Cultural Enhancement Calendar

Kyla Scanlon is redefining how a new generation understands the economy. An economic commentator, educator, and creator, as well as a bestselling author and WKU alumna, Kyla is best known for making complex financial systems make sense. With nearly a million engaged followers across platforms, she breaks down everything from jobs and monetary policy to the narratives driving markets and culture. She coined the now widely used term “vibecession” to describe the disconnect between strong economic data and public sentiment—an example of her ability to capture and translate economic shifts into language everyone can grasp. Her debut book, In This Economy? How Money and Markets Really Work, became a New York Times bestseller, cementing her role as the go-to voice translating today’s economy for tomorrow’s leaders.In her newest venture Scanlon is bringing her content and expertise to CNN as a Contributor & Economic Analyst.

On stage, Kyla doesn’t lecture; she sparks conversations. She helps people not just keep up with the economy, but see themselves within it, and she brings this lens to stages everywhere, from financial institutions to universities and nonprofit organizations. Her audiences leave equipped with a clearer understanding of how the economy works, but also with practical tools for navigating it—whether they’re finance leaders, consultants advising clients, labor groups advocating for workers, or students imagining their future place in the market. With her clarity and warmth, Kyla invites audiences into a dialogue about the forces shaping our world, empowering them to think critically, communicate better, and make more informed decisions.

Kyla’s insights have been featured by The New York Times, Financial Times, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal, among others. She was recently named to Barron’s list of the 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance and recognized by MarketWatch as one of the 50 Most Influential People in Markets.