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Katie Childress (MBA'12)

K Childress

Director, Program Strategy and Clinical Measurement, DaVita Kidney Care
MBA Alumni Board Member

Why did you decide to come to Leeds?
I wanted to get my MBA from a well-ranked school in the mountain states. When I looked at Ƶ, I saw that both Leeds and the local community had a ton to offer MBA students, and I liked the idea of a personalized experience with a small cohort of students. Also, Boulder is full of interesting and talented people from all over the world, and there’s a huge sense of community. I wanted the option to stay and thrive locally or pursue interests further away. I got to do both. Leeds helped me build a strong network that has afforded me so many opportunities.

Could you share an experience (or two) that was particularly memorable?
While pursing my MBA, I became a member of , a powerful community of the most successful women in business. We partnered with Leeds to invest in and advance women in business, and I was awarded a scholarship and membership in the C200 Scholar Network. I still attend C200’s annual conference, engage in their social and networking events, and participate in professional development forums with an extraordinary group of peer scholars and C200 members. Thanks to these events, I’ve established lasting relationships and received continued support in my career.

Where has life taken you since you graduated Leeds?
Upon graduation, my husband and I moved to Boston where I joined PwC’s advisory consulting arm and led merger and acquisition consulting projects. I went back into the outdoor industry a few years later (before my MBA I worked at Patagonia), working on Timberland’s strategy team before settling in Denver. Here in Denver, I lead DaVita’s clinical quality reporting and program strategy teams that support over 2,400 dialysis clinics across the US. I also helped start and am still a member of the Leeds MBA Alumni Board. Outside of work, I am a mother to two little boys and alongside my husband, try to get outdoors and enjoy our beautiful state as much as possible. 
 
What is one piece of advice/best practice that has stuck with you throughout your career?
“They’d be lucky to have you.” When I was just entering the workforce, a mentor told me to keep this mantra in my head as I put myself out there to seek new opportunities. It has helped me keep my head high in interviews, aided me in tough negotiations, and given me confidence to take a chance on myself in stretch roles.

March 2018