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Faces of Leeds

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Jamie Liu Photo

Jamie Liu (Info Analytics & Mktg’20, MS BUAN’21)

When Jamie graduated from Leeds in the midst of the pandemic, the job market was bleak. Rather than waiting for more job postings that did not align with her goals, she decided to stay at Leeds to pursue an MS in Business Analytics to gain a competitive advantage. With this extra time, Jamie has also been able to grow her coding skills. Using online programs like DataCamp and Kaggle, Jamie has become quite proficient in the Python programming language. Since graduating, she’s learned more about potential careers and is now seeking a data scientist role in the technology industry.

Anya Berlova FoL

Anya Berlova (Fin’21)

CEO/Founder of Anya Berlova Studio

As a freshman, Anya launched a company without much business know-how, but was compelled by a mission to combat childhood bullying. She founded Anya Berlova Studio, which uses whimsical characters to explore loneliness, teach anti-bullying tactics and encourage kids to celebrate their individuality.

“Peer pressure can try to rid you of what makes you, you,” says Anya. “Stand up for who you are and be unique.”

A talented illustrator, Anya surprised friends and family when she applied to business school. But she saw it as the perfect way to channel her art into a meaningful endeavor. Now, as a senior focusing on finance, she directly applies what she’s learning to her startup.

In 2019, Anya placed 3rd in the public vote at the HSE University International Startups and Spin-Offs Festival in St. Petersburg, Russia—a unique opportunity to pitch her startup on an international stage. Recently, Anya was selected as a TEDx speaker in Florida on the subject of bullying and evolution, a testament to how far her work has come in a few short years. 
 

Max FOL

Max Golopol (MBA’18)

Associate, International Real Estate at QuadReal Property Group

After spending several years working for an industrial manufacturer in Hawaii, Max was ready for a change. He made the leap to an MBA program at Leeds. That’s when he learned that he could use an education in real estate to see the world and aligned his internships and network to make that dream a reality.

Max spent a summer interning for The Bascom Group, a multifamily investor, in Southern California working on projects across the United States—with the benefit of being able to surf every day. The internship was instrumental in providing the experience he would need to appeal to prospective employers, and introduced him to a long-time mentor in David Kim, one of Bascom’s founders.

The connections Max established through CUREC led to a job after graduation with QuadReal Property Group in Vancouver, Canada, working on their international real estate team. He is currently working in their Hong Kong office.

“I intended to make a big pivot by returning to grad school but never imagined I would have been able to find a path like this,” says Max. “It was really [CU Real Estate Center] that allowed me to progress towards my goals. When I look at the value of the education I received at Leeds, I put a massive weight toward CUREC. That’s what made it worth it.”

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Faces of Leeds showcases the stories of the dynamic individuals who contribute to and embody the values of the Leeds community.

Chase Byers (Mgmt & Ent’23, Leadership Certificates)

Commercial Model, Wilhelmina Denver

“You can do anything you want with a little business in your back pocket,” says alumna Ann Mashburn (Fin’83). This philosophy summarizes Chase Byers’ journey at Leeds, but in his case, that pocket happens to be couture.

As a full-time Leeds student and model for Wilhelmina Denver, a modeling agency, Chase finds his two worlds often collide. From developing communication skills that transfer easily to castings and agency meetings to working on a semester-long project with an internationally renowned model, his education and modeling pursuits have blended well together.

“Being a model is comparable to being an independent contractor. You have an agent, but a lot of marketing, networking and content is reliant on you. It’s entrepreneurial, and Leeds is giving me the skills I need to succeed.”

 

Chase Byers FoL


 

Janet Bercovitz Image

Janet Bercovitz, PhD

Deming Professor of Entrepreneurship

 

Dr. Janet Bercovitz’s path to professorship was anything but linear. Yet, the possibility of academic scholarship was always in the back of her mind. A Long Beach, California, native, Janet grew up with a love for puzzles. Her passion for exploration led her to pursue a bachelor’s degree in chemistry, with a goal of working in the cosmetics or wine industries. Instead, her first opportunity was as a chemist in a medical supply company, but she quickly realized it was time to rethink her career trajectory. 

 

Janet turned in her lab coat in exchange for more textbooks and the pursuit of an MBA. From there, her path to academia started to materialize. She worked in consulting focused on providing market intelligence for high-tech companies; obtained her PhD in Business and Public Policy from the University of California, Berkeley; and taught at both the (now Gies) College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. 

 

Since joining the Leeds community in 2017, she has taught a wide range of courses at the undergraduate, MBA, PhD, and Executive MBA levels. Within just two years, she not only developed and introduced a new graduate-level course on High-Growth Ventures but was also named Deming Professor of Entrepreneurship for the 2019–2020 academic year. This opportunity has allowed her to further engage with the vibrant Boulder entrepreneurial community and provided her additional support for her research and teaching activities. 
 

“I consider it a high honor to have been named the Deming Professor of Entrepreneurship. The opportunities this position affords have been wonderful.”

 

 


 

Hannah Philip (Fin’20, Ops & Info Mgmt Certificate)

Future Health Solutions Consultant for FTI Consulting

For Hannah Philip, Leeds and CU Boulder have been a springboard for expanding her horizons and helping her see and learn about the world. In her four-year college journey, she traveled the globe to pursue four study abroad opportunities: the first with Leeds’ signature First-Year Global Experience (FGX) in Japan, an internship in Shanghai, another FGX to the United Arab Emirates, and a traditional study abroad in Prague.

Her favorite experience was her internship in Shanghai, where she interned for National Instruments in the Engineering Leadership Program. There, Hannah learned the ins and outs of their visual learning programming language LabVIEW and was able to code a SIMON memory game. She also collaborated with managers across China to develop a prototype for the company's intranet.

“What I loved most about this experience was the mix of professional working experience, learning of culture and Mandarin, and travelling with friends,” says Hannah. “Learning how to code in an environment with a language barrier was definitely a challenge, but it taught me a great lesson of resilience and encouraged me to pursue Leeds’ OPIM Certificate.”

While studying in Boulder, Hannah was involved with Leeds’ Scholars, Honors and Diverse Scholars Programs, Leeds’ Professional Mentoring Program and took on leadership roles whenever she had the chance. In her social fraternity, Chi Omega, she was the new member educator; Hannah was also the student mentor for the FGX trip to the UAE, where she learned alongside the students, and this year, she was a TA for the Scholar Program’s freshman seminar class.

Hannah is off to Chicago for her next endeavor as a Health Solutions Consultant for FTI Consulting. We wish her all the best in this new role and chapter in her life.

Hannah Philip FoL

 


 

Samir FoL

Samir Mohamed (Fin and Info Analytics’22)

While growing up, Samir Mohamed saw the hardships his parents, who are immigrants, faced running a small Ethiopian restaurant/coffee shop business in Aurora, Colorado. This insight piqued his interest in entrepreneurship and business and motivated him to apply to college to study business at the Community College of Aurora before transferring to study finance and information analytics at Leeds.

“I was so intrigued by the impact a small business could have on a community,” says Samir. “I saw the difficulties that come with being small business owners, and this is why it is my goal to become financially literate and learn more about the legal system here in the United States.”

In the future, Samir’s goal is to attend to law school and ultimately use his knowledge to help small businesses thrive. Specifically, he hopes he can help other small business owners who may struggle with language barriers and/or lack or business experience and formal education.

“I aspire to give back to the type of businesses that helped shape me into the person I am today,” he says.

And Samir is absolutely on his way. From two internships for a Fortune 500 company and travels to Spain, Singapore, Vietnam and Japan to serving as an executive member of the Leeds Student Government, Samir is gaining valuable experience about business and life and helping give back to his school community. His next adventure lies ahead this summer in California, where he will be interning with the Capital Group as an investment operations analyst.

We personally are inspired and can’t wait to see where the future takes him.

