Alex Dahm (Fin’26)

Alex Dahm (Fin’26) has spent the last three years at Leeds taking advantage of everything the school has to offer. In addition to pursuing the personal financial planning track and a certificate in global business, Dahm has served as a Dean’s Fellow and a Newton Fellow. She has focused on making connections, getting involved with the Burridge Center for Finance and becoming a mentor for younger Leeds students.  

“Throughout my three years at CU, I’ve come to know a lot of mentors through programs and networking, and that’s been one of the most valuable things that I’ve gotten from CU,” she said. It has prompted her to also want to give back to the broader community.

Originally from New Jersey, Dahm was drawn to CU for both the Leeds program and its location in Boulder. She felt like Leeds was a place where she could make an impact and it could make an impact on her.

“I love this school so much. Coming from the East Coast was a big change, but I used to go skiing here with my family, and I felt like I needed to come to Colorado.”

Mentee turned mentor and leader

Returning to Leeds for her senior year after a semester abroad in Barcelona, Dahm became a Newton Fellow. Hosted by the Center for Leadership, the fellowship provides workshops and networking opportunities with influential leaders across campus and in the community. Dahm is especially excited about an event with the chancellor coming up in February 2026.

“The fellowship is interesting because it’s awarded to people who have had an impact on campus and in the broader Boulder community. It’s not Leeds-specific—it’s all leaders around campus, which makes it unique. I’ve enjoyed getting to know people from opposite sides of the school,” she said.

“One of my qualities that makes me me is my persistence. I tend not to take ‘no’ for an answer.”

Alex Dahm (Fin’26)

As Scholars of Finance president in fall 2024, Dahm drove a 91% membership increase—experience that helped her secure the Newton fellowship. She also mentors two students through Leeds’ Peer2Peer Mentoring, sharing candid, practical advice.

“I think mentoring is really valuable. My mentors have helped me so much, and being able to advise younger students is extremely important,” Dahm said. “One of the things I really value is honesty, so I think being honest about my experience at CU—things I would change and what I recommend that they do—is also really important.”

One story Dahm has shared with her mentees is how she didn’t get into the Peer2Peer program on her first attempt. Instead of giving up, she sought feedback, reapplied and earned the role. It's a reminder to keep trying even after a setback.

“One of my qualities that makes me me is my persistence. I tend not to take ‘no’ for an answer.”

Dahm admits that not everything she has been involved in through Leeds has been for her. Last summer, she interned with Pathstone in Boston—an experience that helped her realize what wasn’t her “cup of tea.”

She was a rotational wealth management intern, which provided exposure to trusts, investments and wills. “It was a good experience. I was definitely able to learn a lot from it, but what was also valuable was learning what I didn’t like, too," she said "I didn’t love the internship, but I was happy that I experienced it. I learned a lot about working as part of a team. I had never worked in a corporate environment, so that was a first.”

Dahm and seven other interns completed a culture project, in which they interviewed members of the firm to create a “value presentation." They also created educational presentations for ultra-high-net-worth kids, teaching them about wealth management. Dahm gave a presentation about credit scores.

Though her internship wasn’t a perfect fit, she turned it into an opportunity—initiating coffee chats and building connections. Her semester abroad had boosted her confidence in engaging with diverse people. Looking ahead, she plans to prioritize travel and new experiences, continuing to expand that foundation.

"Networking and job hunting can come second to well-being. Enjoying where you are in life should come first."

Alex Dahm (Fin’26)

Though she sometimes feels consumed by the pressure to make connections, land internships and apply for jobs, being at CU has helped her reframe what matters most. “Having fun and living is the most important aspect of my life,” she reminds herself and her mentees. "Networking and job hunting can come second to well-being. Enjoying where you are in life should come first."

That may be one reason she loves scrapbooking. “I didn’t know that much about my parents’ lives before they were my parents, so I’m making a scrapbook of my college years,” she said. “I started to do it in high school because I wanted a memento for my kids and for when I get older.”

Some of Dahm’s favorite memories include road-tripping with her father from Pennsylvania to Colorado, her semester abroad that was “the best experience of her life,” and visiting 16 countries. As a finance major, she knew she was spending “way too much money” while traveling, but in the end, it didn’t matter—because it was all amazing.