Alumni Spotlight

Stephen Katz (Acct&Econ'71)

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Nov 2021 19:41:39 +0000

Stephen Katz (Acct&Econ'71) Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 11/03/2021 - 13:41

CEO of Katz Factoring

Why did you decide to come to Leeds?
I was in engineering to start and took a business class from professor Richard Buskirk. From there I transferred into business. He was an inspiration.

What is one thing you learned at Leeds that you will never forget?
Never say never.

Tell us about a particular professor or mentor that influenced you while you were at Leeds?
Professor Joe Frascona — excellent in coaching writing, outlining and organizing thoughts.

What is one piece of advice/best practice that has stuck with you throughout your career?
Diversify! Rebalance your balance sheet and keep income sources separate.

What advice would you give to anyone interested in pursuing a career in your professional field?
Go for it, especially in a tech arena like Boulder.

Where has life taken you since you graduated Leeds?
Into many various businesses, mostly real estate ventures. I had my most rewarding experience with my title company. We started with seven people in the back office and sold at 500 people operating in 40 states. Growth is fun.

What do you miss most about Boulder?
I live in Vail and I enjoy coming back to Boulder to visit ��Ƶ and friends. It’s fun to rekindle the excitement of living in a city, but I don’t miss the traffic. I especially am thrilled to have the energy of the student body back this year.

Is there anything else you would like to share?
Pursue the business/engineering program that the Rustandy Building "bridge" has made available. You can’t run a business in 2021 and beyond without a technical background. It’s a marriage that is never going to yield a divorce. They need us and we need them.

To nominate yourself or a fellow Leeds alumnus or alumna to be in an upcoming alumni newsletter, fill out this survey!

November 2021

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Leeds Distinguished PhD Alumni Award: Dr. Jerome D. Williams (PhD’86), 1947-2021

Anonymous — Fri, 08 Oct 2021 01:12:20 +0000

Leeds Distinguished PhD Alumni Award: Dr. Jerome D. Williams (PhD’86), 1947-2021 Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 10/07/2021 - 19:12

[video: https://youtu.be/_IsskadZ2jI]

Why did Dr. Williams decide to come to Leeds?
At the time, Dr. Williams and his family were already living in Colorado. When he made the decision to return to school, he knew of ��Ƶ Boulder’s business school and its reputation. Dr. Williams knew he wanted to focus on marketing and diversity and knew that ��Ƶ would support him in his research and passion.

What did Dr. Williams enjoy most about his experience at Leeds?
While at Leeds, Dr. Williams most enjoyed the work and research as well as the support he received from his professors. His team of support there helped shape him into the professor he would become and helped him to continue to pursue leadership roles at the university level.

Was there anything about Boulder that Dr. Williams missed when he left?
Being an avid runner, one of the things that Dr. Williams missed most was running through Boulder and the surrounding towns. He never missed a day of running for 50+ years, even if there was a snowstorm. He enjoyed the climate, the small town feel, and running up the mountain roads and would always talk and reminisce about his peaceful runs in Boulder.

Where did life take Dr. Williams after he graduated from Leeds?
At the time of earning his Doctoral degree in 1986, he was the only African-American to receive a Ph.D. in marketing in the entire country. Along his life’s journey he made thousands of colleague connections, friends and friends that became family as he made his residences in New York, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Singapore, Hong Kong, Washington, D.C, Georgia, Texas, and finally New Jersey in 2010. At the time of his death, Dr. Williams was the former Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor of Rutgers University-Newark. With a career in academia spanning over 30 years, Dr. Williams was a trailblazer in the field of marketing. He was also a Distinguished Professor and the Prudential Chair in Business (Marketing Department) and fellow of The Center for urban Entrepreneurship & Economic Development (Management and Global Business Department) in the Rutgers business school-Newark and New Brunswick. Prior to joining Rutgers, he held Endowed Chair positions at four different universities, including the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Visiting Associate Professor in the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania, the Anheuser-Busch/John E. Jacob Professor at Howard University, the F. J. Heyne Centennial Professor at the University of Texas at Austin, and the Wee Kim Wee Professor at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. Prior to being on the Howard faculty, he was Penn State University Marketing Department faculty for 14 years. Dr. Williams was the chair of the Board of Trustees of the American Marketing Association Foundation, where the Williams-Qualls-Spratlen Multicultural Mentoring Award of Excellence bears his name. He served on advisory committees for several Robert Wood Johnson Foundation-funded initiatives, including an initiative to reduce childhood obesity, and for Let’s Move!, an effort spearheaded by former First Lady Michelle Obama.