 


 

Yasmine Ben-Brahim (Info Mgmt'20)

Data Scientist, Line by Line and future Associate Developer, Infosys Ltd.

For up-and-coming data scientist Yasmine Ben-Brahim, mentorship has been central to her professional journey since her first year of college. Originally from Austin, Texas, she got involved with Leeds’ mentoring programs in her first semester and stayed connected throughout her time at the business school. All three programs were impactful and priceless preparation for her future career.

“All of my mentors were very knowledgeable, patient, and passionate about watching me succeed, which encouraged me even more,” says Yasmine.

When the pandemic hit in early 2020, Yasmine faced a bleak job market just as she was graduating. She immediately applied for Leeds’ new Adopt a Business Buff mentorship program and was partnered with David Saitowitz, a portfolio manager based in the greater New York City area.

Saitowitz helped her focus her interests and goals and build her confidence before introducing her to some of his tech and startup connections in Los Angeles. Talking with them helped her realize what type of companies she wants to be a part of and how important understanding their organizational culture can be to your success there.

Yasmine was also able to gain experience working in data science remotely via these connections and build her resume, while keeping her focus on the Big Apple. She recently landed a full-time associate developer position for Infosys Ltd. and will moving to Manhattan in January to start her new role.

“I am very excited about my future, and I owe a debt of gratitude to Leeds mentoring. Everyone should experience at least one of the programs in their time at Leeds!

Yasmine FoL

 


 

Kate Lanter (Eve MBA’21)

Product Manager at Viega

Pursuing an MBA is something Kate wanted since she was an undergraduate business student but getting work experience first was priority. After working in marketing for 10 years, she decided to pursue her MBA at night while working full-time as a product manager, raising her 12-year-old son and, as of August, a newborn baby boy.

“Being a parent and being in an MBA program is no joke,” says Kate. “Because at the end of the day, you’re not just getting the MBA for you, you’re getting it for your family, too.”

After the program, Kate hopes to combine her passion for makeup and skincare with her business skills in a career in good-for-you cosmetics, since Boulder is a hub for natural and organic products.

 

 


 

Zakhar Kravtsov (MBA’19)

Financial Analyst, DISH Wireless

After immigrating to the U.S., Zakhar started college at 16 and later entered the U.S. Army. The military offered him the opportunity to become a naturalized citizen and brought additional support through the GI Bill. After he completed his service, he chose to pursue his MBA degree at Leeds, focusing on entrepreneurship and finance, drawing from skills developed in his military training.

“Soldiers in the Army come from many different walks of life, and I had to respect, get along and work with many of them. Other military values like respect, honesty, integrity, leading by example—they are all indispensable, especially in business school, where a lot of work is done in team settings.”

Zakhar Kravtsov image

 


 

Jaideep “JD” Mangat Image

Jaideep “JD” Mangat (Info Mgmt and Ops’17)

Lafayette City Council Member and Teacher for Boulder Valley School District

For alumnus JD Mangat, Lafayette, Colorado, has always been home. His involvement in the community started early—since age 12 he’s served on youth commissions and pushed for positive change. Today, he serves on the Lafayette City Council and advocates for the prioritization of affordable living, sustainability, smart growth and youth involvement.

This year, JD spoke to Leeds students on the importance of voting, helping them understand that there are many races, aside from the presidency, that are relevant to them. It’s what he wished he’d known when he was a Leeds student.

“Your mayor, city council and state representatives play a vital role in your everyday life,” says JD. “The decisions they make will directly impact your life in more ways than you think. Make sure to vote every single year and all the way down the ballot.”

JD looks back fondly on his time at Leeds, where he was a member of the Diverse Scholars Program, Leeds Scholars and Leeds Student Government and build strong relationships with his peers. Together, his classmates and these programs helped him grow his abilities to become a driven, confident and knowledgeable community trustee.

 


 

Andrea Straccia

Director of Leeds First-Year Experience

When Andrea Rooks Straccia was starting out in college, she remembers feeling a little out of place. The classic ice-breaker question, “Where are you from?” left her at a loss when trying to connect with other students. Andrea identifies as a third-culture kid, so her answer wasn’t straightforward. She grew up in four countries, each on a different continent: the United States, England, Argentina, and the Sultanate of Oman.

Given her cross-cultural upbringing, Andrea brings a great deal of empathy and understanding to her role as the Director of Leeds First-Year Experience. She’s a firm believer that your first year of college can have long-lasting ramifications on a student’s college experience as well as their future career.

Andrea works closely with her team to determine how they can best support Leeds first-year students through professional and community programming, academic advising, counseling resources and other support mechanisms. Her passion for students is apparent; she tries to carve out as much time as she can to meet with them one-on-one and get to know each individual personally and best support them in any way she can.

“My goal is to leverage all of our resources at Leeds and CU Boulder to help our students have the best first-year experience possible,” says Andrea. “And while the macro picture of what I do is exciting, it’s the individual conversations with students, helping them work through and overcome challenges, and watching them figure out who they are and who they want to be, that brings purpose to my everyday work.”

In the wake of COVID-19, this year has demanded more support for Leeds’ first-year students from Andrea and her team than ever before.

“This year has taken a heavy toll on all of us, especially our students, and I hope that they remember that they don’t have to go it alone,” she says. “Leeds has an intricate ecosystem of people who are here to support them—including me and so many others—and I hope the Class of 2024 will lean on us to help them get through the year. After all, we are Buffs, and we are stronger together.”

Andrea Straccia FOL

 


 

andrew ferraro image

Andrew Ferraro (Fin’22)

Venture Capital Analyst Intern for Stout Street Capital

Andrew is a student entrepreneur who was recently featured in Bizjournal’s Colorado Inno Under 25. His passion for entrepreneurship began in middle school when he started a neighborhood lawn care business. He learned to market himself by walking door to door and putting flyers up hoping to draw customers. He also founded Exchanging303, a premium clothing reseller, and Flippers, a business that buys, repairs and resells damaged iPhones.

“This unknown and the endless possibilities associated with entrepreneurship and startups is what makes me excited about the industry,” he says of the experience. 

Currently, Andrew is auditing an MBA-level entrepreneurship course at Leeds that examines venture capital from both the perspective of the entrepreneur and the investor. He is a venture intern at Denver’s Stout Street Capital, and he is working to develop a venture capital club and a student-led accelerator-like program for students to help entrepreneurs.

“I am hoping I can create a pipeline between CU and the entrepreneurial ecosystem,” says Andrew. 

After graduating, Andrew plans to pursue either an MBA or a career with a startup on the operations side. Long term his goal is to work at a venture capital fund analyzing various companies and assisting entrepreneurs.

 


 

Damilola “D” Elegbede (Eve MBA’21)

Software Engineer, Qualcomm

Damilola came to the Evening MBA program as an experienced software engineer looking to level up in his industry and step toward his dream of starting a nonprofit. Almost every year, D travels to the Amazon River in northern Brazil to learn from the doctors and dentists who practice there. His aspiration is to use his engineering and business acumen to better their lives. 


 

Louise Ronaldson (Mktg’18, MS SCMN’20)

Market Research Intern at Bext360

A tennis player since age four, the sport brought her to the United States from London in 2014 on a full scholarship to play Division 1 tennis. After a year, she transferred to CU Boulder, where
she played varsity tennis while pursuing her bachelor’s at Leeds. This year, she completed her MS at Leeds while working as an Olympic Sport graduate assistant for CU Athletics.

 


 

Ashley Grosh (Econ'03)

As a student-athlete on CU Boulder’s NCAA Division One women’s soccer team, Ashley worked hard both on and off the field, pursuing her bachelor’s in Economics and Finance minor at Leeds. Many times, she’d head straight from practice, a scrimmage or game to a class at Leeds, proudly displaying her jersey in the classroom—and one of the only student athletes at the time in the business school.

