Contact: Sara Diedrich, diedrichs@missouri.edu
Dec. 15, 2025
Photo by Abbie Lankitus
It didn’t take Kyle Klostermann long to realize the kind of leader he wanted to be at the University of Missouri — one who puts others first. From his first day on campus, he eagerly seized the opportunities Mizzou offered, sharpening his skills and building a leadership style rooted in empowering those around him.
On Friday, Klostermann will cross the stage with both undergraduate and master’s degrees in accounting from the Robert J. Trulaske, Sr. College of Business and a future already in motion, with a position waiting at KPMG in Chicago.
Klostermann credits Mizzou for shaping not only his career path, but also his character.
“I’ve learned what it truly means to be a leader — to lead through service, to show up for others and to strive to be my best not for myself, but for the people who look to me for guidance,” he said. “People are always searching for a role model, a mentor or simply someone who can help them navigate challenges in their personal and professional lives. I’ve always tried to be that person, someone who lifts others up and helps them succeed.”
Finding his footing at Mizzou
Klostermann, who grew up near St. Louis in Wildwood, Missouri, transferred to Mizzou in the spring of his freshman year to join his older brother, Ryan, an accounting major who now works at KPMG in Kansas City. A couple of years later, their younger brother, Blake, now a sophomore, completed the trio by enrolling in the same program.
As a transfer student, Klostermann was ready to dive in, but needed help navigating his options. He sought out Lindsay Hing, assistant director of Business Career Services at Trulaske, who helped him get his footing.
“During those first few weeks, Lindsay helped me map out a plan and find my place here,” he said. “Because of her support, I was able to settle in and feel connected to the university almost immediately.”
He also leaned on his membership in the Cornell Leadership Program (CLP), turning to its director, Mary Beth Marrs, for guidance as he began shaping his career goals.
“She has been an invaluable resource, guiding me as I explored potential paths and discovered what truly inspires me,” Klostermann said. “She once encouraged me to write down the 10 things that matter most to me — the values and passions that define who I am — and reminded me that the right career should align with those priorities. That exercise gave me the clarity and direction I needed.”
He ultimately chose the 150-hour Integrated BSAcc/MAcc at Trulaske, a five-year academic program in which students graduate with their bachelor of science in accountancy and master of accountancy degrees at the same time. He decided on accounting, often called the language of business, because its skills apply across all areas of business.
Hitting his stride
Once he had his bearing, Klostermann stepped into a leadership role early on, becoming a student ambassador for Trulaske and using his own journey to guide other students.
He also dove into the Allen Angel Capital Education (AACE) Program at Trulaske, in which Mizzou students act as real-world investors backing high-growth startup companies. At the time, the student-run fund managed about $700,000 in assets, most of it invested across 15 portfolio companies. Klostermann spent two years in the program, including a year as managing director, gaining firsthand experience in building and steering investment portfolios.
“The experience with AACE taught me what makes a company successful and what it truly means to invest with purpose,” he said. “It mirrors the same discipline and analytical process required to succeed in the business world. Because it is student-run, I also had the opportunity to teach and mentor others, a meaningful way to practice servant leadership and help fellow students grow.”
Through his membership in CLP, Klostermann traveled to Wall Street in New York City, Denver, Dallas, Kansas City and St. Louis, where he connected with industry leaders and gained firsthand exposure to high-level business environments. He also immersed himself in leadership workshops and executive luncheons designed to sharpen his leadership skills and build the business acumen essential for long-term success. He even traveled to Munich and Berlin, Germany, where he met with the Munich Chamber of Commerce, toured several companies and learned firsthand how international business shapes U.S. industries.
Klostermann also took advantage of Trulaske’s University of Missouri Investment Group, which allows students to interact with professionals in high finance and offers a range of educational and networking opportunities for those interested in investment banking, private equity, asset management and other capital-markets careers.
Across all three of these experiences, Klostermann was impressed by the involvement and support of alumni.
“Their willingness to return, mentor and open doors for students is one of the things that makes Trulaske such a special place,” he said. “It truly sets students up for successful careers.”
His involvement and efforts paid off. At Mizzou, Klostermann was named a Mizzou ’39 honoree and received the coveted Ed Rapp Leadership Award.
Memories and lessons learned
Part of the reason Klostermann transferred to Mizzou was to join his older brother, who was studying accounting at Trulaske. Another reason was to experience the excitement of SEC sports. Some of his favorite college memories include traveling to the 2023 Cotton Bowl to watch Mizzou topple The Ohio State University, and cheering on the Tigers as they defeated the University of Kansas in basketball last year.
Beyond the excitement of athletics, Klostermann’s academic experiences at Mizzou reinforced the importance of preparation and hard work.
“You can never be too prepared,” he said. “No matter what you face in life, being ready — able to answer questions, think critically and respond with confidence — sets you up to succeed.”
He also came to appreciate that, for him, true leadership isn’t about titles but leading by example and making everyone feel valued.
“I saw how powerful it is when leaders work hard, hold themselves to high standards and create an environment where people know their contributions matter,” he said. “Those experiences shaped the kind of leader I strive to be.”
Klostermann’s advice to incoming students is to get involved and dream big.
“Mizzou gives you the space and the resources to pursue whatever you hope to achieve,” he said. “If you set ambitious goals and fully commit yourself, this university will meet you there. Dream big, take advantage of every opportunity and strive to grow into the person you want to become.”
