FOL-Career Success

Kate Minnihan (Mgmt鈥�18)

Jane Majkiewicz — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 15:00:00 +0000

Kate Minnihan (Mgmt鈥�18) Jane Majkiewicz Fri, 08/16/2024 - 09:00

Anna Sheffer , MFA鈥�25

Senior Employer Relations Manager, Leeds School of Business

Kate Minnihan (Mgmt鈥�18) specializes in helping others live authentically鈥攁 quest she understands, thanks to the many turns her path has taken.

鈥淎t the end of the day, the goal is to just help people understand themselves and have empathy for others and understand others,鈥� she said. 鈥淢ore purposeful and authentic living is what I strive for in my own life, and I hope that the services I provide can help give that to others.鈥�

Finding a Place

Growing up in nearby Lafayette, Minnihan was unsure about attending CU. She got accepted for engineering but quickly transferred to Leeds because she wanted to work with people and understood the value a business degree could provide.

As a student, Minnihan鈥檚 numerous extracurriculars included playing Ultimate Frisbee on the women鈥檚 club team, studying abroad in Prague, participating in the Leeds Scholars Program and creating a peer leadership program for the Presidents Leadership Class.

"When you鈥檙e a student, there are so many opportunities to just go for it, and so many resources,鈥� she said. 鈥淓ven now, working at Leeds, I feel it鈥檚 crazy how much I see that.鈥�

Although Minnihan was unsure what she wanted to do after graduation, her time at Leeds allowed her to test out a variety of options. She obtained a certificate from the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility (CESR), co-created a nonprofit-focused career fair and interned in HR with the resort company Intrawest.

鈥滶ven the power of figuring out what you don鈥檛 want to do is amazing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 had a lot of unpaid internships throughout my time at Leeds that were super helpful for understanding more about what I like and what I don't like.鈥�

It took a few more years of experimentation before Minnihan found her passion. After graduation, she worked as an au pair in Switzerland before accepting a job with EF Education First, a company that organizes experiential learning trips overseas. After a year, she applied to a position at Leeds that would enable her to focus more on program management while still working in education.

鈥淓ven the power of figuring out what you don鈥檛 want to do is amazing.鈥�

Kate Minnihan (Mgmt鈥�18)

鈥淏eing at Leeds, I feel like I get to live out my passion for education in my work, while also being able to explore all these other avenues that I aspire to in the future,鈥� she said.

Minnihan鈥檚 position at Leeds has focused on both experiential learning and employer relations. Working with recruiters and students inspired her to get her professional coaching certification through the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and to launch her own business, Enneagram with Kate, which offers training for individuals and teams based on the Enneagram personality tool.

鈥淪hifting more into coaching and getting my ICF certification was a big deal,鈥� she said. 鈥淸So was] starting to work more with clients and think about, 鈥榃hat does it look like to help people achieve their goals, either career-related or just in general?鈥欌€�

Inspiring others

In her Leeds role, Minnihan loves working with students. Although she works remotely from San Diego, Kate returns to campus throughout the semester for career fairs and events, and she also travels with students to major cities around the country for career treks.

"It鈥檚 very cool to feel not only the more tangible outcomes that are helping place students in internships and jobs, but also the more human side and relational part of the journey of getting to see how students grow and change over time,鈥� she said.

Minnihan鈥檚 search for authenticity is ongoing. Her most recent endeavor is obtaining a master鈥檚 degree in Learning Studies and Human Development from CU Denver. Regardless of what she is doing, Minnihan strives to accept opportunities that come her way and inspire others to dream big.

鈥淚t鈥檚 rewarding to say, 鈥楬ey, I saw the students鈥� needs and I was able to help them find the solution.鈥欌€�

Both a Leeds alumna and staff member, Kate Minnihan (Mgmt鈥�18) specializes in helping others live authentically鈥攁 quest she understands, thanks to the many turns her path has taken.

