Speakers Connect Students to the Business World

What does it take to prepare the next generation of business leaders to navigate complex environmental and social challenges?

At CESR, the answer extends beyond the classroom.

This year, CESR welcomed 58 speakers, panelists, facilitators, and industry leaders who shared their expertise through bootcamps, treks, workshops, roundtables, and career conversations. From sustainability executives and investors to entrepreneurs, researchers, and community leaders, these professionals gave students direct insight into how organizations are addressing climate risk, financing the energy transition, developing new technologies, and leading change across industries.

Throughout the year, students explored corporate climate strategy during Colorado Climate Week, examined the intersection of sustainability and emerging technologies through the Sustainability Bootcamp, and gained exposure to clean energy finance through the Clean Energy Project Finance Bootcamp. CESR's Sustainability and Ethical Leadership Skills Workshops offered hands-on learning in areas such as carbon markets, corporate sustainability, and ethical decision making, helping students build practical knowledge while connecting with professionals working in the field.

Students also sharpened their leadership and communication skills through CESR's March Debate Madness Tournament. In this four week competition, undergraduate and graduate students debated complex business ethics topics with only minutes to prepare, challenging them to think critically, communicate effectively, and defend positions from multiple perspectives. The tournament culminated in a championship round that saw the first freshman in the event's history take home the title.

Beyond the classroom, students connected with leaders through Career Conversations, the Community Leader in Residence program, and the CESR and Naropa Roundtable, gaining candid insight into purpose driven careers and the many ways business can create positive impact.

Experiential learning also took students into the field. During CESR's inaugural Sustainability Trek, students traveled across Colorado to meet with organizations working at the intersection of business, energy, agriculture, natural resources, and community resilience, gaining firsthand exposure to the opportunities and challenges shaping the state's economy.

Through our new program in partnership with the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, the Leeds School of Business, and the College of Applied Science and Engineering, Boulder Climate Ventures (BCV) offered an unparalleled opportunity for students to engage directly with founders, investors, and operators building the next generation of climate solutions. Backed by Breakthrough Energy, Bill Gates' climate initiative, Boulder Climate Ventures is the first program of its kind at a public university and has become a leading platform for exploring climate innovation and entrepreneurship. 

To every speaker, facilitator, panelist, host, and community leader who contributed this year, thank you. Your time, expertise, and willingness to engage with students made these experiences possible and strengthened CESR's mission to develop leaders who can create lasting impact in business and society.

The momentum behind CESR continues to grow. As we expand our experiential learning programs and deepen our partnerships with industry leaders, we remain committed to connecting students with the people and ideas shaping the future. We are specifically looking forward to expanding Boulder Climate Ventures programming to include a Business Opportunities in Climate Tech course where students will not just be learning from industry professionals, but be prompted to innovate solutions and ventures to solve some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. 

Together, we are building a community that prepares students not just to participate in that future, but to lead it.

Thank You to Our Speakers: 

Colorado Sustainability Trek

Geoff Buchheister, Chief Executive Office, Aspen Skiing Company 

Hannah Berman, Sustainability & Philanthropy, Aspen One

Auden Schendler, Climate Activist & Author of Terrible Beauty: Reckoning with Climate Complicity and Rediscovering our Soul," and "Getting Green Done"

Dana Dalla Betta, Project Manager, Aspen Skiing Company

Mike Steiner, Key Accounts, Holy Cross Energy 

Lindsey Williams, Community Outreach Specialist, Holy Cross Energy

Jenna Weatherred, VP, Holy Cross Energy

Jane Pargiter, Executive Director, EcoFlight

Lea Linse, Conservation Policy Director, EcoFlight

Phebe Meyers, Community Programs Director, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies

Community Leader in Residence

Wendy Lea, Board Director, Colorado School of Mines

CESR and Naropa Roundtable

Sara Lewis, Co- founder, Memoru Center for Visionary Healing Arts and Naropa University Center for Psychedelic Studies.

