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Leeds and Gates partner on a custom finance program.

Many people who work with capital projects and R&D may not have a background in finance. It was one of the reasons why  a leading manufacturer of application-specific power transmission and fluid power solutions chose the Leeds School of Business to develop a customized finance program. Leeds worked with the Gates Global Mobility team on designing a custom program for their engineers and other technology professionals with limited formal finance training. 

“It is important for us to increase education around financial concepts for our engineering and technology team,” said Todd Sellden, director of business and product development for Gates Global Mobility. “It was an easy decision to partner with the leading university in Colorado to offer this program to our team.”

The program delivered earlier this fall aimed to help bridge the gap between engineering and finance, empowering participants to make informed financial decisions and communicate more effectively with their finance colleagues. 

Shaun Davies, associate professor of finance at the Leeds School of Business and research director of the Burridge Center for Finance, customized and delivered the program curriculum. The program focused on four modules: financial statement analysis, time value of money, capital budgeting, and risk and return. Each module gave participants the knowledge and skills to analyze financial information, make informed decisions and assess project feasibility. 

Over two days, the engineers and other technology professionals applied their practical experience in this immersive workshop to better understand financial concepts, such as working capital, terminal value and cash flow. Davies was able to make complex financial topics more accessible and in an easy-to-follow format. Participants appreciated his engagement, enthusiasm and willingness to delve into real-life scenarios the team encounters. 

“In my role, I find myself needing to justify CAPEX spending and interacting with colleagues in the finance group. The overview we received will help me speak their language a little better,” said one of the participants in the program. 

Leeds is a trusted partner in creating specific customized programs that help companies and their employees master new competencies and enhance leadership skills. You can visit our website to learn more about other custom programs we have run with other organizations.