Traditional

White

Regina Koetters (MRelEst鈥�24)

Jane Majkiewicz — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Regina Koetters (MRelEst鈥�24) Jane Majkiewicz Fri, 07/12/2024 - 21:00

Anna Bedell (Mktg鈥�25)

Executive Coach, ClientWise LLC; Executive Leadership Coach, Partners in Building Better LLC

From place to place, career to career, Regina Koetters has done a lot in her life. Now, after receiving a master鈥檚 degree from CU Boulder, she鈥檚 happy to settle into work that she鈥檚 passionate about in the real estate industry.

A nontraditional path

Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Koetters entered the United States Naval Academy straight from high school. She went into aviation as a naval flight officer and was deployed in various places around the United States and Europe. She went to Iraq following the 9/11 attacks.

With all her Navy travel experiences, she developed an interest in real estate development. 鈥淚 noticed just how incredibly influential the built environment is on the kinds of relationships people have with each other, the city, and ultimately, the lives that people lead,鈥� she said.

Koetters decided to go back to school to get an MBA at the University of Michigan. Following a move to Pittsburgh to pursue an urban planning project, she was recalled to Iraq for a year and then returned to Pittsburgh, where she opened a business in 2012 to help address market inefficiencies with small farms. Although pouring everything she saved into the business, she ultimately made the tough decision to close it in 2016.

Then followed a few more years with the Navy. After that, she relocated to Louisville, Colorado, and began pursuing her master鈥檚 in real estate at CU.

Helping business professionals

Koetters parlayed her life and work experiences into becoming a self-employed executive coach. She enjoys advising clients when their businesses are facing a problem, although she said she has never really loved the term 鈥榗oach.鈥� 鈥淚t infers that I have a playbook and I just say 鈥榞o run these plays.鈥� That鈥檚 not what happens鈥擨'm much more of a person that helps clients rewire what they believe is possible and what they believe is true about themselves.鈥�

Koetters knows that being your own boss has its challenges, saying there鈥檚 no one to rely on but yourself. She can draw from that personal experience, empathizing with business owners about the stress of running a company.

鈥淚t鈥檚 like everyone in your life is mad at you or wants something from you,鈥� she said. 鈥淰ery few people are coming to you and saying, 鈥楢re you okay?鈥� Most business owners don鈥檛 realize how stressful it is.鈥�

She considers herself to be a thought and accountability partner for her business clients. 鈥淭hey really are the ones who decide what's important and what they want to achieve. And I just help them do that鈥攆aster and with less pain.鈥�

鈥淚鈥檓 a builder at heart. I鈥檓 excited to join a great team that鈥檚 building great places to live and work, and to put all my skills into practice.鈥�

Regina Koetters (MRelEst鈥�24)

Diversity as a strength

Throughout her career, Koetters has often been a minority in the room鈥攚hether it has been as a woman in the Naval Academy, a young person within the commercial real estate industry, or as a nontraditional student. She鈥檚 used these experiences to learn and ensure that she鈥檚 building a culture of equity and inclusion in each industry she serves.

鈥淓ach one of us carries these biases,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e have to be aware of them so we're able to effectively navigate in a work environment.鈥�

With her master鈥檚 degree in hand, Koetters is thrilled to be in the commercial real estate industry.

鈥淚鈥檓 a builder at heart,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited to join a great team that鈥檚 building great places to live and work, and to put all my skills into practice.鈥�

From place to place, career to career, Regina Koetters has done a lot in her life. Now she's excited to be in real estate development helping create great places to live and work.

Traditional

White

Rob La Trobe (MBA, MSupCha鈥�24)

Jane Majkiewicz — Wed, 19 Jun 2024 03:00:00 +0000

Rob La Trobe (MBA, MSupCha鈥�24) Jane Majkiewicz Tue, 06/18/2024 - 21:00

Anna Bedell (Mktg鈥�25)

Strategic Sourcing Analyst, Stack Infrastructure

Business wasn鈥檛 Rob La Trobe鈥檚 first career choice鈥攏or his second. After a long journey, he found himself at CU Boulder, leading to a career path that he loves. In June 2024, La Trobe landed his 鈥渄ream job,鈥� working as a strategic sourcing analyst.