“I’m pleased to know that now many student athletes are pursuing degrees at Leeds, and it’s exciting that I was one of the ones to pave the way,” says Ashley.

Ashley recently joined Gates Ventures, Bill Gates’ private office, as a Director on the Breakthrough Energy team focused on deploying resources for climate and energy technology solutions that can lead us on a path to net zero emissions by 2050. Her specific platform is focused on seeding innovators who are developing crucial technologies like zero carbon cement, green steel, green hydrogen, electrofuels or zero carbon fertilizer.

“We know not enough resources are being funneled into the early R&D phase for these highly complex and hard science technology areas… in order for them to have success reaching the market; we will be working hard to fill that gap” she says.

Her day-to-day keeps Ashley highly engaged with across the sector, constantly learning about new technology approaches, meeting with entrepreneurs, research institutes, national labs, corporations and government organizations to learn how they can efficiently work together with Gates Ventures to eventually bring these new technologies to the global marketplace. Across her collaborations, Ashley is looking forward to connecting back to CU Boulder to look at technology commercialization opportunities, as well as potential hires, and perhaps mentees, for her team.

Ashley attributes some of her key success along her career journey to seeking out and establishing relationships with 10-12 mentors that offer diverse perspectives.  She checks in with them regularly to discuss opportunities as well as key strategies such as work/life balance. 

“Finding and building relationships with mentors will become a critical piece to your career journey, and it’s not something that is always taught in a classroom,” says Ashley.

Ashley and her husband, Michael (Comm ’02) live south of Denver with their two children and their bernadoodle. They are avid CU sports fans and are eager to get back into the stadiums to cheer on their beloved Buffs.

Ashley Grosh Image

 


 

FoL Oluwabunmi

Oluwabunmi (Victoria) Arije (Acct & Real Est’21)

Retail Banking Intern, KeyBank

Oluwabunmi had no plans of staying in-state after graduating from high school in Aurora, Colorado. Yet, after participating in Leeds’ Summer Bridge and Business Leadership programs before her freshman year, she changed her mind. At Leeds, Victoria joined the Diverse Scholars Program while simultaneously tackling an internship at KeyBank. 

“Without these programs, I would have not been familiar with Keybank. I got to learn about their culture and values even before I started my internship with them.”

 


 

Sofia Montoya (Mktg’21, Leadership Certificate and Technology, Arts and Media Certificate)

Food Service Associate, Craig Hospital

Sofia Montoya is not a typical college student. Born with a heart condition and a survivor of open-heart surgery, she’s faced and overcome many challenges in her life. To help raise others’ awareness of heart health, she’s shared her “heart story” as a Go Red for Women spokesperson for the American Heart Association since 2013. Leeds’ Office of Diversity Affairs honored her with the Community Service Award in April 2019 for her volunteer work.

“It was a big deal for me to come into college and open up and share my heart story with friends and professors,” says Sofia. “But it was something that made me feel better knowing that my friends knew my health history. Being honored with that award by my peers was so meaningful, and it made me love the Leeds community even more.”

When COVID-19 shut down the CU Boulder campus in spring of 2020, Sofia returned to her hometown of Englewood, Colorado. She immediately went to help out at Craig Hospital, where she’s worked since high school. In her position in the food services department, she interacted with families impacted by the pandemic daily, while still completing her classes at home.

This fall, Sofia starts her senior year and is participating in the Diverse Scholars Program. As a big sports fan, she hopes to go into the business side of the sports industry after graduation.

We wish her the best of luck! Her resilience and community outreach are an inspiration to us all.

 

Sofia Montoya

 


 

Sarah Stafford, DVM (MBA’21)

While working as a veterinarian on the Front Range, Dr. Sarah Stafford realized that she wanted something more. That’s when she decided to pursue her MBA at Leeds.

“I realized a business degree would open opportunities to work ‘behind the scenes’ in the veterinary industry, shaping how veterinary industry organizations function and influencing how we provide compassionate veterinary care,” says Sarah.

This summer, she had the opportunity to intern with Destination Pet, a veterinary practice and pet services business with 60+ hospitals/pet resorts under their management.

“It has been exciting to get a higher-level perspective on the veterinary industry and how business decisions are made outside of the day-to-day clinic functions. I am so thankful for this experience, and I think my education thus far at Leeds has positioned me well.”

Sarah Stafford FoL

 


 

Mark Yabut

Mark Yabut (Mktg’16)

As a first-generation student from an under-resourced community, Mark was awarded a full scholarship to study at Leeds. As a marketing major, Mark found a community in the Diverse Scholars Program, which fostered and cultivated his love for business. After graduation, he worked for Teach for America and earned two master’s degrees: one from Loyola Marymount University and the other from the University of Pennsylvania. Recently, he founded Free Malaya, an organization that provides teacher training to support LGBTQ+ youth.

“As business leaders, there is nothing more inspiring than being led by people who lead authentically, says Mark. Leeds equipped me with the tools and skills to be that type of business leader.”

 


 

Dr. Henry Laurion (BS/MS Acct’08)

Assistant Professor of Accounting

When Dr. Henry Laurion was a student at Leeds, he recalls his professors emphasizing practical and theoretical knowledge—but not without also mentioning personal integrity. Just over a decade later, it was that culture of integrity and values at Leeds that brought Henry back to Boulder and Leeds.

“I think instructors convey personal integrity through having human connections with students,” says Henry. “Leeds has the type of environment that promotes human connection, which is not something that all schools have. It’s nice to have the opportunity to take what I learned [at Leeds] and pay it forward to future students.”

Henry currently teaches Full-Time and Evening MBA Financial Accounting courses, in which he has students examine public companies’ accounting and finances. He describes his teaching style as real, interactive and practical, and it’s apparent. He incorporates current events and students’ experiences to guide discussions because he believes it makes the material more engaging.

“I think conversation is an effective way to learn course material.” His students agree. In spring 2020, they recognized him with the MBA Teaching Excellence in a Core Course award.

Henry L image

 


 

Kyle Harrison

Kyle Harrison (Econ, MBA ’12)

Director of Business Development, ALTEN

CU has always felt like home for Kyle Harrison. Just a few years after completing his bachelor’s degree in economics, Kyle found himself back at CU, pursuing his MBA through the Evening MBA program at Leeds. At the business school, he found himself impacted by the culture of diverse thought, professionalism and, most notably, the connections he forged.

“In those two years of pursuing my MBA, I spent more time with my coworkers and MBA cohort than I did my own family. The connections you create to your fellow Buffs really is priceless, and many of the folks I've graduated with remain good friends to this day,” says Kyle.

The authenticity of those connections is what inspired Kyle to call on Leeds for support when his family received the devastating news that two of their three daughters have GM1 Gangliosidosis—an incredibly rare genetic brain disease—for which there is currently no cure. Those diagnosed are expected to live until, at most, their mid-twenties. Kyle and his wife have started a fundraising campaign to benefit the Cure GM1 Foundation, the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit entirely dedicated to GM1 Gangliosidosis research and drug development.

“My wife and I refuse to accept that there is nothing we can do, so we've teamed up with the Cure GM1 Foundation to raise money to provide seed funding to very promising research and development for treatments and cures for GM1.

The money they raise will go straight to Cure GM1 to continue their mission of advancing and accelerating development of these life-saving treatments, and to raise awareness of the disease, and allied rare diseases as well.

“If nothing else, doing our part to ensure another family down the road doesn't have to feel the helplessness and isolation that comes with this type of diagnosis if very important to us.”

We stand in solidarity with the Harrison family during this difficult time.

 


 

Alexis-Brooke “A-B” LoBianco (Mgmt’21)

Alexis-Brooke “A-B” LoBianco has made her voice, and the perspectives of other students, heard at Leeds and CU Boulder. Since her freshman year, A-B has stepped into leadership roles, starting with Leeds Student Government (LSG) in her first semester. Within a week, she was appointed to the executive board as a senator, representing all of Leeds on the CU Student Government (CUSG). 

