Nov. 8, 2022

This week’s Up-and-Comer is Kara Tesch, a content strategist and copywriter at The First National Bank in Sioux Falls.

Name: Kara Tesch

Age: 23

Hometown: Watertown

What brought you to Sioux Falls?

My career! Aside from being a South Dakotan, I had no ties to Sioux Falls; it was just a city I drove through on the way home while attending school in Vermillion. But when I graduated from the University of South Dakota in 2021, I knew Sioux Falls was where I had to be if I wanted to pursue a marketing career in South Dakota. I moved here in July of that year and got this gig at First National Bank shortly thereafter.

What keeps you in Sioux Falls?

One of the best things about being new to Sioux Falls and working at a local bank — especially one in the heart of downtown — is that I quickly became ingrained in the city’s culture. From finding volunteer opportunities to discovering local businesses to support, it didn’t take long for me to get involved. I realized this is a city that cares about community, and it’s that culture that keeps me here.

What’s your favorite thing about your job?

The thing I love most about working in marketing is bringing ideas to life every day. At the bank, more specifically, I love that I have the creative freedom to put even my most ridiculous ideas into action. Whether it’s writing a “Legally Blonde”-themed ad, making a spooky season cybersecurity quiz or drinking tea with my teammates for a blog series, I’m welcome to be creative and innovative day in and day out — and the fact that someone pays me to do that absolutely blows my mind.

How did you get connected to your industry?

I always knew that I wanted to be a writer, but my intended career field has changed a lot throughout my life. By the time I went off to college, I had made up my mind that I was going to be a newspaper reporter. Then, I took a strategic communications class as an elective during my junior year, and my professor, Lori Costello — who would eventually become my unofficial mentor — encouraged me to apply for USD’s National Student Advertising Competition team. I didn’t think I had what it took to do advertising, but I made the team as a copywriter and quickly realized I had found my passion.

For my senior year, I served as a copywriter and creative team lead for our NSAC team. We were tasked with building a national ad campaign for Tinder, and our USD team beat out six other schools to win at the district level for the first time in decades! Although we didn’t advance past the semifinals, it was that whole experience that made me realize I could actually make a career out of this. I also owe a lot to Lori, who not only turned me on to advertising but believed in me and my abilities every step of the way.

Describe The First National Bank in Sioux Falls in three words.

Community-first. Innovative. Generous.

 What is something someone might be surprised to learn about you?

I co-hosted a sports talk radio show called “The Replay” in college. My co-host, Heidi, was a sport marketing major — and she knew way more than me — but we just played music, gave unsolicited sports opinions and had a good time for an hour every Thursday night. We also were the only female sports show hosts on the USD radio station at the time, which was cool.

What’s your favorite way to give back to your community?

I’m a member of the bank’s KindnessFirst committee, which hosts free events as a way to support local businesses and give back to community members. Most recently, I co-organized an event at Thunder Road where we gave away 335 free tickets! We have a KindnessFirst event almost every month, so keep an eye on the FNBSF Facebook page to get in on the action.

What’s one business you’d like to see in Sioux Falls that isn’t here now?

It seems like a lot of people are answering this question with Trader Joe’s, and that’s the route I’m going to go too. Maybe we can collectively speak it into existence.

If you had $1 million to start a business, what kind of business would it be?

I would definitely start my own ad agency and use that money to build a team of amazingly talented individuals. Look up New York agency Mischief @ No Fixed Address to see what vibes I’m going for.

Side note: I would donate a portion of our profits to university writing centers, which help college students improve their writing skills and give the young writers who work there as tutors a great part-time job opportunity while in school. First National Bank has shown me how important it is for a business to give back, and I worked at the USD Writing Center in college, so I would like to give back to my roots when I become a successful entrepreneur — wink, wink.