Where Everyone's a Member of the Club

Finding your community in a school with around 5,000 students isn’t always easy. Luckily, Leeds is home to more than 40 different student organizations representing a variety of academic and professional interests, as well as identity-based groups. These clubs offer Business Buffs more than a way to further their exploration of business areas; they’re sources of lasting friendships and memories that come to define students’ time at CU.

Take a closer look at what it’s like to get involved at Leeds.

Established leaders: Leeds Student Government and Leeds Consulting Group

Leeds Student Government (LSG) aims to empower each member of the school’s community to thrive, from hosting free headshot sessions to bringing in speakers like former McDonald’s CFO Matthew Paull.

“I think what sets Leeds Student Government apart from any other organization within Leeds is that everyone joins for the communal purpose of wanting to better the student experience,” explained LSG President Zoe Cope (Fin’27).

LSG gathers data from students each year to help identify what programming would be beneficial and where it could offer more assistance. The group also helps support other Leeds clubs. Groups that are registered through the university’s Center for Student Involvement can become Leeds Certified Organizations and receive automatic funding. Additionally, LSG hosts the Leadership and Impact Summit, an opportunity for all Leeds organizations to come together and examine recruiting best practices to reduce bias.

“I’m really proud of the number of students we’re able to impact throughout a semester,” Cope said.

LSG also has a major effect on the students involved. For Cope, who joined during her first year at Leeds and served as vice president of finance before being elected president, LSG has offered valuable lessons in leading effectively while maintaining friendships and a strong sense of community—the latter of which she counts as one of its strengths.

“I will 100 percent stay in LSG until I graduate,” she said. “I absolutely love everyone in it, and the culture is just unlike any other club I’ve been a part of at Leeds.”

Being part of the Leeds Consulting Group (LCG) was a similarly transformative experience for spring 2025 graduate Marina Levine—and she wasn’t even a Leeds student.

“I’m really proud of the number of students we’re able to impact throughout a semester.”

LSG President Zoe Cope (Fin’27)

As a first-year studying economics in the College of Arts and Sciences, Levine was looking for ways to break into business and thought LCG would be the perfect opportunity to gain experience.

The organization allows students across majors and disciplines to solve real-world business problems for a wide range of clients, including startups, nonprofits and Fortune 500 companies.

“I can’t think of a way in which it didn’t shape my college experience,” Levine said. “It was 100 percent the most important involvement of my four years for a multitude of reasons. Number one was feeling a sense of belonging.

“LCG has this amazing combination of people who are really driven, curious and smart, and want to be agents of change in their community. But they’re also sociable, empathetic and emotionally intelligent—people you want as friends and coworkers and teammates.”

She estimates that 40 percent of members come from CU schools other than Leeds. While that can present roadblocks, it also has big benefits. Levine recalled initially feeling behind because she hadn’t been exposed to the same principles and resources as business students, but diverse members bring unique academic backgrounds and perspectives that lead to richer conversations and different approaches to solving problems.

During her time in LCG, Levine served in several leadership positions and worked on numerous client engagements. Before graduating last spring, Levine (pictured far right) and three other LCG members also competed in the Daniels Fund National Ethics Case Competition, placing second and bringing home an $80,000 prize, thanks to skills honed in the group.

Now an analyst for McKinsey & Company, she looks forward to staying involved with LCG.

“The alumni are so willing to give back to the club, and I know I’m going to be so willing, too—whether it’s donating money, donating time or coming back to hang out with people in LCG—because of the strong friendships we’ve formed,” she said.

Emerging Voices: AI Club and CU Women in Finance Club

CU’s AI Club is a new group that has quickly made a big impact. After starting in January 2025, the club attracted nearly 400 students to events and meetings during the spring semester.

The appeal is simple: There’s high demand for AI skills, and the club offers students a way to develop them while connecting with companies looking for the next generation of tech-savvy hires.

One way AI Club members are building skills is through a paid externship program made possible by alumnus Dave Allen (Bus’93), a Leeds Advisory Board member and CEO of Pure Fishing, and his wife, Mindy. Over the summer, 15 students worked with Pure Fishing to develop AI integrations, breaking into teams and tackling issues in different departments.

“It’s been a really great experience,” said Samantha Lopes (Mktg’27), who serves as the club’s director of strategy and operations and participated in the externship.

Clubs make an impact beyond the school. The AI Club sponsored a breast cancer awareness 5K, handing out water and helping runners cool down with a finish line ice bath.