In 2019, while still serving on LSG, A-B was appointed to vice president of CUSG. When COVID-19 impacted the campus community, A-B leveraged her student government experience to work directly with Dean Sharon Matusik as the head of her student task force, the COVID Cabinet. 

"Our job is to work with administrators and professors, providing creative solutions and feedback on how to best engage students with academic platforms in response to COVID-19,” says A-B.  

A-B continues to lead on the LSG executive board as vice president of operations and as an executive for CO Alpha’s Pi Beta Phi fraternity for women as vice president of risk management. Now entering her third year at Leeds, she’s also pursuing certificates in the Business of Sports—one of her passions—and Operations and Information Management.

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Image of Charlie Wasson

Charlie Wasson (MBA '21)

Strategy and Management MBA Intern at Bank of America and Managing Director of the Deming Center Venture Fund

Charlie Wasson, a second-year MBA candidate, is a man on a mission to make a difference in the financial industry. During his first year at CU, Charlie worked as an Investment Associate for Techstars’ Western Union Accelerator program. This role gave him the opportunity to work with FinTech start-ups, including interviewing founders, sourcing and performing due diligence.

Currently, Charlie is interning with Bank of America as a Strategy and Management Associate. Despite the position becoming virtual during the pandemic, he’s been able to use his accounting, strategy and data literacy learnings from his MBA program in a real-world business setting. Bank of America has also given Charlie the opportunity to witness firsthand how companies can have meaningful impact in their communities from their commitment to racial equality and $25M donation to the Smithsonian’s “Race, Community and Our Shared Future” initiative to the support they’ve shown customers impacted by COVID-19.

Looking ahead, Charlie hopes to join an organization in the financial services industry that promotes economic empowerment for small- and medium-sized businesses similar to Bank of America and other financial institutions.

“I view business as an effective vehicle to drive change and innovation in society, so I hope to join a company that is focused on moving the world forward.”

Reed Crowson FoL Image

Reed Crowson (Fin’20)

For many graduates, the year after graduation can be a challenging one, filled with lots of transition. For Reed Crowson, this rings true to the nth degree.

In early 2020, Reed received a job offer and was ready to launch his career post-graduation. But then, COVID-19 squashed that plan along with clarity about his next steps after Leeds. Then came months of job-hunting in the midst of a global pandemic with no success. 

This story is familiar to many recent graduates, and it’s what inspired Leeds to create its Adopt a Business Buff mentorship program, which was featured in the Wall Street Journal earlier this year. The program matches job-seeking seniors, MS and second-year MBA candidates with alumni and community members, who can assist them with networking and job placement during this uncertain time.

For Reed, Adopt a Business Buff was the key to shifting the narrative in his deadlocked job search. He was matched with Jeremy Frenkel, an equity analyst at Colorado PERA. With Jeremy’s coaching and connections, Reed’s network expanded.

“Jeremy used his connections to help me to get my foot in the door and meet people at various companies,” says Reed. “Being able to get on a 15-minute phone call with someone to learn about their company and position is a lot more impactful than I had previously realized. People were usually very receptive, and it was much more effective (and more enjoyable) than simply applying through an online portal.”

In August 2020, he landed a job in Denver with HomeAdvisor as an FP&A Analyst—a direct result of connecting with someone in his mentor’s network. If you’re a recent grad looking for a job or know one who is, visit the Adopt a Business Buff program page.

 


 

David Lopez (Real Est’21)

Co-Founder & CEO at Internalyze

David completed four internships before becoming the CEO and Co-founder of Internalyze, an online education platform that helps learners in career transition by teaching them the necessary sales and emotional intelligence skills they need to break into new roles.

“When I was a freshman, I got heavily involved in the entrepreneurial community here at CU,” he said in a recent interview with CU Boulder’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship team. “We made a point to attend almost every program, event or student organization that was entrepreneurial related, such as New Venture Challenge.”

Ever the entrepreneur, his first startup, Airnovate, attempted to provide pollution masks with filters to people across Southeast Asia. Although this venture failed, Airnovate allowed David to learn the skills and lessons needed for his current startup, Internalyze.

“Learning from your previous mistakes teaches you how to avoid mistakes on your next venture,” he says.

David submitted Internalyze in CU Boulder’s New Venture Challenge, but at only a few months old, they were knocked out in Round 2. Regardless, David continues to grow Internalyze, which is also designed to provide companies with access to a largely untapped group of diverse talent, particularly students from minority communities.

We can’t wait to see where this startup takes him.

Headshot of David Lopez outside on the lawn by Koelbel, Flatirons in the background

 


 

Sofia Montoya

Sofia Montoya (Mktg’21, Leadership Certificate and Technology, Arts and Media Certificate)

Food Service Associate, Craig Hospital

Sofia Montoya is not a typical college student. Born with a heart condition and a survivor of open-heart surgery, she’s faced and overcome many challenges in her life. To help raise others’ awareness of heart health, she’s shared her “heart story” as a Go Red for Women spokesperson for the American Heart Association since 2013. Leeds’ Office of Diversity Affairs honored her with the Community Service Award in April 2019 for her volunteer work.

“It was a big deal for me to come into college and open up and share my heart story with friends and professors,” says Sofia. “But it was something that made me feel better knowing that my friends knew my health history. Being honored with that award by my peers was so meaningful, and it made me love the Leeds community even more.”

When COVID-19 shut down the CU Boulder campus in spring of 2020, Sofia returned to her hometown of Englewood, Colorado. She immediately went to help out at Craig Hospital, where she’s worked since high school. In her position in the food services department, she interacted with families impacted by the pandemic daily, while still completing her classes at home.

This fall, Sofia starts her senior year and is participating in the Diverse Scholars Program. As a big sports fan, she hopes to go into the business side of the sports industry after graduation.

We wish her the best of luck! Her resilience and community outreach are an inspiration to us all.

 

 


 

Oluwabunmi (Victoria) Arije (Acct & Real Est’21) 


Retail Banking Intern, KeyBank


Oluwabunmi had no plans of staying in-state after graduating from high school in Aurora, Colorado. Yet, after participating in Leeds’ Summer Bridge and Business Leadership programs before her freshman year, she changed her mind. At Leeds, Victoria joined the Diverse Scholars Program while simultaneously tackling an internship at KeyBank. 

“Without these programs, I would have not been familiar with Keybank. I got to learn about their culture and values even before I started my internship with them.”
 

Oluwabunmi FoL

 


 

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Alexis-Brooke “A-B” LoBianco (Mgmt’21)

Alexis-Brooke “A-B” LoBianco has made her voice, and the perspectives of other students, heard at Leeds and CU Boulder. Since her freshman year, A-B has stepped into leadership roles, starting with Leeds Student Government (LSG) in her first semester. Within a week, she was appointed to the executive board as a senator, representing all of Leeds on the CU Student Government (CUSG). 

In 2019, while still serving on LSG, A-B was appointed to vice president of CUSG. When COVID-19 impacted the campus community, A-B leveraged her student government experience to work directly with Dean Sharon Matusik as the head of her student task force, the COVID Cabinet. 

"Our job is to work with administrators and professors, providing creative solutions and feedback on how to best engage students with academic platforms in response to COVID-19,” says A-B.  

A-B continues to lead on the LSG executive board as vice president of operations and as an executive for CO Alpha’s Pi Beta Phi fraternity for women as vice president of risk management. Now entering her third year at Leeds, she’s also pursuing certificates in the Business of Sports—one of her passions—and Operations and Information Management.

