When Neda Zanganeh's high school counselor suggested she attend an information session about the Business Leadership Program at the University of Colorado's Leeds School of Business, she was skeptical.
"I'm thinking, 'Are you kidding me? You want me to attend a business camp during my summer break? It's not even a sports camp,' " said Zanganeh, whose high school interests focused on soccer and karate. But now she says her decision to attend the program led to a degree in marketing from CU's Leeds School, networking opportunities, internships and ultimately a dream job in the Denver Broncos marketing department, a position the football team held for her even after she suffered a stroke.
Thirty students will participate in the 2006 Business Leadership Program to be held June 18-24 at the Leeds School. They will learn key business and leadership skills while getting a taste of college life. Students will meet local business leaders and Leeds School students, tour corporations and attend business lectures and courses.
"The Business Leadership Program is an outstanding opportunity for high school students to find out about business education and career opportunities," said Dennis A. Ahlburg, dean of CU-Boulder's Leeds School. "As Neda's example shows, the results literally can be life changing."
Students selected for the Business Leadership Program at CU's Leeds School have demonstrated leadership potential, possess an interest in business-related fields and maintain excellent academic standards. The students are also prospective first-generation college students whose parents did not attend college, are economically disadvantaged or are members of groups typically underrepresented in the college environment.
Zanganeh did not believe she could afford college when she was attending Coronado High School in Colorado Springs, but a 1999 Business Leadership Program session on financial aid changed her mind. Once at the Leeds School, a job in the Business Career Center led to an introduction to Jim Schafer, assistant to the Broncos president, at one of the center's networking nights for students and alumni. Schafer arranged a meeting with the team's vice president of marketing, Greg Carney, who advised Zanganeh to get some sports marketing experience.
Acting on that advice, Zanganeh took an unpaid internship in the CU athletics department where contacts eventually led to a 2004-05 internship in the UCLA athletics marketing department.
"I'm a product of the Business Leadership Program," Zanganeh said. "I wouldn't have met the people I met without that program."
Aswad Allen, director of diversity at the Leeds School, said the Business Leadership Program helps students like Zanganeh see the possibilities in college and beyond.
"The Business Leadership Program helps students understand that college and a career in business are very real possibilities," Allen said. "That knowledge is particularly helpful for someone like Neda who has that special intangible. She's going to get things done."
In May 2005, Zanganeh updated Carney on her experience just as the Broncos were interviewing for a new marketing position. Zanganeh received the job offer, but after telling the Broncos she wanted to consult her parents before accepting, she suffered a stroke resulting in a hospital stay of more than four weeks and many hours of therapy.
Through it all, the Broncos insisted that she focus on regaining her health and worry about the job later. She began her job with the Broncos as the coordinator of corporate partner sales and services on July 18.
Now Zanganeh's days are filled with duties ranging from setting up for events and meeting with sponsors to joining Gov. Bill Owens at a signing ceremony for legislation allowing Colorado automobile owners to purchase Denver Broncos license plates. Next week she will return to judge a marketing competition in the Business Leadership Program.
Students learn about various aspects of business during the week including developing a marketing campaign in a competition that provides a $1,000 scholarship to members of the winning team.
The Business Leadership Program covers the cost of room and board for participants. Key Equipment Finance is a major sponsor.