Why did Dr. Williams decide to study marketing?
One of the reasons Dr. Williams decided to return to school was because the company he was working for, The Solar Energy Research Institute, had shut down his division. After he found out it would be shutting down, he made the decision to return to school. His passion for advertising and marketing began at an early age though. Growing up in Levittown, PA (one of the first black and white community neighborhoods), he saw the inequalities of the world. He was curious about how one company could make two different advertisements. This passion for the racial divide in advertising and marketing continued throughout his career and ultimately was his focus for the rest of his research and time in academia.

What work was Dr. Williams most proud of?
Dr. Williams was a leader in his field of marketing and renowned across the universe of business schools as an innovator and advocate regarding the urgency of diversifying the profession. Dr. Williams has been published extensively in the areas of multicultural marketing, internet privacy and public health communication. One project he was particularly proud of was being a member of an Institute of Medicine Committee that authored the landmark report Food Marketing to Children and Youth: Threat or Opportunity?, and he was appointed by the US Census Bureau to Chair the 2010 Communications Contract Academic Assessment Team. He was also proud of the public books he co-authored, including Diversity in Advertising: Broadening the Scope of Research Directions, Consumer Equality: Race and the American Marketplace (forthcoming), Advances in Communication Research to Reduce Childhood Obesity, and two edited volumes on marketing and public policy issues. Although Dr. Williams was proud of his research and published works, he was also an avid mentor to others in the field of Marketing. Dr. Williams used every resource to encourage people of color to pursue a career in marketing, including being a pioneer for his visionary work at The PhD project.

What advice would Dr. Williams give to anyone interested in pursuing a career in teaching and research?
One of Dr. Williams’ favorite quotes was, “Find a Job that you love to do and you never have to work a day in your life.” Dr. Williams would want you to find an area of research that you are passionate about and never let that go.

Business Bias and Blunders in a Racially Diverse Marketplace: A Research Symposium in Honor of Jerome Williams, Friday, November 5^th, 1 PM to 2:30 PM, Koelbel 123

We invite all Leeds faculty, staff, and PhD students, and students in our Diverse Doctorates in Business program to a special symposium, Business Bias and Blunders in a Racially Diverse Marketplace: A Research Symposium in Honor of Jerome Williams. Professor Jerome Williams received his PhD in Marketing from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1986. He was the only Black African American marketing PhD in the country that year when he was hired by Penn State. He had a profound impact on the world through his research on racial discrimination by businesses in the marketplace, for which he was made the 55^th Fellow in the history of the American Marketing Association. https://www.ama.org/2021/01/30/remembering-jerome-williams/ As important, Jerome Williams was a founding member of the PhD Project – an effort to increase the diversity of business school PhD programs and faculty. He was a mentor to hundreds of faculty of color. He had helped us at the Leeds School with our faculty diversity initiatives and with our Diverse Doctorates in Business program.

Join the Symposium on Zoom

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Leah Schwartz (Info'21)

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 20:39:23 +0000

Leah Schwartz (Info'21) Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/07/2021 - 14:39

Law Student, University of Denver

Why did you decide to come to Leeds?
I decided to come to Leeds because when I first toured the School, I was able to immediately see how invested the faculty and staff were in their students’ success, the well-rounded and cutting-edge business curriculum the School provided, and the sense of community and belonging.

What is one thing you learned at Leeds that you will never forget?
The importance of building relationships with your peers and faculty/staff — each person you meet in the business school has the potential to be your future teammate, coworker, mentor, advocate, and/or friend. The relationships that I have formed during my time at Leeds were instrumental to my wellbeing and success both while I was at ��Ƶ and since graduating.

Tell us about a particular professor or mentor that influenced you while you were at Leeds.
Liz Stapp is a professor and mentor whose personal background and experience, in addition to the course she taught on business law and ethics, was the main reason I looked into pursuing a legal education after graduation. Without her guidance, I would never have realized how powerful a background in both the legal and business worlds could be.

Where has life taken you since you graduated Leeds?
Since graduation, I have begun my first year of law school at the University of Denver - Sturm College of Law, where I hope to combine my legal and business interests in commercial, international, or space law.