 


 

Sangati Shah (Mgmt'23)

Graphic Design Artist for CU Boulder Housing and Dining Services

All Leeds students have the opportunity to take part in a first-year global experience (FGX) that allows them to get a jump start on study abroad, while learning how international issues and cultural differences impact the business world. When the FGX trips were canceled due to COVID-19, Sangati wanted to create something that would allow her classmates to still be able to experience some of the culture they would have abroad. 

She coordinated a virtual cooking class with Learn from a Chef, so everyone could get a taste of cuisines from the countries in which they were planning to travel. The professional chef taught students from almost all of the FGX classes about regional foods, from Spanish stew to Czech dumplings. 

“In my opinion, food is a great way to bring people together,” says Shah. 
 

Sangati Faces of Leeds

 


 

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Eli Stone (Mgmt’21)

Eli Stone is management major, who started a digital media marketing firm called Hapa Solutions with other Leeds students. He is also a co-events coordinator for the Asian Unity club at CU Boulder. He recently started a media campaign called #au4blm (Asian Unity for BLM) to encourage people to educate themselves to take action and support the Asian Unity Black Lives Matter movement. The campaign is also raising donations for blacklivesmatter.com. More than 20 Asian-affiliated student clubs at universities across the country are involved in solidarity.

 

 


 

Daniel Knowles (Fin & Info Mgmt’22)

When sophomore Daniel Knowles and two of his friends began to notice the effect of COVID-19 on the local businesses of their hometown of Boulder, they started brainstorming ways to help their community. 

"After taking input from many small business owners, mentors, and other similar ventures, we founded GyftCO as our solution towards helping the place and people we love,” says Daniel.

GyftCO connects struggling Boulder businesses to the greater community by providing an outlet for them to sell discounted e-gift cards to customers. These gift cards can be used when the establishments reopen while providing the up-front cash these establishments need to stay afloat during the pandemic. The venture launched in mid-May 2020 and already has more than a dozen Boulder businesses featured on gyftco.com. 

While this is Daniel’s first undertaking of this scale, it’s only one of several examples of his penchant for working to better his communities. During his first two years at Leeds, he’s already served as vice president of Operations and vice president of Engagements for Leeds Consulting Group, a student-run organization that connects students to the wider community for consulting projects. Additionally, he currently serves as a senator for CU Boulder’s Student Government.

Daniel and his team are also readying for a shift in the market as stores open back up and business picks up for their participating stores. They’re focusing on growing GyftCO, so they can support local businesses beyond COVID-19—a testament to their passion for the Boulder community. 

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Bryce Duston (Fin’23)

COVID-19 may have cancelled international travel for Leeds’ First Year Global Experience (FGX) programs, but first-year Bryce Duston’s family decided not to let the pandemic stop him from experiencing Argentinian culture. Instead, they jumped at the opportunity to create an international experience at home. 

"My dad is a very food-oriented person and a really good home cook,” says Bryce. “So he made a little Argentine cuisine. He grilled up a flank steak from the local butcher and made a traditional Argentine chimichurri sauce for it. He added in a few sticks of chorizo because Argentina loves to grill!

Bryce’s mom joined in by printing out and hanging country flags and playing Argentine music to create a truly authentic experience with dinner. 

"Afterwards, I got a few tango lessons to simulate what the trip could have been. Overall it was really fun and made for a good night in a pretty not so fun time!”

 


 

Jessica Schow (Mktg’20)

Jessica Schow’s business career started with a pivotal event she attended during her first year at CU Boulder. Hoping to attend before performing with the dance team at a basketball game that evening, she found time for both, making a lasting connection along the way. 

"I heard about a panel event at Leeds and that one of the speakers worked for The Walt Disney Company would be there to tell her story,” says Jessica. “As I listened to the woman from Disney speak about her career path, I could feel my heart pounding — and for the first time I felt like nothing could stop me from accomplishing my goals.”

After the talk, Jessica boldly introduced herself to the “inspirational Disney woman,” and explained her passion for Disney and her goals. She had no idea the speaker would go on to become her professional mentor. 

"I had no idea that I would go on to participate in the Disney College Program and then intern for The Walt Disney Animation Studios. But what I did know for sure was that I was going to be a business student and that I was going to make my dream come true no matter what.”

Jessica is currently a marketing intern with inClover Research, a local pet supplement company. Although her career path is uncertain, she will graduate this semester with a 3.9 GPA and is a recipient of one of Leeds’ 2020 Marketing Excellence Awards. 

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Rachel Wilcox (Fin’20)

Future Financial Analyst at Allstate

Rachel Wilcox has worked hard to finish her degree strong this May despite living in a house with nine other out-of-state students and managing ADHD, which makes it challenging to focus on online classes. Yet, Rachel has already secured a job after graduation as a financial analyst at Allstate’s West Central Region, starting in July. Even with her career path set, her top priority was to do well in her classes and finals, a true reflection of her strong character.

 


 

Sarah Olson (Fin & Mktg’20)

Future Business Analyst at McKinsey & Company

As a member of Leeds highly selective Scholars program, Sarah maintained 4.0 GPA while dual majoring in Finance and Marketing, and pursuing both a Certificate in Technology Arts and Media and a Minor in Leadership. She was also a part of the President’s Leadership Class and Leeds Consulting group. These are just a few of the reasons she is the recipient of Leeds’ 2020 Academic Excellence and Outstanding Marketing Student Awards. 

Sarah didn’t stop there. Her passion for learning led her to internships at both Magic Flight Studios and McKinsey & Company, where she gained insight into the consulting world. In fact, these experiences landed her a full-time position as a Business Analyst at McKinsey in the fall.

"In these internships I learned more about the consulting industry, researching and synthesizing information into valuable content for clients,” she says. “I love to engage both creative and analytical thinking in order to accomplish tasks and solve problems.”

On and off campus, she’s enjoyed getting involved in the community and taking on roles that allow her to contribute to and improve organizations while building her leadership skills in teams. 

What’s next for Sarah? 

"I am excited to have the summer off to hike, spend time with family, and then start working and learn about various industries [at McKinsey].”

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Samantha (Sammy) Gish (Mgmt'23)

Volunteer at Vail Valley Foundation

When the coronavirus outbreak impacted those in her community, Sammy jumped on the opportunity to help a local foundation feed families in need.

Many families in her hometown of Vail rely on the public school system to provide their children with regular lunches. With recent school closures, many of these families are now struggling to put food on the table. The Vail Valley Foundation and Youth Power365 set up a drive-through and two grab and go locations where families can get as much food as they need every day. Sammy is helping to make food and hand out lunches in her local school district.

Most summers she works for the Vail Valley Foundation at the performing arts amphitheater. The foundation reached out to all previous employees to volunteer.

“I thought it was a great opportunity to get involved,” she says. “I feel very lucky to be able to give back to the community that helped raise me, especially during a time where the only thing that people should worry about is keeping their families healthy.”

She has become a master of sandwich arts in this process, having personally made hundreds of PB&Js in a manner of weeks

 


 

Molly MacEachen (Mgmt & Ent’20)

Intern at United Nations Global Compact

As director of professional development for CESR Fellows, a student organization for those passionate about using business to make a difference, Molly helps like-minded peers build the skills and network they need to work in socially responsible business.

Molly

 


 

Brennie Pelligrini in Japan
 

Brennie Pelligrini (Mgmt & Ent’20)

Venture Partner at Contrary Capital 

A “person to know” in the Boulder startup scene, current senior Brennie has already worked for both Techstars and completed a Techstars program with the fintech startup Challenger, is a partner at Contrary Capital—a student-managed venture fund—and he’s the head organizer of Boulder Beta.

 


 

Tallon Olivas (Acct’21)

Research Assistant at Leeds 

As a Diverse Scholar, Tallon competed in the Diversity Business Ethics Case Competition and won CESR’s Business Ethics Case Competition with his team. To him, diversity in business means “different ideologies, perspectives and strong communities of forward-looking, inclusive leaders.”

