Kristi Powell

Background

About Kristi Powell

I am a firm believer that we are all capable of greatness—defined not by circumstances, but by how hard we are willing to work and how we respond to adversity. Life brings all of us challenges, but it is how we stand in the face of those challenges that defines our character. That belief has shaped both my personal life and my professional approach. At my core, I am a people-first leader. I love the "people business"—whether that means serving, training, supporting, or simply listening. I thrive in environments where I get to build authentic relationships, hear people’s stories, and create space for others to succeed. I bring that same energy into my work leading teams, mentoring staff, and supporting community partners. On the other side of that coin, I am also a systems thinker. I enjoy taking on complex challenges and finding clear, creative solutions. Whether it is managing grants, building infrastructure, or interpreting data to drive impact, I have a strong operational backbone and a deep commitment to helping organizations run more effectively. I especially enjoy work that connects vision with structure—where mission meets measurable progress. With over 15 years of leadership experience, including nonprofit operations, cross-sector partnerships, and program strategy, I bring both relational insight and strategic rigor to the table. My work has been rooted in trust, equity, and long-term impact—particularly through my close work with grassroots and faith-based organizations across Tulsa and beyond.