Business as Art: Wendy Lea Inspires the Leeds Community
Nationally renowned ecosystem builder Wendy Lea came to Leeds to share exclusive insights from her career in building businesses, forging strategic alliances and inspiring go-to-market innovation, including the future she sees for quantum technology in Colorado.
Wendy Lea (second from left) with Leeds' Birdie Reznicek, Kathryn Wendell and Erick Mueller.
As Leeds’ first Community Leader-in-Residence, Lea’s first day included four sessions with members of the community, including the Dean’s Cabinet; members of the Leeds’ Centers of Excellence, Employer Relations and Career Development Office; graduate and undergraduate students; and staff from across Leeds.
A thought-provoking session with Leeds’ Business Research Division was a prime example of Lea’s captivating storytelling, tracing her career path—a journey shaped by building relationships, being curious, continually learning, and making bold decisions.
“I am a business artist,” said Lea, explaining that she sees potential before problems and focuses on how businesses can deliver value. “I see business-making as art because there is no set way to get it done—it’s the most creative thing in the world to me.”
Lea’s current work involves channeling her decades of experience into shaping the state of Colorado’s quantum ecosystem. As a board member of Elevate Quantum, Lea is helping position Colorado as a national leader in quantum technology—an industry McKinsey projects will reach $97 billion worldwide by 2035. Colorado, which currently has 50 quantum-related startups, expects 10,000 new jobs within the next 10 years, and 30,000 workers trained in quantum technology.
“I was never afraid of failure. NEVER. I am a natural innovator and entrepreneur,” Lea said. That spirit of entrepreneurship, she believes, will be key to accelerating Colorado’s leadership in building a quantum-ready workforce. High schools and colleges will play a pivotal role in this transformation, alongside partners in New Mexico and Wyoming, who are collaborating with Colorado to advance the field.
“If we do our work, we can build an amazing future for our state and our region,” she said. She emphasized that building the talent pipeline will not only require PhDs and engineers, but also skilled business professionals and trained workers in the trades, especially in manufacturing.
“If we do our work [in quantum technology], we can build an amazing future for our state and our region.“
Wendy Lea, ecosystem builder and board member of Quantum Elevate
Lessons for the next generation of business leaders
In another session, Lea met with student leaders to reflect on the pivotal decisions and turning points that shaped her career. She distilled her path into a powerful insight:
“Self-knowledge is the most important knowledge.”
By understanding herself, Lea said she was able to make thoughtful career choices. While not every decision was perfect, each one helped her apply her skills in new and imaginative ways, building expertise that ultimately allowed her to help others.
Her parting advice: Challenge your boundaries and embrace innovation and reinvention. “Break out in any way you can from the mold you have created for yourself.”