Tallon Olivas

Damilola “D” Elegbede (Eve MBA’21)

Software Engineer, Qualcomm

Damilola came to the Evening MBA program as an experienced software engineer looking to level up in his industry and step toward his dream of starting a nonprofit. Almost every year, D travels to the Amazon River in northern Brazil to learn from the doctors and dentists who practice there. His aspiration is to use his engineering and business acumen to better their lives. 

 


 

Sarah Stafford

Sarah Stafford, DVM (MBA’21)

While working as a veterinarian on the Front Range, Dr. Sarah Stafford realized that she wanted something more. That’s when she decided to pursue her MBA at Leeds.

“I realized a business degree would open opportunities to work ‘behind the scenes’ in the veterinary industry, shaping how veterinary industry organizations function and influencing how we provide compassionate veterinary care,” says Sarah.

This summer, she had the opportunity to intern with Destination Pet, a veterinary practice and pet services business with 60+ hospitals/pet resorts under their management.

“It has been exciting to get a higher-level perspective on the veterinary industry and how business decisions are made outside of the day-to-day clinic functions. I am so thankful for this experience, and I think my education thus far at Leeds has positioned me well.”

 


 

Charlie Wasson (MBA '21)

Strategy and Management MBA Intern at Bank of America and Managing Director of the Deming Center Venture Fund

Charlie Wasson, a second-year MBA candidate, is a man on a mission to make a difference in the financial industry. During his first year at CU, Charlie worked as an Investment Associate for Techstars’ Western Union Accelerator program. This role gave him the opportunity to work with FinTech start-ups, including interviewing founders, sourcing and performing due diligence.

Currently, Charlie is interning with Bank of America as a Strategy and Management Associate. Despite the position becoming virtual during the pandemic, he’s been able to use his accounting, strategy and data literacy learnings from his MBA program in a real-world business setting. Bank of America has also given Charlie the opportunity to witness firsthand how companies can have meaningful impact in their communities from their commitment to racial equality and $25M donation to the Smithsonian’s “Race, Community and Our Shared Future” initiative to the support they’ve shown customers impacted by COVID-19.

Looking ahead, Charlie hopes to join an organization in the financial services industry that promotes economic empowerment for small- and medium-sized businesses similar to Bank of America and other financial institutions.

“I view business as an effective vehicle to drive change and innovation in society, so I hope to join a company that is focused on moving the world forward.”

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Emily Etzi (MBA’20)

Director, Digital DTC Merchandising, The North Face

One of the greatest lessons that Emily Etzi will take from her time in the Evening MBA program at Leeds is the importance of community and having a personal support system. 

"We aren’t meant to go it alone,” she says. 

Indeed; we are not. Over the past two years, Emily’s professors say she’s an outstanding Evening MBA student, who showed tremendous leadership within her team and always contributed thoughtfully to all discussions within her classes. 

She’ll graduate this May as a top student and is planning to continue to grow and develop in her career with The North Face. After graduation, she’s looking forward to, “taking a moment to celebrate this milestone and reflect on—and be glad for—all she has learned and the lasting relationships she’s built [while at Leeds].” 

To Emily, achieving her graduate degree is “proof that we can achieve our dreams if we are prepared to make sacrifices and remain steadfast in our pursuit.”

We totally agree. Congratulations, Emily. 

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Bahriye Goren

Faculty Director of Business Core Curriculum and Marketing Instructor at Leeds

Bahriye’s journey has taken her from the sea to the top of mountains and everything in between. She spent her childhood in Rotterdam, Netherlands, the second largest city in the country and the home of the largest seaport in Europe. She stayed close to home for college, studying business economics and international marketing at Erasmus University Rotterdam.

From there, it was zero to one hundred when Bahriye landed her first role at Unilever, most notably as the European Brand Manager for Ben & Jerry’s. That’s where she solidified her position on her favorite ice cream flavor, “Chocolate Therapy, hands down,” says Bahriye.

Eventually, her career led her to the U.S. where she worked in various capacities. Through it all, Bahriye always stayed close to her passion, branding and marketing. She even co-founded Art of Branding, a branding consulting firm with offices in Europe and the U.S. 

What is it that invigorates her about the industry? “At the heart of marketing and branding is a deep understanding of the consumer,” says Bahriye. “What drives the consumer and how can we make their lives better by meeting their needs? It’s also exciting to me that in marketing you need to use both left- and right-brain thinking to make informed decisions as well as be able to make your brand stand out from the crowd and identify opportunities for growth.”

Bahriye found her way to Leeds in 2016. She remembers feeling a sense of community in her interview, in addition to being attached to the school’s strong reputation and high-caliber students and faculty. This semester she is teaching the marketing core course for the MBA program and product strategy for the undergraduate business program.

Coming to Colorado from New York for the position at Leeds was a big change, but being surrounded by nature here was just right, as her and her husband were starting their family.

 


 

Avondine Hill

Special Assistant to the Dean, Leeds School of Business

Avondine Hill begins his workdays in his 70s-style turquoise office chair in his home. Though it fits the decor—a room with walls each painted a different color (gold, pink, red, turquoise) that will become his two-year-old daughter’s someday—it’s not exactly comfortable. 

It’s the reality of our COVID-19 work environments; although, it does offer a beautiful view of elk and wild turkeys that occasionally wander by outside, and regular visits from Meatball (his cat) and his beautiful child and partner.  

“I’m extremely privileged to have this space and the beautiful supporting staff,” says Avondine.

Avondine started at Leeds just a few months before the COVID-19 pandemic and has now spent more time working from that turquoise desk chair than he has in the halls of Leeds’ Koebel building on the University of Colorado Boulder campus. From that chair, Avondine consults with and assists the Dean in her efforts and intentions around diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). 

In a typical day, he’ll attend a handful of meetings with Leeds community members covering topics such as garnering input on a Leeds-wide DEI initiative and being a thought-partner in assisting teams with projects and efforts pertaining to DEI.

Avondine’s role also includes working with students. When asked what advice he’d give to his college-age self, he says, “It’s all about valuing and honoring self, people and relationships. Whenever you get lost (don’t know what to do, don’t know how to feel, don’t know how to approach a conversation), come back to this fundamental truth, and make a decision that both acknowledges the reality of the situation, and honors these values.” 

Hometown: Albuqueque/Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Favorite Quarantine Food: “I started making a tuna, cheddar cheese and egg white sandwich, which I drench with a wasabi mustard that I buy specifically for this sandwich,” says Avondine. “I eat this alongside green apples which I dip into Kroger’s crunchy peanut butter.”
 

Avondine Hill FoL

 


 

Henry L

Dr. Henry Laurion (BS/MSAcct’08)

Assistant Professor of Accounting

When Dr. Henry Laurion was a student at Leeds, he recalls his professors emphasizing practical and theoretical knowledge—but not without also mentioning personal integrity. Just over a decade later, it was that culture of integrity and values at Leeds that brought Henry back to Boulder and Leeds.

“I think instructors convey personal integrity through having human connections with students,” says Henry. “Leeds has the type of environment that promotes human connection, which is not something that all schools have. It’s nice to have the opportunity to take what I learned [at Leeds] and pay it forward to future students.”

Henry currently teaches Full-Time and Evening MBA Financial Accounting courses, in which he has students examine public companies’ accounting and finances. He describes his teaching style as real, interactive and practical, and it’s apparent. He incorporates current events and students’ experiences to guide discussions because he believes it makes the material more engaging.

“I think conversation is an effective way to learn course material.” His students agree. In spring 2020, they recognized him with the MBA Teaching Excellence in a Core Course award.

 


 

Beth Schwartz

Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the Leeds School of Business 

You’d be hard pressed to spend any length of time around Leeds and not run into administrative assistant to the dean, Beth Schwartz. Her energy and enthusiasm for the people of Leeds can’t be missed. 

