Board Spotlight: Kenton Epard
Kenton Epard, is the founder and CEO of The Nexus Initiative, a boutique thought leadership and advisory firm that helps leaders and teams become more adept at "figuring it out."
Responses have been edited for length and clarity.
Contact: LinkedIn
Email: [email protected]
Graduation Year: WG'06 (West)
What do you do professionally?
I am the founder and CEO of The Nexus Initiative, a boutique thought-leadership and advisory firm that helps leaders and teams become more adept at "figuring it out."
My work centers on Connection Intelligence™ (CQ), a framework I’m researching and developing to understand why some people reliably figure things out, while others get stuck. CQ is built on a simple truth: in a world of constant change, the one thing that doesn’t change is this — whoever figures it out first, wins.
I deliver this thought leadership through speaking engagements, workshops, and advisory and coaching services to senior leaders and teams. I also teach innovation and emotional intelligence at the University of Denver.
What are some interesting or exciting things about you?
My career has followed a non-linear path—from rural Kansas, to Silicon Valley startups, to personally launching/co-launching three ventures, and ultimately to my current role as founder of The Nexus Initiative. That winding journey fuels my research into how people figure things out when the map runs out or when they never had one to begin with. Through my experiences, I know of no single capability more predictive of success than the ability to “figure it out.”
To that end, I’m currently conducting research, with plans to publish my first book in 2026 or 2027, on the strategies people use to “figure it out.” In short, I’m studying how people who consistently figure it out actually do it, and what differentiates them from individuals who struggle to figure it out. I am actively seeking people to interview on this topic, so let me know if you have something to share!
I’m always open to conversations with people willing to share their stories, approaches, and lived experiences in solving hard problems under uncertainty.
How has your Wharton degree benefited you?
Wharton taught me how to think and the importance of building a wide range of knowledge, because you never know how something you learned in one discipline will resurface and solve a problem in another. You can't "connect the dots" to dots you have never been exposed to.
What advice would you offer those alumni who recently completed Wharton?
Stay up-to-date and continually competent. The world changes too fast for static expertise. Build range, stay curious, and don’t outsource your thinking. Focus on developing the ability to figure things out when the answer is not clear - that capability compounds more than any single credential.
Consistency beats intensity. Small daily actions win.
Is there any support you’d be open to providing to any local Wharton alum?
To be good citizens of a flourishing society, I'm a big believer that consumption has to be balanced with contribution. If we all "consume" and don't "contribute," then there is nobody left to contribute. To that end, if I can help anyone in any way they might need, I am open to doing so. Just reach out.
Are there any ways local Wharton alumni could help you or your company?
Yes. I’m actively collecting stories and insights for my research on how people figure things out. I’d welcome conversations with alumni willing to share:
• A moment when you had to figure something out without guidance
• How you personally approach complex or ambiguous problems
• Observations about people who consistently struggle to figure things out
These insights help inform my research on Connection Intelligence.
What are your favorite hobbies?
Being a father to three amazing kids and husband keeps me pretty busy these days. In my spare time (what's that? 😀), I enjoy fitness, reading, volunteering, and watching the Broncos (this year has been fun, again!).