Stephanie Bothun serves as Chief Operating Officer of CareerWise, where she focuses on advancing the organization’s strategy, strengthening operations, and supporting the growth of high-quality youth apprenticeship systems nationwide.
Stephanie’s work is grounded in a simple but powerful belief: too many young people face barriers that limit their access to opportunity. “Life is inherently unjust for too many people,” she shared. “I’ve spent my career working to level the playing field, especially when it comes to education and workforce access.”
That belief aligns closely with CareerWise’s vision to create an education system where students learn in both the classroom and the workplace, build real-world skills and networks, and access pathways to family-sustaining careers while employers develop the talent they need to grow. As COO, Stephanie helps ensure the strategy and systems behind this work are strong, scalable, and built to last.
Stephanie began her career as an eighth-grade teacher in Indianapolis Public Schools through Teach For America. While teaching was the hardest job she has ever had, it shaped her leadership style and commitment to equity. “Teaching solidified my passion to provide youth with meaningful opportunities,” she said. “It fundamentally shaped my values and career choices.”
She later worked in strategy and human capital consulting at Deloitte before serving in the Mayor’s Office of Education Innovation in Indianapolis, where she helped lead the Indianapolis Preschool Scholarship Program, a public-private partnership that expanded access to high-quality preschool for thousands of children from low-income families.
Stephanie went on to co-found Ascend Indiana, a workforce initiative designed to better connect education and employment. There, she helped create pathways to internships, training, and jobs for nearly 1,000 individuals, reinforcing her belief in partnerships and preparation as drivers of economic mobility.
Today, those principles continue to guide her leadership. “Whatever you do, give it your very best,” Stephanie said, citing The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday. “We owe it to ourselves and to the world to do our work well.”
Outside of work, Stephanie prioritizes family, faith, and service. She enjoys watching her kids in dance recitals, karate, basketball, flag football and more. She loves college and professional sports including Indiana football (National Champs!), and Pacers and Fever basketball with her husband, Gordon, and their twins, Charlotte and Caleb. She remains active in her faith and community by serving on multiple nonprofit boards focused on education including the board for her children’ s school. She is also an avid sourdough baker, a fun and creative outlet that forces her to slow down and enjoy the process.
At CareerWise, Stephanie is motivated by the inspiring staff who dedicate their time to this work, the students and communities the organization serves and by what is possible when systems are intentionally designed to expand opportunity. “If you have a chance to get in proximity and work alongside our young people – take it!,” she shared, “you will be inspired by their interest and ability to shape our future workforce and economy.”