What is one piece of advice/best practice that has stuck with you throughout your career?
Be the one who takes initiative. When you're someone who takes the initiative, it truly makes a positive impact on your professional and personal lives. It's an attribute that many people highly value and appreciate, yet it's one that can be easily overlooked in terms of important life skills.

What advice would you give to anyone interested in pursuing a career in your professional field?
Keep an open mind to areas you would like to study and recognize how much of a positive impact you can have on people's lives by having a law degree.

What do you miss most about Boulder?
I miss walking across the field to Koelbel for class every day and seeing the Flatirons in the background.

To nominate yourself or a fellow Leeds alumnus or alumna to be in an upcoming alumni newsletter, fill out this survey!

September 2021

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Kumar Kothari (MBA'18)

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 20:06:39 +0000

Kumar Kothari (MBA'18) Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 09/07/2021 - 14:06

Manager, Video Products at Comcast NB��Ƶniversal

Why did you decide to come to Leeds?
I was working as an engineer in the automotive industry outside of Detroit and came to realize that I really didn't like the super technical parts of my job and wanted to make a pivot to a more strategic, business-oriented role. I wanted to make this transition without having to take a step back in my career and start in an entry-level capacity. So going to get my MBA was a way for me to break into a new role in a new industry while also getting the academic credentials that would allow me to start higher on the organizational ladder.

What is one thing you learned at Leeds that you will never forget?
I cannot overstate the value of building strong relationships, both personally and professionally.

Tell us about a particular professor or mentor that influenced you while you were at Leeds.
Jay Waddell was my professor for New Product Development, which gave me my first exposure into Product Management and Design Thinking. The class was great because it gave both the conceptual knowledge of how to build great products but also the tactical tools you need to perform that role in the workplace.

Where has life taken you since you graduated Leeds?
After graduation, I joined Dish Network as a Product Manager, where I worked on their core TV/Entertainment products. This was such a cool role, as I got to work on high-impact, high-visibility product experiences like sports betting integrations with DraftKings, MyAccount sales funnel optimization, and a voice remote partnership with Google Assistant.
In December of last year, I joined Comcast NB��Ƶniversal as a Manager of Video Products, working on their Xfinity brand. This was my first opportunity to have direct reports and manage a team, which has been a whirlwind, but in the best possible way!

What is one piece of advice/best practice that has stuck with you throughout your career?
When most people think about getting an MBA, they think about what they're going to learn in the classroom. Which is true, you'll learn a lot. But the best piece of advice that I'd give is really just a reminder that there is a TON of value to be found outside of the classroom as well — whether that's building relationships with your classmates, going to networking events, doing mock interviews, coffee dates to learn about new career paths, etc... That's where the real value is.

What advice would you give to anyone interested in pursuing a career in your professional field?
Wrap your skillset, personal experiences, and professional experiences into a coherent and compelling story that describes why you're the best person for this role.

What do you miss most about Boulder?
It's a toss-up between half-off sushi at Japango and grabbing drinks with friends at Rayback Collective.

To nominate yourself or a fellow Leeds alumnus or alumna to be in an upcoming alumni newsletter, fill out this survey!

September 2021

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Emily Rippeteau (MBA'13)

Anonymous — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 17:10:56 +0000

Emily Rippeteau (MBA'13) Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 08/06/2021 - 11:10

Founder and CEO Rippeteau Consulting LLC

Why did you decide to come to Leeds?
   After I was admitted to MBA programs, I wanted to visit the four schools I got into one more time before I made my decision. When I got to Leeds, everything just felt right. I could imagine myself there, making friends with the people in the program and building a life in Colorado. Leeds also gave me certain freedoms. I received one of the scholarships, which helped solidify my decision, as I knew that I didn’t want to be in a position where my student loans would need to dictate my career path. I also knew that I didn’t want to work for a large company when I graduated, something that seemed expected at the other schools I was considering. Leeds provided numerous opportunities for me to pursue my career interests and goals.

What is one thing you learned at Leeds that you will never forget?
   I don’t know if I can narrow it down to one thing, because I think that every class I took, every alumnus/a I met with, and every classmate I befriended led me to where I am now. However, the Business Plan Class I took with George Deriso has been especially helpful both from the perspective of building my own business and from understanding all of the aspects of a small business that my clients deal with.