Originally from Chicago, La Trobe was a first-generation graduate of Purdue University in 2015, getting a degree in premed with plans to go to grad school. After deciding that he didn鈥檛 want to commit to medicine, he joined the military and worked in intel until 2020. He was in operations and sales positions until he came to CU Boulder.

鈥淚 had the opportunity to make my own path rather than have one carved out for me,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 ended up at CU Boulder once I saw I needed to sharpen my tools in order to be 鈥榙angerous鈥� when it came to business acumen.鈥�

Pursuing a Dream

La Trobe wasn鈥檛 sure what to expect coming into Leeds. He hadn鈥檛 studied business before, but he knew this career path was his passion, and he was willing to work hard to create the experience he wanted.

鈥淚 wanted to prove to myself that I could be incredibly successful,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 held on to that dream and that goal. It took some iterations, failing in a lot of things that didn鈥檛 work out for me. But that's part of it鈥攁nd that鈥檚 the fun part.鈥� It helped that he felt surrounded by people who wanted him to do well, with a supportive culture that fostered connection. 鈥淚t was a recipe for success.鈥�

鈥淚t took some iterations, failing in a lot of things that didn鈥檛 work out for me. But that鈥檚 part of it鈥攁nd that鈥檚 the fun part.鈥�

Rob La Trobe (MBA, MSupCha鈥�24)

A Delicate Balancing Act

Even with the stress of studying for two master鈥檚 degrees, La Trobe wanted to get involved in causes that he cares about. He joined Leeds鈥� Net Impact Club, which focuses on sustainability in business, and the MBA Veteran's Club, where he worked to inform veteran students of their benefits and connect them to different departments at CU. He served as the president of both organizations, all while balancing his school work and personal life.

鈥淚 felt like I was spinning a million plates, and fumbling quite a few of them,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t doesn't feel like you're doing anything right when you鈥檙e spread so thin. But you don鈥檛 have to spin the plates forever. It's OK for some of them to fall鈥攚here they should be. Everything happens for a reason.鈥�

Those reasons were abundantly clear when upon graduation La Trobe was named the MS Supply Chain Management Outstanding Student and he landed his current job. It has felt like the perfect fit. He especially enjoys being inspired by two bosses who encourage him to fail forward and experiment.

Gratitude and Giving Back

Reflecting upon his time at Leeds, La Trobe said he鈥檚 proud of and grateful for CU Boulder. 鈥淚 can't thank the school enough.鈥� He's eager to keep giving back. 鈥淚 feel like it鈥檚 hard to be successful. I'd love to help where I can,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 privileged to be here. I'm grateful for the position I'm in now.鈥�

After exploring different fields, including military service, Rob La Trobe decided to pursue dual master's degrees at Leeds, leading to his current "dream job" as a strategic sourcing analyst.

Traditional

White

Allie Williams (Ops, InfoMgmt鈥�19)

Anonymous — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Allie Williams (Ops, InfoMgmt鈥�19) Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 02/10/2023 - 00:00

Strategy and Analytics Consultant, Deloitte

Allie Williams is an early adopter.

No, she doesn鈥檛 need the latest and greatest phone, VR headset or smartwatch. But from the time she enrolled at Leeds, she could clearly see that technology and business were fast becoming inseparable.

As a senior, Allie was president of the Leeds Association for Information Systems, where she was proud to continue the group鈥檚 mission of bringing together students studying business and engineering, to help them discover areas where their studies and professional ambitions overlapped.

鈥淲hen I was a student, that intersection of business and technology wasn鈥檛 as available at Leeds,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad to see that now, it鈥檚 become a core mission of the school to foster that partnership between the disciplines.鈥�

The cross-disciplinary efforts she made as a student are now an important part of Allie鈥檚 professional life. After a summer scholar internship with Deloitte, she joined the Big Four powerhouse; two years ago, she was promoted to her current role, where she connects client needs with developers to ensure her recommendations solve the client鈥檚 problems.

