Katie Svihlik-Burpo

You lead from behind in times of success
but lead from the front in times of crisis.
And sometimes, you must do both.
In an ever-changing world, Katie SvihlikBurpo knows the importance of being
adaptable - and learning as you go.
Svihlik-Burpo, CEO, GoldStar Learning
Options, Inc., said that her personal and
professional leadership growth has been
monumental in the last year. The lessons,
coaching, and mentors she has connected
with have provided valuable information
throughout the year to apply to her industry.
“It is challenging to only select one lesson as
I have two that have changed the trajectory
of the entire company,” she said. “The first
is to let go of what you cannot control. It is
imperative to, not only trust, but empower
those around you to make mistakes and let go
of the control as well.” She added, “The next
lesson is discovering and actually prioritizing
working on the business to make it stronger
and more sustainable. An example I lived by,
and a challenge I gave to my team this year, is
to be decisive, show action forward and lead
in the times of change and struggles to show
the confidence in you and show the strength
of GoldStar.”
Svihlik-Burpo’s role has shifted many
times through the year. She became a support for
the management team and was able to redesign the
company’s entire service model - about a dozen times.
“With each change we faced, I had to inspire the team
to focus on how important and valued what we are
continuing to accomplish is to the people we serve, and
at the same time, not to put so much heavy weight on
the elements we cannot control and what we cannot
do for others,” she said. “I helped them learn new roles
and strategies to see we are stronger as a team and
with everyone looking to me for guidance and action, I
discovered and engaged my team to know, I am only
one person.”
She said she instilled the importance that, “our reach
together is exponentially further when we can lead and
guide management teams to in turn, empower teams of
their own. Each and every day, our goal had to be giving
hope to our employees that together, we will not only
survive, but thrive through this.”
Svihlik-Burpo managed this balance with leadership
characteristics of a true Titan.
“On one side we had clients with budgets cut in half, but
the support needed by them was not going down, on the
other hand we had clients who were processing hundreds
of thousands of unemployment checks and the systems
were not ready or even designed for such a surge in
unemployment,” she said. “We supported both types of
clients on the spectrum and continued to become even
more trusted partners to our client base.”
Svihlik-Burpo said that this approach again has been
fruitful, and the company has been seeing positive results
in the beginning of 2021 with clients asking us for more
help which will result in continued growth.
“It is with this information I have been able to identify
the priorities to focus,” she said. “I have implemented
the beginning of moving our internal processes and
operational tasks to the appropriate people as well as
identified where my leadership team will best thrive.”
She explained that this perspective and leadership
has catapulted the drive for success in each of them
and reignited their purpose and passion in what
they are doing, and that much of her momentum
and growth in the past year is due to her interactions
with other Titans.
“Each Titan meeting and event held this year has
given me a new idea to implement and reinforce.
With all the peaks and valleys so many have
encountered this year, I am grateful I learned so
much, and met so many, to inspire my own growth
and progress!”
Svihlik-Burpo shared her words of success: “By
taking initiative, beginning momentum, and
empowering your team to face those challenges,
your team continues to lead, and they are equipped
to embrace the change on the horizon.”
Svihlik-Burpo is the example of an adaptable Titan
of industry

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