"Leeds is a special place, and I knew it and felt it from day one, says Beth. “The energy here is contagious, I feel just as comfortable at Leeds as I do in my own home. I’m lucky enough to work with lifelong friends and am surrounded by the most kind-hearted, driven and inspiring people I’ve ever met.”  

In addition to working at Leeds, Beth has taught group fitness classes for the past 12 years, including at CU Boulder’s Rec Center. When the campus went remote as a result of COVID-19, she was inspired to use her passion for fitness to lead weekly virtual workouts for Leeds faculty and staff. Beth saw it was a way to help relieve stress, improve overall moods, and foster community when it was needed most. 

Her goal is to inspire excitement for exercise and have people leave her classes feeling empowered and smiling. As she puts it, “That’s progress and success!”

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Tracy Jennings, PhD, MBA

Senior Instructor and Teaching Professor

Engaging students in remote learning is something Tracy Jennings has been working on for a while as Faculty Director, Distance and Online —diving deep into research to improve educational access. So when the need for Leeds faculty to transition quickly to remote teaching arose during the outbreak of COVID-19, Tracy stepped in to lead the charge. She’s presented trainings to support faculty to be the best they can in remote teaching, helped to set up a “Remote Teaching Hub” of content creation resources and is the head of Leeds “Online Teaching Partners,” a group of faculty helping other Leeds faculty with their remote courses.  Some might say she’s become the new face of remote teaching at Leeds.

As senior instructor in the management and entrepreneurship division, she teaches undergraduate courses and has led global seminars abroad. Above all, Tracy strives to understand and implement the best practices in online content creation and engagement.

Jaideep “JD” Mangat Image

Jaideep “JD” Mangat (Info Mgmt and Ops’17)

Lafayette City Council Member and Teacher for Boulder Valley School District

For alumnus JD Mangat, Lafayette, Colorado, has always been home. His involvement in the community started early—since age 12 he’s served on youth commissions and pushed for positive change. Today, he serves on the Lafayette City Council and advocates for the prioritization of affordable living, sustainability, smart growth and youth involvement.

This year, JD spoke to Leeds students on the importance of voting, helping them understand that there are many races, aside from the presidency, that are relevant to them. It’s what he wished he’d known when he was a Leeds student.

“Your mayor, city council and state representatives play a vital role in your everyday life,” says JD. “The decisions they make will directly impact your life in more ways than you think. Make sure to vote every single year and all the way down the ballot.”

JD looks back fondly on his time at Leeds, where he was a member of the Diverse Scholars Program, Leeds Scholars and Leeds Student Government and build strong relationships with his peers. Together, his classmates and these programs helped him grow his abilities to become a driven, confident and knowledgeable community trustee.

 


 

Ashley Grosh (Econ’03)

As a student-athlete on CU Boulder’s NCAA Division One women’s soccer team, Ashley worked hard both on and off the field, pursuing her bachelor’s in Economics and Finance minor at Leeds. Many times, she’d head straight from practice, a scrimmage or game to a class at Leeds, proudly displaying her jersey in the classroom—and one of the only student athletes at the time in the business school.

“I’m pleased to know that now many student athletes are pursuing degrees at Leeds, and it’s exciting that I was one of the ones to pave the way,” says Ashley.

Ashley recently joined Gates Ventures, Bill Gates’ private office, as a Director on the Breakthrough Energy team focused on deploying resources for climate and energy technology solutions that can lead us on a path to net zero emissions by 2050. Her specific platform is focused on seeding innovators who are developing crucial technologies like zero carbon cement, green steel, green hydrogen, electrofuels or zero carbon fertilizer.

“We know not enough resources are being funneled into the early R&D phase for these highly complex and hard science technology areas… in order for them to have success reaching the market; we will be working hard to fill that gap” she says.

Her day-to-day keeps Ashley highly engaged with across the sector, constantly learning about new technology approaches, meeting with entrepreneurs, research institutes, national labs, corporations and government organizations to learn how they can efficiently work together with Gates Ventures to eventually bring these new technologies to the global marketplace. Across her collaborations, Ashley is looking forward to connecting back to CU Boulder to look at technology commercialization opportunities, as well as potential hires, and perhaps mentees, for her team.

Ashley attributes some of her key success along her career journey to seeking out and establishing relationships with 10-12 mentors that offer diverse perspectives.  She checks in with them regularly to discuss opportunities as well as key strategies such as work/life balance. 

“Finding and building relationships with mentors will become a critical piece to your career journey, and it’s not something that is always taught in a classroom,” says Ashley.

Ashley and her husband, Michael (Comm ’02) live south of Denver with their two children and their bernadoodle. They are avid CU sports fans and are eager to get back into the stadiums to cheer on their beloved Buffs.

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Reed Crowson (Fin’20)

For many graduates, the year after graduation can be a challenging one, filled with lots of transition. For Reed Crowson, this rings true to the nth degree.

In early 2020, Reed received a job offer and was ready to launch his career post-graduation. But then, COVID-19 squashed that plan along with clarity about his next steps after Leeds. Then came months of job-hunting in the midst of a global pandemic with no success. 

This story is familiar to many recent graduates, and it’s what inspired Leeds to create its Adopt a Business Buff mentorship program, which was featured in the Wall Street Journal earlier this year. The program matches job-seeking seniors, MS and second-year MBA candidates with alumni and community members, who can assist them with networking and job placement during this uncertain time.

For Reed, Adopt a Business Buff was the key to shifting the narrative in his deadlocked job search. He was matched with Jeremy Frenkel, an equity analyst at Colorado PERA. With Jeremy’s coaching and connections, Reed’s network expanded.

“Jeremy used his connections to help me to get my foot in the door and meet people at various companies,” says Reed. “Being able to get on a 15-minute phone call with someone to learn about their company and position is a lot more impactful than I had previously realized. People were usually very receptive, and it was much more effective (and more enjoyable) than simply applying through an online portal.”

In August 2020, he landed a job in Denver with HomeAdvisor as an FP&A Analyst—a direct result of connecting with someone in his mentor’s network. If you’re a recent grad looking for a job or know one who is, visit the Adopt a Business Buff program page.

 


 

Louise Ronaldson (Mktg’18, MS SCMN’20)

Market Research Intern at Bext360

A tennis player since age four, the sport brought her to the United States from London in 2014 on a full scholarship to play Division 1 tennis. After a year, she transferred to CU Boulder, where
she played varsity tennis while pursuing her bachelor’s at Leeds. This year, she completed her MS at Leeds while working as an Olympic Sport graduate assistant for CU Athletics.

 


 

Mark Yabut

Mark Yabut (Mktg’16)

As a first-generation student from an under-resourced community, Mark was awarded a full scholarship to study at Leeds. As a marketing major, Mark found a community in the Diverse Scholars Program, which fostered and cultivated his love for business. After graduation, he worked for Teach for America and earned two master’s degrees: one from Loyola Marymount University and the other from the University of Pennsylvania. Recently, he founded Free Malaya, an organization that provides teacher training to support LGBTQ+ youth.

“As business leaders, there is nothing more inspiring than being led by people who lead authentically, says Mark. Leeds equipped me with the tools and skills to be that type of business leader.”

 


 

Kyle Harrison (Econ, MBA ’12)

Director of Business Development, ALTEN

CU has always felt like home for Kyle Harrison. Just a few years after completing his bachelor’s degree in economics, Kyle found himself back at CU, pursuing his MBA through the Evening MBA program at Leeds. At the business school, he found himself impacted by the culture of diverse thought, professionalism and, most notably, the connections he forged.

“In those two years of pursuing my MBA, I spent more time with my coworkers and MBA cohort than I did my own family. The connections you create to your fellow Buffs really is priceless, and many of the folks I've graduated with remain good friends to this day,” says Kyle.

