NCMA's Past National President, Kim Rupert, Named to 2018 "Women Who Mean Business" List
Kim Rupert, CPCM, CFCM, Fellow, has been named to the Washington Business Journal’s 15th annual list of the top 25 influential businesswomen in the Washington, DC, metro area. She served as NCMA’s national president for the 2017–2018 program year, and currently serves as past national president on the Board of Directors and as a member of the Council of Fellows.
Rupert currently holds the position of chief risk officer at Science Applications International Corp (SAIC) in Tysons, Virginia. She has been with SAIC for over 20 years in positions of increasing authority and previously served as the senior vice president of Contracts and Pricing.
Nominated by her organization and chosen from over 400 nominees, Rupert was selected for her professional achievements and her philanthropic involvement. In addition to her time spent volunteering with NCMA, she’s also active with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and the charity, Feeding America.
We chatted with Rupert to learn more about what the award means to her personally.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE CHOSEN FOR THE 2018 “WOMEN WHO MEAN BUSINESS” LIST?
“It’s such an incredible honor to be among these women and I admire them greatly. It’s fantastic that WBJ specifically acknowledges the achievements of women. Recently, we were all at a dinner for this year’s winners, and it was so exciting to hear their success stories. There was so much electricity in the room.”
WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST MEANINGFUL ASPECT OF YOUR CAREER THUS FAR?
“Without a doubt, to be selected by my peers to lead NCMA’s Board of Directors as their president. It was truly the ultimate honor to be able to serve my profession in that capacity.”
DO YOU FEEL THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN IN THE FIELD OF CONTRACT MANAGEMENT?
“There are incredible opportunities for women in every profession. We have made such progress across the board and I am proud to be in a position that supports the next generation of women. In this profession specifically, women are successful because they bring intuitive skills to the contracts career field. Women are naturally good at multitasking and in this field, you often have to do six things at once! It’s also a career field that is supportive and mentors young people throughout their careers, and again, women just home in on these skills. I’m proud to have known many women who have succeeded in this field.”
WHAT ROLE HAS NCMA PLAYED IN YOUR CAREER DEVELOPMENT?
“NCMA has been truly pivotal for me and my career. From very early on, I’ve always looked to NCMA for opportunities where I can connect with others, meet and talk in a neutral setting, share stories and confirm your own ways of doing things. It’s also provided me an endless supply of learning! This is my ninth and final year on the board, but I hope to continue to serve the profession in some respect. To volunteer, to learn and grow — NCMA offers that in great quantities. I’ve always felt that volunteerism in your career is the payback for all the great things that NCMA does for your career along the way.” CM