Regina Smith, Chief of Staff & VP of Mission, Culture, and Inclusive Community at Naropa University 

Chris Jones, Co-founder Anthesis Group, Impact Investor 

Sarah Martinez, VP of ESG, Prime Data Centers

Sustainability Bootcamp

Mark Kroese, Former GM, Microsoft

Trent Yang, Managing Partner, PB Inc. 

Dr. Kyri Baker, Google DeepMind & Associate Professor, University of Colorado Boulder

Brenda Tuohig, Advisor and Former CCO, Scope3

Adrian Tuck, CEO, Uptempo

Erick Mueller, Deming Center for Entrepreneurship

Blake Bennett, Responsible Investment & Governance Analyst, Janus Henderson Investors

Becca Baldwin, Responsibility Content & Disclosure Analyst, Janus Henderson Investors

Dr. Marie Mitchell, University of North Carolina Kenan-Flagler Business School

Dr. Mairi-Jane Fox, Lecturer, Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Operations, Leeds School of Business

Career Conversations

Alex Leahy, Senior Manager, Instacart 

Clean Energy Project Finance Bootcamp

Omid Alemi, Vice President, Onward Energy 

Glen Davis, CEO, Agile Energy Advisors 

Bailey McCallum, CEO, Goshe Energy Storage

Carbon Markets 101

Dr. Mairi-Jane Fox, Lecturer, Strategy, Entrepreneurship, and Operations, Leeds School of Business

Ethical Leadership Workshop 

Deanna Bratter, Chief Sustainability Officer, Crocs Inc. 

Colorado Climate Week

Kendra Tupper, PE, Head of Carbon Reduction Planning & Strategy, Google

Eli Gordon, Head of Sustainability Advisory- North America, Watershed

Deanne Bratter, Chief Sustainability Officer, Crocs Inc. 

Boulder Climate Ventures

Susie Strife, Co-founder, 4 Corners Carbon Coalition

Doug Campbell, Host, Leaders of Enchantment Podcast 

Bryn Rees, Sr. Associate Vice Chancellor for Innovation & Partnerships, CU Boulder

Tasso Von Windheim, Venture Capital Investor, Swept.AI 

Allison Weis, Global Head of Energy Storage, Wood Mackenzie

Cully Cavness, Co-founder, President & Chief Strategy Officer, Crusoe

Amanda Rohrer, Climate Venture Investor, Blackhorn Ventures

Nathan Ratledge, Founder & CEO, Alta Resource Technologies

Leonardo Banchik, Partner at Voyager Ventures, Board Director, Stealth Startup, Photora Inc, Moment Energy

Jane Zelikova, Executive Director, Sustainability Research Initiative, CU Boulder

Mark Lewis, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Trailhead Capital

Devin Lammers, CEO, TerraClear

Rob Van Es, Go-to-Market Executive

Genevieve Kinney, Investor, General Catalyst

Chris Hanson, General Manager, Wintergreen , Owner, Trivial Financial 

Jen Shafer, Researcher, Energy Innovation, Colorado School of Mines

Julie Pullen, Director, Climate Innovation, Ocean Visions

Katja Friedrich, Professor, Atmospheric Scientist, CU Boulder

Ryan Orbuch, Investor, Lowercarbon Capital

Darren Clifford, Founder & Managing Director , AdaptUS

Sanjay Wagle, Partner & Investor, The Lightsmith Group

Wes Bolsen, Board Member & CEO, CitroTech

Cate Johnson, Teaching Lead, IDEO U 

Jason Desveaux, Researcher, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

John Teaford, Executive, Green Steel

Dax Craig, Co-Founder & CEO at Comeryx

Alice Havill, Founding Partner, Fractal 

Danya Hakeem, Investor, COO, Elemental Impact 

Maggie Rodney, Partner, Massive, Investor 

Erin Kirton, Senior Associate, VoLo Earth Ventures

Kim Kolt, General Partner at Bay Bridge Ventures, Founder, For Good Ventures

Tyson Shepherd, Senior Director, Alta Resource Technologies

Bryan Hassin, Cofounder & CEO, DEXMAT