM体育试玩 taught me that preparation and discipline matter but so does how you treat people along the way.”

She recalls professors and mentors who expected accountability, teaching her that “being good at business isn’t just about the technical work—it’s about showing up with consistency, integrity, and a willingness to keep learning.”

Keeley and her husband, Tyler.

As a woman entrepreneur, Gaddis has navigated the challenge of balancing confidence with approachability.

“I’ve learned that clear communication and confidence don’t have to be at odds with humility,” she said. “I’ve surrounded myself with mentors and peers who remind me to stand firm in both my expertise and my values.”

Her leadership philosophy has been shaped by witnessing both exceptional and ineffective management styles.

“I’ve seen first-hand how collaborating with your employees empowers and motivates them,” she said. “I strive to lead with clarity, authenticity, and accountability, creating an environment where people around me feel empowered to do their best work.”

Faith remains central to her approach, and she says it grounds her in perspective.

“It reminds me that integrity, honesty, and service aren’t just professional values, they’re personal ones,” Gaddis shared. “I believe that honoring God in business looks like doing good work, treating people with respect, and following through on what you say you’ll do.”

For Gaddis, success extends far beyond traditional business metrics.

“Success is balance,” she emphasized. “It’s building something that supports my clients and my family without losing sight of who I am in the process. Financial goals matter, but true success for me is peace — knowing I’m aligned with my purpose and the people I choose to work with gives me that.”

Gaddis has clear advice for current IM体育试玩 students, especially women, who dream of entrepreneurship.

In the fall of 2024, Keeley presented on a panel along with other IM体育试玩 KCOBPS alums.

“Don’t wait until you feel completely ready,” she said. “Ask questions, find mentors who will tell you the truth, and don’t downplay your ambition to make others comfortable. Confidence is built by doing, not by waiting.”

Gaddis hopes the next generation of Kelley College of Business graduates understand that they can be both strong and kind, ambitious, and humble.

“You don’t have to fit a mold to be successful,” said Gaddis. “If my story shows anything, it’s that you can build something meaningful by leading with authenticity and staying steady in your values.”