Where Business Meets Inspiration: Kay Self Joins Lander as Executive-in-Residence

When it comes to building businesses and communities, Kay Self knows what it takes to make ideas thrive. A Greenwood business leader and advocate for regional economic growth, Self has spent her career helping organizations and entrepreneurs turn vision into reality.

Now, she’s bringing that wealth of experience to Lander University as the institution’s executive-in-residence, where she will mentor students, share insights from her years in economic development and inspire the next generation of business innovators and leaders.

“I am deeply honored to serve as executive-in-residence at Lander University’s College of Business and Technology,” said Self, executive director of VisionGreenwood, a nonprofit organization formed in 2021 to strengthen Greenwood’s future through strategic investments in economic vitality, innovation and quality of life.

“What I value most about this role is the opportunity to share real-world experiences to students at Lander University and help them discover how their talents can shape the world around them,” she said. “At the same time, I see this as a two-way exchange: I look forward to learning from the students – their fresh perspectives, their energy and their vision for the future.”

Executive-in-residence programs are vital to universities, such as Lander, which have strong business and leadership programs. Self is the first person to be appointed as executive-in-residence for a full academic year, said Dr. Lloyd Willis, dean of Lander’s College of Business and Technology.

“With her involvement in economic and workforce development, entrepreneurship and collaborations between public and private partnerships, Kay Self’s expertise is unlike that of anyone in our college,” Willis said.

Self’s involvement with Lander runs deep. In August, VisionGreenwood announced a Partnership with Lander to launch a new cohort of the Propel Business Lab, bringing practical, community-driven business training directly to aspiring entrepreneurs in Greenwood County and the Lakelands region.

“By combining Lander’s academic expertise with VisionGreenwood’s focus on community and economic development, we are giving emerging entrepreneurs access to the tools, mentorship and networks they need to succeed,” she said.

Through her previous service on the Self Regional Healthcare Foundation, Self has had the opportunity to impact the education of nurses at Lander. She views the growth at Lander University over the past decade as transformational.

“The University has grown both in enrollment and academic strength, while also deepening its connection to the community,” Self said. “I’m especially impressed with how Lander University has managed to expand and innovate while remaining focused on its student-centered mission.”

In all her business and community efforts, Self has a reputation for igniting ambition and being a catalyst for success. Early in her career, for example, Self directed the South Carolina Festival of Flowers and introduced the festival’s signature topiary displays in Uptown. This move was instrumental in raising the event’s profile as a regional attraction, bringing thousands of visitors to Greenwood each year for the popular festival.

Her statewide impact as a leader is reflected through her service as board member and chair of the Intellectual and Real Property Committee for the Greenwood Genetic Center Foundation; as a board member of the South Carolina Biotechnology Innovation Organization, and as a participant on the Life Sciences Workforce Development Task Force. She was appointed to the South Carolina Broadband Advisory Council by the state Office of Regulatory Staff, guiding efforts to extend equitable internet access across the state.

“My desire to keep moving forward stems from growing up in a family that valued hard work, perseverance and using our talents to create opportunities for others,” she said. “I’ve seen firsthand how thoughtful leadership and collaboration can transform communities, and that experience motivates me to continue striving for progress.”

Looking ahead, Self said that she hopes to continue using her experience to guide Greenwood and the Lakelands toward an even more vibrant future – “supporting innovation, fostering collaboration and helping the next generation of leaders see the value of investing in their communities.”