Something that's always remained with Mary Beth Jarvis during her professional career — from years in the Air Force to Koch Industries to Wichita Festivals Inc. and now NXTUS — is the craving for more.
"One of the things that over time I have appreciated in my approach to life is that I am always thirsty to learn something new," she said. "And whether that's a new industry, or how different people's brains work, or the nuances of different sorts of relationships, organizations, causes, communities. So every job I've ever had allowed me to learn new stuff, and therefore I have loved every job I've ever had. That's awesome. It's a huge gift."
Jarvis, the former leader of Wichita Festivals who's now executive director of NTXUS, spoke with a group of WBJ Career Women and Career Women 2.0 members on Thursday. She noted that the yearning to learn more about new areas is also a challenge.
"What it also means is when you look at what you want to do next, it's like a big, gigantic, wide-open, sprawling array of 'Sure, I might like that,'" Jarvis said. "Some people start with what they love and find that. What I love is this general idea that I can keep learning stuff and some particular professional skills or affinities that I developed over the years. My problem is that can apply to anything. But that's also my opportunity."
Jarvis and her husband first came to Wichita stationed at McConnell Air Force Base. After seven years of Air Force service, Jarvis began work in communications areas at Koch Industries. She traveled the world working in many areas of Koch's assets, and in her later years her self-admitted traits as a "community dork" started coming out with service to the city.
That led in 2012 to becoming president and CEO of Wichita Festivals, the community nonprofit that puts on Riverfest and other city celebrations. More curiosity led to NXTUS, where she's in charge of a pilot accelerator that pairs entrepreneurial startups with community partners.
At Koch Industries, Jarvis showed a willingness to change into new roles because of the continued desire to learn something new.
"Screw your courage to the wall and make jumps when you want to, but frankly that means change even right where you are," Jarvis said. "Fifteen years at Koch and I had eight different roles, and that was because I kept raising my hand going, 'You know, I could try that. I might be able to do that.' ... Engage with change in using your bravest self. And my guess is it'll pay off."