鈥淚 really enjoy how applicable my work is,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ometimes, I get to work with a large-scale client where I鈥檓 also a customer, and to actually get to see the recommendations I鈥檝e made show up in the marketplace is really cool.鈥�

鈥淭here鈥檚 so much more we can do to use data for good. It鈥檚 one thing to collect data at every piece of process, but to pull insights from it and help make decisions through it is an area where I can see myself adding value for years.鈥�

Allie Williams (Ops, InfoMgmt鈥�19)

Allie also stays in close touch with Leeds, having recently ended her service on an advisor board for young alumni and relishing the opportunities to mentor and influence future generations of students.

That was especially true while she was chair of undergraduate engagement.

Influencing future generations

鈥淎t Leeds, I was very involved, and really enjoyed extracurricular opportunities and getting to bring in and learn from guest speakers,鈥� she said. 鈥淥n the board, there were so many opportunities to connect with students, give back and help them figure out what their future could look like.鈥�

Many of those students are interested in her career path. Consulting is a popular early-career path at Leeds; Allie said that for problem solvers鈥攅specially those with an interest in data and analytics鈥攖he industry can be a rewarding one.

鈥淐onsulting is a great way to, early on in your career, see a lot of different businesses and understand how things work in professional settings鈥攁long with what skills you need to add value to the business,鈥� she said.

It鈥檚 an industry she鈥檇 like to stay in, as someone who relishes opportunities to learn at work.

鈥淒eloitte offers a lot of professional development and continuous learning opportunities, so I鈥檓 looking to keep learning more about the technical side of the business,鈥� Allie said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 so much more we can do to use data for good. It鈥檚 one thing to collect data at every piece of process, but to pull insights from it and help make decisions through it is an area where I can see myself adding value for years.鈥�

More Faces of Leeds Undergraduate programs GOLD board

You might say Allie is an early adopter鈥攏ot of the latest gadget, but of the perspective that technology and business go hand in hand.

Traditional

White

Jennifer Bixler (ChemEngr鈥�98, Exec MBA鈥�23)

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Jan 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Jennifer Bixler (ChemEngr鈥�98, Exec MBA鈥�23) Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 01/20/2023 - 00:00

Vice President of Program Management and Alliances, ArsenalBio

While the rest of us were preparing for virtual work at the onset of the pandemic, Jennifer Bixler was welcoming everyone else aboard.

Jennifer has been working remotely for more than a decade, but being an early adopter has helped her to better understand and appreciate the value of human connections at work.

鈥淐OVID actually made things a little easier for me, because suddenly, everyone else knew what it was like to do that,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd the technology advances have helped a lot, also.鈥�

Of course, if you鈥檙e a Colorado native who equally loves the outdoors and the biotech industry, you鈥檙e going to have to make some compromises. Jennifer鈥檚 is virtual work: She鈥檚 built her leadership career remotely; for the past two years, she鈥檚 worked at ArsenalBio, in the Bay Area, and has also worked in remote roles for biotech companies in the Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., areas.

But when it came time to get her MBA, she balked at studying fully online. A major standout of the Executive MBA at Leeds was the offsite residency program, where students meet for extended periods at locations in the Colorado mountains and beyond. Jennifer felt a lockstep cohort program would give her the motivation to see her degree through, 鈥渁nd that personal connection with the other students is part of where the value is for me,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 how I鈥檝e learned to work, as someone who is remote. I work with people, I work with individuals, and being able to build those personal connections outside of the classroom鈥攖hrough networking events, through everybody sitting in the hotel lobby in the evening working on case studies together鈥攖hat builds a level of connection that I just didn't find in the other programs.鈥�

A broader view of business

She also said taking classes alongside leaders in different disciplines has given her new perspectives on how to approach challenges and opportunities in her own work.

鈥淏iotech is kind of its own world, and I very much value having that outside input and perspective from people in different fields鈥攈ow they think about things, how they apply what they鈥檙e learning,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t has really added breadth to my education to have this level of connection with the other students.鈥�

At ArsenalBio, Jennifer leans on her big-picture, strategic view of the world to work with internal teams and external partnerships to transform innovative ideas into clinical breakthroughs, specifically in the realm of programmable cell therapies designed to battle cancer.

