From Small Town Indiana to Global Entrepreneur
Set against the backdrop of a small town in Indiana, where dreams seemed simultaneously simple and unreachable, Kayla Pena’s story weaves a narrative of ambition, resilience, and the pursuit of freedom. Now nestled in Malaga, Spain, she reflects on a journey that defied the expectations of her humble beginnings. With the founding of Accountful Advising, Kayla has not only created a thriving financial consulting business but has also carved out the life she always dreamed of.
Kayla’s earliest lessons in entrepreneurship were involuntary. Her father, an immigrant from Mexico, worked tirelessly, though never as a business owner. And at home, aspirations were refreshingly unstifled. A childhood attempt to start a lemonade stand quickly taught her the vital truth about markets: you need people. But even without a clear entrepreneurial influence, Kayla was drawn to the idea of starting something on her own and having the freedom that came with it.
In college, at the Kelly School of Business at Indiana University, Kayla immersed herself in finance. The education was robust, even prestigious, yet it was her post-college experiences that initiated her into the world of accounting. It turns out, as Kayla puts it, she "fell into it with a stroke of luck." An accounting job, snagged mid-studies, took hold of her professional path. At the time, she had ambitions of being a financial planner, yet found herself part of an evolving dance with numbers that would eventually become integral to her business vision.
After graduation, Kayla’s explorations weren’t just restricted to the classroom or job circuits. Her spirit of independence had her living out of a suitcase, hopping from Barbados to Mexico, living life on her terms. It wasn’t just a lust for exotic locations, but a deeper quest for autonomy that set her apart. Accounting granted her the flexibility of remote work, an atypical luxury back then, which she leveraged with graceful tenacity.
Starting Accountful Advising was less of a leap and more a natural step in keeping with her lifestyle—made sweeter by the opportunity presented by her previous employer’s willingness to retain her part-time. This arrangement sowed the seeds for her business, allowing her to focus on marketing herself and finding her authentic narrative. “I didn’t really know what I was selling or what I stood for until recently,” Kayla reflects, a testament to the organic evolution of her venture.
The early days were carefree yet marked by a stark lesson: the pitfalls of comfort. A steady client tapered amidst financial turbulence, which necessitated a hustle harder than before. With a sales coach bridging the knowledge gaps, Kayla found her footing in the often gritty reality of scaling a business. She learned to not only attract clients but to convert them into believers of her tailored, financial roadmap services.
Moving into present day, Kayla’s inflection point is marked by a significant hire—her first full-time employee. This milestone signifies a liberation from working within the business to working on it. The intricacies of growth command her focus now. Her thoughts are on strategy, connections, and dwelling on the realization that in professional services, clarity and confidence are as pivotal as skill.
Kayla’s story is a vivid tapestry of relatable struggles, triumphant pivots, and the endless quest for autonomy. She didn’t just build a business; she crafted a life where work complements living. As she looks toward the horizon, the excitement is palpable. The road wasn’t straightforward, but as Kayla reminds us, no two founder stories are ever the same.
Thrive builds vetted peer groups for founders. Curious who you’d be matched with? Apply today.
