Keven Ambrus, CFO –

Amherst H. Wilder Foundation

If you could try a different job for a day, what would you choose? 

I would be a college basketball coach, either men’s or women’s, because I would like to teach the game. My attraction is the opportunity to teach strategy and teach the players how to get the most out of their physical skills.

I think back on watching the Chicago Bulls teams and how they not only played their opponents but also how they used strategy and teamwork to overcome their shortcomings. They were taught how to win, and I would love to share that with a team.

What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry? 

Challenge yourself and think big. Try things that you don’t think you can accomplish and learn how to think critically by watching and listening to others who are successful. If you are interested in developing yourself, you must allow yourself to be uncomfortable and challenged to try something different.

What is your mantra?

“No Margin, No Mission”. It’s a simple business concept. I believe every person wants to maintain their standard of living as well as be able to improve their quality of life.

Businesses are no different. To stay in business, you must be able to absorb increased costs from year to year as well as be able to invest and attract quality staff. A business must also be able to invest in infrastructure and pay its employees more to maintain their quality of life. A company needs to make a profit margin to make these investments and to stay in business. For nonprofits, nonprofit is a tax code and not the mission.

How do you get yourself out of a slump?

To get myself out of a slump I practice self-care by exercising. My mind and thoughts are cleared when I strenuously exercise. So, whenever I have a tough day, I make sure to get a long run or swim in. The endorphins kick in and before I know it, I have either solved whatever problem I am trying to solve, or I have completely relaxed so I can think clearly later.

What companies or leaders do you admire? 

I admire single parents who raise their children and work full-time jobs. I was raised by a single mother and I learned so much from her. I learned my work ethic from her. She also taught me to challenge myself and that anything worth doing requires effort.

What has been the biggest shift you’ve noticed in your industry in the last decade?

I think there have been two major changes in the industry; The work environment created by the Covid pandemic and the improvement in technology that has supported working from home.

In the last decade, technological improvements have allowed for virtual office meetings which have reduced the need for travel and allowed for more connections with non-local markets.

The technological improvements have also allowed for increased outreach for mental health care by supporting telehealth.

Who has been most instrumental in your career? 

I have to say, my mother. My mother insisted that both my brother and I get a quality education and that we did not limit ourselves or avoid taking opportunistic risks. Her guidance laid the foundation that provided us with the opportunity to apply for challenging positions.

She also instilled in both of us the idea that we could achieve anything we wanted to achieve if we were willing to work for it and put in the effort. It is this thinking that gave me the confidence to try different things and allowed me to not be afraid to challenge myself with learning opportunities.

What is your go-to celebration meal, drink or tradition?  

I consider myself a foodie, my favorite dessert is either authentic Tiramisu or authentic German Chocolate Cake with coconut frosting, yum!