鈥淟eeds is giving me the language and the confidence to be able to share my perspectives, which has been a huge benefit.鈥�

Jennifer Bixler (ChemEngr鈥�98, Exec MBA鈥�23)

鈥淲hile we have our own pipeline of products, drug development is a very long, expensive process, and for any startup to fund that itself is next to impossible,鈥� she said. 鈥淏eing able to form those strategic partnerships with larger companies is a make or break, and we need to be able make good progress as a larger team coming from different company backgrounds, and being able to navigate those relationships.鈥�

Her Leeds experience is helping her further refine her talent for keeping teams aligned on long-term strategic goals.

鈥淲hen I was involved in the business discussions, I would often think, there鈥檚 got to be a better way of doing this, but I don't know what it is. That鈥檚 partly why I joined Leeds,鈥� Jennifer said. 鈥淲hat has been interesting is the MBA has actually validated that I knew a lot of these answers, but I didn鈥檛 know that I knew them. Leeds is giving me the language and the confidence to be able to share my perspectives, which has been a huge benefit.鈥�

When she鈥檚 not sharing her perspectives at work or spending time with her teenage kids, she鈥檚 either at the gym or on a mountain. Whether hiking, skiing, or participating in group fitness classes, Jennifer said physical fitness is an important part of her life: 鈥淚 don鈥檛 have a lot of free time, but exercise is key to overall physical and mental health. It helps me find balance.鈥�

More Faces of Leeds Executive MBA Leeds MBA programs

Biotech can be an isolated place, so when Jennifer went looking for an executive MBA, she wanted a diverse network representing varied industries. It鈥檚 why she chose Leeds.

Traditional

White

Maeve Schmid, CFP (Fin鈥�18)

Anonymous — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Maeve Schmid, CFP (Fin鈥�18) Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 12/09/2022 - 00:00

Associate Wealth Advisor, Mercer Advisors

It鈥檚 not uncommon to hear stories of mom and dad waiting for their kids to finish high school and start college before moving away.

It鈥檚 lesson common for the kids to follow them. But that鈥檚 basically how Maeve Schmid went from California鈥檚 Napa Valley to Boulder.

鈥淢y family was looking for a more central location, because my stepdad traveled a lot,鈥� said Maeve, who was an active student in Pi Beta Phi, the CoLab initiative and elsewhere. 鈥淪o they made plans to move to Denver the same time I was moving to Boulder.鈥�

And while she loved California, Maeve today lives in downtown Denver, giving her opportunities not just to explore the local restaurant and pickleball scenes, but also to stay connected with Leeds, especially the personal financial planning program.

鈥淚 really do love meeting the students and sharing the different levels of the business,鈥� said Maeve, who was among the first students to complete the PFP program鈥攕ecuring a high-profile internship at Charles Schwab on the way. 鈥淪ometimes, being a financial advisor has this reputation where you have to figure everything out yourself. I love sharing what Mercer does with them, because I know coming out of college that I didn鈥檛 know all these things.鈥�

鈥淟earning their life stories and appreciating where they came from 鈥� is my favorite part of the job.鈥�

Maeve Schmid (Fin鈥�18)

Maeve was recently promoted to her current role at Mercer, where she takes seriously her responsibilities of building relationships, and trust, with her clients.

鈥淧eople want to share who they are with you, and they want to answer your questions and have you understand who they are,鈥� she said. 鈥淟earning their life stories and appreciating where they came from, and what money and investing means to them, is my favorite part of the job.鈥�

She鈥檚 now working to instill that passion in future generations, through active involvement in Leeds鈥� Young Alumni Mentors program and continued involvement with the PFP program, including regular speaking events and networking sessions. 鈥淚 love having those relationships with Leeds students,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 remember being in that position where you have questions鈥攍ike, what鈥檚 the etiquette for email or sending calendar invites鈥攖hat you maybe don鈥檛 want to ask a parent or professor.鈥�

Maeve also is working as a mentor at Mercer, where she鈥檚 involved in the company鈥檚 InvestHers initiative, which helps empower female clients and employees. That鈥檚 something she wants to continue to do as her career advances鈥斺€渢o give new employees the kind of great experience Mercer gave me when I started.鈥�

More Faces of Leeds Why Leeds Undergraduate Programs

The financial planning program at Leeds help shape Maeve's early career path, so she's eager to give back.

