Her Story
About Kyla
Kyla Petcoff is a Royalty Specialist at Zak Designs, where she brings together accounting expertise, analytical precision, and a strong attention to detail to manage royalty payments associated with licensed products. Her career path began somewhat unexpectedly with an accounting coordinator position while she was in school, eventually leading her to discover a genuine interest in royalty management and licensing. Before joining Zak Designs, Kyla developed a diverse professional background through roles in customer success, employee relations, staffing, healthcare revenue-cycle management, and database administration, building a versatile foundation in data management, coordination, training, and operations.
Curiosity and a willingness to learn are central to Kyla’s approach to her career. She believes asking questions is a strength and encourages others to avoid feeling embarrassed about what they do not know, recognizing that questions create opportunities for growth and deeper understanding. Her experience at the YWCA Spokane further strengthened her commitment to community engagement, where she supported constituent data, events, communications, training, and donor-related initiatives. She has also contributed to business expansion and hiring initiatives and participated in a medical dispensary project that involved presenting before the Iowa Board of Health. Across these experiences, Kyla has continued to challenge herself, develop transferable skills, and embrace opportunities outside her comfort zone.
Kyla is also expanding her expertise beyond accounting and royalty management into digital marketing. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Washington University, a Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce Professional Certificate, and a Master of Science in Digital Marketing from Western Governors University. Her interests include data analytics, search engine optimization, email marketing, personal branding, and creating inclusive, authentic campaigns. She values curiosity, authenticity, growth, integrity, compassion, balance, and community, while emphasizing wellness and intentional self-care. Supported by mentors who have encouraged her professional development, Kyla continues to build a career defined by persistence, adaptability, and the belief that there is always something new to learn.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kyla
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to curiosity, self-motivation, persistence, and a willingness to embrace new challenges. I believe in asking questions, learning from others, and continually looking for opportunities to grow rather than pretending to have all the answers. Mentorship, collaboration, and my diverse professional experiences have helped me build transferable skills and discover opportunities I may not have expected. I compete with myself, always asking, “What can I learn next?” and challenging myself to step outside my comfort zone.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to never start a question by saying, “Can I ask you a dumb question?” Be confident in asking questions and comfortable admitting what you don’t know. Asking for clarification is not a weakness—it’s an opportunity to learn, grow, and become better at what you do.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the industry is to be confident in asking questions and admitting what you don’t know. Never preface a question by calling it “dumb”—questions are an important part of learning and growth. Seek out mentors who can share their experience, provide guidance, and support your professional development.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
There are exciting opportunities to grow through new suppliers and expanding business relationships. At the same time, tariffs present challenges by affecting shipments, fulfillment, costs, and royalty payments. Navigating these changes requires flexibility, careful planning, and strong collaboration.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are curiosity, authenticity, growth, integrity, compassion, balance, and community. I believe in continuous learning, treating others with respect, and creating an environment where people feel comfortable asking questions. I also prioritize personal well-being through reflection, therapy, meditation, and meaningful relationships, while giving back to my community. For me, success means continuing to grow while staying true to who I am and maintaining balance in both my personal and professional life.
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