The authenticity of those connections is what inspired Kyle to call on Leeds for support when his family received the devastating news that two of their three daughters have GM1 Gangliosidosis—an incredibly rare genetic brain disease—for which there is currently no cure. Those diagnosed are expected to live until, at most, their mid-twenties. Kyle and his wife have started a fundraising campaign to benefit the Cure GM1 Foundation, the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit entirely dedicated to GM1 Gangliosidosis research and drug development.

“My wife and I refuse to accept that there is nothing we can do, so we've teamed up with the Cure GM1 Foundation to raise money to provide seed funding to very promising research and development for treatments and cures for GM1.

The money they raise will go straight to Cure GM1 to continue their mission of advancing and accelerating development of these life-saving treatments, and to raise awareness of the disease, and allied rare diseases as well.

“If nothing else, doing our part to ensure another family down the road doesn't have to feel the helplessness and isolation that comes with this type of diagnosis if very important to us.”

We stand in solidarity with the Harrison family during this difficult time.

Kyle Harrison

 


 

Nathan Presenting

Nathan Mpiana (Acct & Fin’19)

Investment Banking Analyst at Goldman Sachs

Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nathan found a second home at Leeds, taking on multiple leadership roles over his four years: as a mentor, Diverse Scholar and president of Leeds Student Government, among others. After interning with Goldman Sachs, he landed a full-time position with the firm post-graduation.

 


 

Vance Brand (Fin’53)

Marine Corps Veteran, Former NASA Astronaut and Pilot

Vance’s career led him on an extraordinary journey—all the way to space. 

“Before [Leeds], I was uncertain of what my career direction should be. I decided on business because it would be a useful background no matter what direction my career might take.” 

  • Became a Marine Corps officer and served in Atsugi, Japan, as a fighter pilot 
  • Returned to CU to obtain an Aeronautical Engineering degree;
  • later obtained an MBA from UCLA 
  • Became an engineering test pilot for Lockheed and test flew export versions of the F-104 fighter
  • Selected by NASA to become an astronaut in 1966
  • Flew as command module pilot on the Apollo/Soyuz mission in 1975—the first joint U.S.–Soviet space flight
  • Served as commander of three NASA space shuttle missions; retired as a NASA executive in 2008

Vance Brand

 


 

Image of Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar

Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar (Bus Admin & Info Systems’01)

Chief Executive Officer at Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre

When Abudulla Mohammed Al Awar was attending CU Boulder, he, like many who’ve walked the halls of Leeds, was impacted by the focus on leadership and out-of-the-box thinking as well as the emphasis on mentoring. What he couldn’t have predicted was those skills would be integral in his current role as CEO of Dubai Islamic Economy Development Center (DIEDC). The DIEDC is mandated to position Dubai as the global capital of the Islamic economy, which is valued at over 7.5 trillion in U.S. dollars and is continuing to see strong growth. It comprises of a set of wide-spectrum economic sectors such as Islamic finance, the Halal-certified industry, and the Islamic lifestyle sectors, such as family-friendly tourism and Islamic design. 

"It is quite the exciting, yet challenging, [responsibility] that we have, and I am glad that our leadership in Dubai has chosen me to lead this organization following my tenure as the CEO of the Dubai International Financial Centre,” says Abdulla. “We believe that Dubai has the proper infrastructure and business-friendly mindset to enable the development of these sectors and become a global hub.”

Prior to his role as CEO of DIEDC, Abdulla worked as the CEO of the Dubai International Finance Center from 2009 to 2012. It was there that he leveraged his skills in strategic planning, operations management and finance at the executive level to build the center into a financial hub servicing global businesses.

Abdulla looks back fondly on his experiences at Leeds; the relationships he was able to build at the business school in particular made a lasting impression on his overall college journey. It’s why he makes time to visit for at least four or five days each year.

 


 

Casey Bergeron (HRMgmt ’17)

Clinical Programs Manager at DaVita

Dialysis patients are some of the greatest at risk of COVID-19. Casey Bergeron and her team at DaVita Kidney Care have been working tirelessly to make sure these specific patients get the care they need during the pandemic. They coordinate travel and appointments of nurses and technicians, who they fly into areas heavily affected by the coronavirus across the U.S. to relieve local dialysis teams. These health care workers provide life-saving treatments that these patients may not otherwise receive without this help. 

"To date, we have sent in nearly 100 nurses and technicians from all over the U.S. into the Northeast, all coordinated by our team here in Denver,” says Casey.

Image of Casey Bergeron

 


 

Teddi Li

Teddy Li (MS BUAN’20, MS SCMN’18)

How do traffic delays impact individuals, companies and global business? Teddy, a former chemical engineer, is adding a Business Analytics master’s to his repertoire in order to ascertain the deep economic and financial impacts of this complex problem.

 


 

Cassidy Stearns (MS BusAn’20)

Associate Analytics Consultant at DAS42

When CU Alumna Cassidy Stearns returned to the university to pursue her MS in Business Analytics at Leeds, she had almost no background in analytics. Yet, having majored in both Chinese and Russian Studies as an undergraduate, she quickly applied her aptitude for foreign languages to programming. Cassidy excelled in her courses and became a leader in her cohort, which is why she was named this year’s Outstanding MS in Business Analytics Award winner. 

"I came into the graduate program at Leeds without any coding experience but am leaving as a proficient programmer in three distinct languages, two of which I will use every day in my career,” says Cassidy.

As she leaves Leeds to pursue an opportunity in analytics consulting, she advises students to practice getting uncomfortable, asking for help and making strong connections early in their careers. 

"I truly believe the only reason I got where I am today and is because I made strong connections with companies, professors and faculty within the first few weeks of beginning classes. Asking for help and putting yourself out there can feel uncomfortable, but it's absolutely worth it. It allowed me a wealth of opportunities.

"If there's one thing I've learned from this program, it's that relying on other people only makes me a better version of myself.”

Image of Cassidy Stearns

 


 

Image of Leanne Sigman

Leanne Sigman (Acct & Fin’20, Cert in Business Leadership)

Future Corporate Finance Consultant at FTI Consulting

Leanne Sigman is this year’s recipient of the Undergraduate Impact Award. A member of Leeds Scholars, Delta Sigma Pi and the Dean’s Leadership Fellows, Leanne’s strong connections to the Leeds community helped her start a number of projects and events in the Boulder area.

"One of the most meaningful experiences of college was establishing the 1st annual KidsTek Leadership Outreach program to help underprivileged high school students achieve higher education.”

Having interned for two summers with Transamerica in Denver, Leanne will graduate this May with degrees in both Finance and Accounting alongside a certificate in Business Leadership. She leaves Leeds to pursue a career as a corporate finance consultant at FTI Consulting.

 


 

Katie Lonigro (OpMgmt’17)

Project Manager for University of Southern California (USC) Student Health and Program Manager for True Connection

Since the coronavirus outbreak, Katie has been participating on a small team that manages USC’s "COVID-19 Hotline" email—an "ask me anything" resource for the university’s community to seek guidance and clarity around the rapidly evolving situation. From 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, her team works to ensure the most urgent inquiries are answered and resolved as quickly as possible. 

"This has been an incredibly rich experience that has forced me to draw on my ability to empathize, problem-solve, communicate effectively, and connect with others,” says Katie. 
“We receive inquiries about everything from reimbursement policies to medical processes to concerns/challenges with online learning. It's exhausting and rewarding to know that we can make a difference just by providing as much clarity as we're able in such an uncertain circumstance.”

Katie also works with True Connection, a Los-Angeles-based nonprofit focused on empowering teens through SEL (Social Emotional Learning), art and meditation. While her business background helped facilitate their operations, she’s been able to take on the teacher role as well. Katie’s worked with LAPD Youth Service Officers and fifth graders from South Central LA in improving their emotional intelligence.

Photo of Katie Lonigro


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