Traditional

White

John Quinn (Fin鈥�89)

Anonymous — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 06:00:00 +0000

John Quinn (Fin鈥�89) Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 11/04/2022 - 00:00

John Quinn enjoyed incredible success in his career with JPMorgan Chase, and one thing he knows for sure is that no one gets there alone.

It鈥檚 why, following a 33-year career with the bank, he remains an active mentor and a supporter of important causes, including need-based scholarships for bright students accepted to Leeds.

鈥淢entorship is a gift that everyone can give,鈥� John said. 鈥淚 really appreciate the Leeds School and the lessons I learned there, but I also learned so much through my family and mentors.鈥�

John 鈥渏oined鈥� JPMC the same way many professionals do鈥攁s part of an acquisition by the investment bank and financial services giant. His first job out of Leeds was at First National Bank of Boulder, where he met his wife, Naomi, before the bank was bought out. But his early career, he said, included a lot of guidance from leaders who gave him insights and perspective that helped him rise to divisional director for eight western U.S. states, following his work leading Chase Wealth Management, the investment arm of the business.

鈥淚 really appreciate the Leeds School and the lessons I learned there, but I also learned so much through my family and mentors.鈥�

John Quinn (Fin鈥�89)

鈥淚 was fortunate to have some great leaders and mentors right away,鈥� John said. 鈥淎n executive vice president at the first bank I worked for took me under his wing, and helped me develop a broader perspective beyond my role.鈥�

John has consistently paid that back by being a mentor to rising stars at the company, as well as supporting causes like ethic and gender diversity in business. Though he didn鈥檛 receive scholarships as a Leeds student, he and his wife established the John and Naomi Quinn Scholarship Fund Scholarship Fund 鈥渂ecause it鈥檚 important to us to help people who don鈥檛 have the means to go to the University of Colorado, who did grow up with as much as I had.鈥�

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of very successful alumni from Leeds,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e should be reaching out to help鈥攚e need to be that support system to get people to the next level, whether that鈥檚 as students or professionals.鈥�

An emphasis on ethics

Though he鈥檚 retired from JPMC, he still serves as a mentor, and is in regular contact with nearly a dozen professionals. While he鈥檚 not formally mentoring any Leeds students, he鈥檚 happy to share his perspectives on what made him successful: hard work, personal accountability, and honesty and integrity.

The last two points you could actually trace back to John鈥檚 favorite Leeds class, which focused on business ethics.

鈥淚t was outstanding,鈥� he said. 鈥淭he professor was a former CEO, and he shared a lot of firsthand experience from his career, which led to great conversations. Something I really enjoyed about Leeds and the faculty were how direct and honest they were with people, with positive feedback as well as where they saw opportunities for criticism.

鈥淎t one point in my career, I had 15,000 employees under me. You want to always give that consistent feedback that will help them reach the next level of their career鈥攅ven if it鈥檚 not something they want to hear. That was important at Leeds, as well.鈥�

More Faces of Leeds Finance at Leeds Burridge Center for Finance

John Quinn had a long leadership career in finance. Today, he pays back all the support he got by mentoring others.

Traditional

White

Shay Cardenas (MBA鈥�22)

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Sep 2022 16:50:25 +0000

Shay Cardenas (MBA鈥�22) Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 09/23/2022 - 10:50

HR Business Associate, Ford Motor Co.

Shay Cardenas has long been driven to succeed. So it makes sense that she works in human resources for an automaker.

鈥淲hat I enjoy most about my work is the opportunity to creatively problem solve, because every day, there鈥檚 a new challenge,鈥� she said.

After completing an internship with Ford, Shay started part-time while she was enrolled in the Leeds MBA. It鈥檚 been a major career shift鈥攕he worked mostly in nonprofits before completing her graduate degree鈥攂ut one she has embraced wholeheartedly, despite the challenges she faced in enrolling in the program.