The club also hosts biweekly workshops with guest speakers and hands-on learning opportunities, as well as the AI Exchange event, which last year featured a panel of AI pros and interactive booths that students and faculty could visit.

“From the outset, our objective has been to create an environment where like-minded individuals can come together to share ideas, learn collaboratively and pursue innovative projects—ultimately building a robust and supportive community,” Lopes said.

The CU Women in Finance Club (WIF), established in 2019, is also still actively growing its membership and reach. Created for students who are interested in helping bridge the gaps that continue to exist for women working in the financial sector, WIF offers education and inspiration to any students interested in the industry through workshops, networking opportunities and speaker events.

Madison Potts (Fin’25) joined the club as a sophomore and is currently serving as the vice president of operations before graduating in December. She’s enjoyed the opportunities it’s provided to get to know new people, whether they’re students or industry professionals sharing their expertise.

One of her favorite events was a panel with J.P. Morgan’s commercial banking arm that featured women at various stages in their careers. “You were able to see careers through time with a completely female panel, which I thought was really impactful,” she said.

Last year, WIF hosted panels with women from McKinsey, Mercer Advisors, Five Elms Capital and Capstone Partners. The executive team also led sessions on navigating career fairs, resume review and certifications you can earn while at CU.

“I’m in a bunch of other clubs, including Leeds Investment and Trading Group and Investment Banking Club, but just being able to have that safe space has been really significant for me,” Potts said.

Connecting graduate students: Adam Smith Society and Global Business Alliance

Student organizations aren’t just for undergrads— they benefit grad students, too.

“Getting involved in clubs and attending events is one of the most impactful ways graduate students can build community, expand their networks, and make the most of their time at Leeds,” said Patti Martinez, student success coordinator for graduate programs.

Full-time MBA students Kailer Smith and Joshua Mace aim to facilitate conversation and the exchange of ideas as the co-chapter leaders of Leeds’ Adam Smith Society.

Joshua Mace (MBA’26) is doing just that as president of both the MBA Veterans Group and MBA Marketing Club, as well as co-chapter leader of the Adam Smith Society.

Being involved in student organizations felt natural to Mace, who spent 20 years in the U.S. Air Force.

“A lot of times we were stationed overseas, so the groups that we would be a part of outside of work were very important to us,” he explained. “Coming here to CU, joining the clubs is kind of the same thing. We’re scattered all over the place in terms of where we live and what we’ve done in our lives. Being a part of the Marketing Club or the Finance Club or the Outdoor Industry Club, you’re going to be grouped together with people who have similar interests.”

Along with other chapters at top business schools around the country, Leeds’ Adam Smith Society brings together students and professionals to discuss and debate the contributions of the free market to advancing human flourishing and opportunity for all.

Since the organization has a national presence, Mace and co-chapter leader Kailer Smith (MBA’26) had the opportunity to make connections outside of the Leeds chapter, attending a leader retreat in Washington, D.C., over the summer. They met with economists and learned from other chapters’ leadership and experience, bringing connections and ideas back with them to Boulder.

On their short list? Getting first-year MBA students involved in the society earlier in the semester, hosting a guest speaker focusing on AI, and continuing to prioritize diversity of thought in the organization.

“It shouldn’t just be an echo chamber, everybody agreeing,” Smith said. “We’re there to discuss and push ideas forward—not change each other’s minds exactly, but to open up and discuss and share ideas with each other.”

"Simply put, things get better when we all work and learn together, and that’s the driving force behind our club."

Mrudhula Rapaka’s (MBA, MBusAn’26)

Bringing people together is also a focus of the Global Business Alliance, a newly launched organization for graduate students. Mrudhula Rapaka’s (MBA, MBusAn’26) experience as an international student inspired her to found the group.

“As business students, it’s essential for us to learn from diverse perspectives and share knowledge across borders,” she said. “Simply put, things get better when we all work and learn together, and that’s the driving force behind our club.”

The Global Business Alliance’s mission is to promote global business, providing resources, education and connections to help students understand and navigate its complexities. The organization aims to create a sense of community for all grad students at Leeds, regardless of their specific academic focus areas or background, by hosting cultural events as well as exploring internationalization and trade through guest speakers, networking opportunities and more.

Kirill Levkovskii (MBA, MBusAn’26), the club’s co-leader, hopes classmates who get involved come away with the understanding that they don’t need to limit themselves.

“The world is big,” he said. “There are plenty of places for opportunities, so if you feel like you can’t find something here in Colorado or within whatever boundaries you’ve set for yourself, you can always take a couple of extra steps and find opportunities to excel.”