鈥淢aking the decision to go to grad school and forgo income is a hurdle for a lot of people in my position, but I always looked at this as investment in myself,鈥� she said, adding that for the first time, she鈥檚 making more money than she owes in loans. 鈥淲ithout this degree and the support I got from Leeds, there鈥檚 no way I would have been able to get this job at Ford.鈥�

That support included scholarships that allowed her to be very involved in the Leeds community鈥攊mportant, she said, because building a network was so important to her.

鈥淎t Leeds, you become part of this community that gives you a network and connects you to mentors,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have a mentor before. Now, I have people I can call for career advice, or help solving problems.鈥�

At Leeds, Shay was president of external relations for the Net Impact Case Competition, co-president of Women in Business and served on the Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Committee鈥攁 serious lift for someone working part-time and raising three children during a pandemic that kept schools closed.

鈥淚 stayed busy,鈥� is her modest way of putting it.

While her ultimate goal is to start her own business, Shay said she鈥檚 looking forward to advancing into a more strategic role at Ford as her career progresses, and said the analytical nature of her MBA will help her develop as a decision-maker and leader.

鈥淚 come from humble means, so it was a struggle for me to even get to where I was in my career,鈥� she said. 鈥淪ometimes I look back and I鈥檓 like, 鈥榃ow, I鈥檝e come a long way.鈥� And Leeds really gave me such a boost and helped me find my path.鈥�

More Faces of Leeds Why Leeds Leeds MBA

Leaving work to pursue an MBA full time was a scary proposition for Shay, 'but I always looked at this as investment in myself,' she said.

Traditional

White

Taylor Hartley (Comm鈥�20; MBA鈥�22)

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Aug 2022 18:31:56 +0000

Taylor Hartley (Comm鈥�20; MBA鈥�22) Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 08/19/2022 - 12:31

Network Security Solutions Architect, Ericsson

Even for those who go directly from commencement to a master鈥檚 degree program, there鈥檚 usually an opportunity for at least a few weeks of R&R.

Taylor Hartley had 48 hours.

Following her service with the U.S. Navy, Taylor was living with her partner in Japan and finishing her undergraduate degree from CU Denver when the pandemic brought life to a standstill. Unsure of what to do next, she followed the advice of her academic advisor.

鈥淗e said, 鈥楪et your semester done over the summer, you鈥檒l graduate summa cum laude, you鈥檒l get in anywhere you want,鈥欌€� she said. 鈥淎nd so, I crammed in a whole fall semester over the summer, had my last final on a Saturday, flew from Japan to Florida and that Monday, started the MBA.鈥�

Taylor credits her military service for helping her make it happen.

鈥淎daptability and flexibility are two things the military definitely emphasizes,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where I learned to roll with the punches.鈥�

In another sense, she鈥檚 been rolling with the punches her whole life. Taylor had a modest childhood, growing up in a broken home in Alabama; she left high school at 16 to work full time and better support herself.

鈥淚 was working as a waitress, and I just didn鈥檛 see a way out,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when I started going to recruiters鈥� offices.鈥�

鈥淎daptability and flexibility are two things the military definitely emphasizes.鈥�

Taylor Hartley (Comm鈥�20; MBA鈥�22)

Taylor served in the Navy until the fall of 2018, rising to the rank of petty officer second class, as a cryptological technical collector (CTR). In that role, she did airborne reconnaissance, penetrating networks to gather intelligence. Now, she鈥檚 on the other side of the keyboard, helping keep 5G communications secure at Ericsson.

鈥淚 have the bad-guy perspective, I know what it鈥檚 like to be on the other side, so I know what to look out for,鈥� she said.

Her naval service also brought her to Colorado for the first time. She did her first tour here, and would occasionally visit Boulder to hang out with people her age.

鈥淚 had so much responsibility, and all the other kids my age were in college, living this normal college life,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 would hang out with them, I went to a few parties, and it felt like an alternate universe鈥攍ike, this is what a normal life might have looked like.

鈥淎nd, then, 10 years later, I finally got to do it.鈥�

More Faces of Leeds Why Leeds Leeds MBA

Taylor Hartley dropped out of high school to wait tables and support herself. How she got from there to her MBA is an incredible story.

Traditional

White

Ryan Adzima (MBA鈥�22)

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 21:00:47 +0000

Ryan Adzima (MBA鈥�22) Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 07/18/2022 - 15:00

Vice President of Acquisitions and Finance, Meriwether

If you ask Ryan Adzima for one word鈥攐ther than skiing鈥攄escribing why he left northern New Jersey for Denver, the answer would probably be innovation.

鈥淚n real estate, change comes slowly in Manhattan, because if you鈥檙e getting those rents, you鈥檙e happy with the money you鈥檙e making,鈥� Adzima said. 鈥淚f you want to do something different, you come to a place like Colorado, where you have room to develop new products and assets, and try something different.鈥�

He found both the geography and industry shift he sought in the Leeds MBA.

鈥淲hether I spoke to someone like Mike Kercheval (executive director of the CU Real Estate Center) or Helen Zucchini (graduate admissions director), they would always tell me, 鈥楬ere鈥檚 another person you should talk to,鈥欌€� he said. 鈥淚t helped me feel very comfortable and familiar with the real estate program.鈥�

Ironically, when it came to internships, Adzima found himself back in New York, working with prestigious SL Green Realty. He had a great experience with the underwriting team, but most enjoyed the chance to opportunity to work on a marketing effort.

鈥淚f you want to do something different, you come to a place like Colorado, where you have room to develop new products and assets.鈥�

Ryan Adzima (MBA鈥�22)

The landlord鈥檚 iconic Summit One Vanderbilt had just opened, and Adzima hit on a low-cost way to compete with the other skyline experiences available in New York鈥攈ire a bunch of social media influencers to do the heavy lifting. Presenting that strategy to the marketing team was a highlight, though he鈥檚 more excited by redevelopment projects in Colorado than the bright lights of Manhattan.

鈥淭he ballpark district in lower downtown sold me on what I want to do in real estate鈥攖he way they redeveloped all those old warehouses into something that鈥檚 still functional and adds to the sense of community,鈥� Adzima said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 something I took away from my experience at SL Green鈥攖he idea that you鈥檙e there to build a better community.鈥�

His education is helping him in his search as well as his part-time work with Pure Development. Through CUREC, he was able to complete the Adventures in Commercial Real Estate, or A.CRE, financial modeling accelerator鈥攁n ambitious extracurricular experience that he feels will be required to work in the field 10 years from now.

鈥淭he Real Estate Center connected me with the most incredible opportunities,鈥� Adzima said. 鈥淚 go to every event they post, because it鈥檚 always a great opportunity to meet people or learn something new.鈥�

More Faces of Leeds Why Leeds Leeds MBA

Why leave New York City for Denver to chase a real estate career? For Ryan Adzima, moving offered access to innovation.

Traditional

White

FOL-Career Success

Kate Minnihan (Mgmt鈥�18)

Senior Employer Relations Manager, Leeds School of Business

Finding a Place

Inspiring others

Related Articles

Regina Koetters (MRelEst鈥�24)

Executive Coach, ClientWise LLC; Executive Leadership Coach, Partners in Building Better LLC

A nontraditional path

Helping business professionals

Diversity as a strength

Related Articles

Rob La Trobe (MBA, MSupCha鈥�24)

Strategic Sourcing Analyst, Stack Infrastructure

Pursuing a Dream

A Delicate Balancing Act

Gratitude and Giving Back

Related Articles

Allie Williams (Ops, InfoMgmt鈥�19)

Strategy and Analytics Consultant, Deloitte

Influencing future generations

Jennifer Bixler (ChemEngr鈥�98, Exec MBA鈥�23)

Vice President of Program Management and Alliances, ArsenalBio

A broader view of business

Maeve Schmid, CFP (Fin鈥�18)

Associate Wealth Advisor, Mercer Advisors

John Quinn (Fin鈥�89)

An emphasis on ethics

Shay Cardenas (MBA鈥�22)

HR Business Associate, Ford Motor Co.

Taylor Hartley (Comm鈥�20; MBA鈥�22)

Network Security Solutions Architect, Ericsson

Ryan Adzima (MBA鈥�22)

Vice President of Acquisitions and Finance, Meriwether