Tell us about a particular professor or mentor that influenced you while you were at Leeds.
   Cindy Carrillo, a board member at Leeds, called me to congratulate me on getting accepted and to see if she could answer any questions. From the first time I met with her when I was visiting, when she insisted on taking me out to lunch, she has mentored me, helping me navigate student life and build my business after I graduated. She helped me shape my decision to come to Leeds, supported the early days of my business to give it focus and direction, and continues to be a sounding board and business coach to this day.

Where has life taken you since you graduated Leeds?
   I started a consulting business focusing on helping small craft beverage companies with their financial operations. My husband and I both work in this industry and have a lot of friends that I am able to help. I started working with one craft brewery and quickly realized that I wanted to be able to share this knowledge to help others get out of being stuck in the day-to-day financials and focus on the reason they started their company in the first place, to make a great craft beverage.

What is one piece of advice/best practice that has stuck with you throughout your career?
   First, meet with everyone you can. Having different perspectives is so helpful and the craziest connections will come back to help you out years later. I was becoming very worried about not having a clear idea of what my business would look like in 5 years, 10 years, etc. and I met with Jane Miller, another amazing Leeds resource. She asked me if I was planning to have more kids (I wasn’t sure at that time, but the answer turned out to be yes) and she said, “Don’t worry about what it will look like in 5 years, focus on what it will look like in 3 months, 6 months, a year”. That advice from Jane really helped me stop stressing about the longer term so I could focus on what was important for my business and my family at that moment, and it led me to develop an excellent maternity leave plan for my team. In turn, that plan has been instrumental to growing at a pace that my team and I can keep up with, even while homeschooling a preschooler during a pandemic with a newborn.

What advice would you give to anyone interested in pursuing a career in your professional field?
   Be authentic. My business has grown strictly by word of mouth; my friends and clients refer me to people that they know who need help because they know that I am looking at the services that I provide in a way that helps our clients be more efficient with their time and their money.

What do you miss most about Boulder?
   Well I didn’t move too far away, just up to Longmont, but I think the biggest thing I miss is the proximity to the mountains, just that extra 20 minutes (or maybe it is the two kids I have now) makes it a little harder to get into the mountains as often as I used to.

Is there anything else you would like to share?
   Since I graduated from Leeds, I have been very involved in the School through volunteering on the MBA Alumni Board. This has been a great experience for me and has helped me expand my network beyond the classmates that were in school at the same time as me. I highly encourage all alumni to get involved in the events and/or the Board itself.

To nominate yourself or a fellow Leeds alumnus or alumna to be in an upcoming alumni newsletter, fill out this survey!

August 2021

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Cy Barton (Acct&Fin'12)

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 17:37:41 +0000

Cy Barton (Acct&Fin'12) Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 08/04/2021 - 11:37

Vice President at Revelstoke Capital Partners

Why did you decide to come to Leeds?
I'm a lifelong Buffs fan and considered only one school when applying for college: the Leeds School of Business. I didn't necessarily know the path that my career would take, but I knew that Leeds offered a world-class education focused on holistic leadership that would prepare me for all the twists and turns that could happen in my career.

What is one thing you learned at Leeds that you will never forget?
For me, it was the culture of empowering students to take control of their education and career. If there was something that you wanted to learn or experience, Leeds encouraged you to pursue it or create it. For example, a group of students was able to help create the Leeds Scholars Program to support high-achieving Business Buffs and offer incredible opportunities like the First-Year Global experience. Similarly, we've seen a tremendous growth in the number of programs and certificates offered by the school, all driven by student interest.

Tell us about a particular professor or mentor that influenced you while you were at Leeds.
There are a few. Cathleen Burns and Alan Jagolinzer were incredible champions for their students, both in the classroom and in mentoring us through our career development. Mary Banks in the Office of Career Strategy taught me to fight to find the right career path and help create opportunities for other Buffs.

Where has life taken you since you graduated Leeds?
I'm now a Vice President at Revelstoke Capital Partners, a healthcare-focused private equity firm based in Denver, CO. I love the opportunity to partner and work directly with entrepreneurs to build industry-leading companies that provide so many benefits to our communities. Prior to Revelstoke, I worked at an early stage venture capital firm in Chicago, and before that, at PwC.

What is one piece of advice/best practice that has stuck with you throughout your career?
Work ethic, relationships and your personal reputation are paramount, even in a technical setting.

What advice would you give to anyone interested in pursuing a career in your professional field?
While there's certainly a more "traditional" path into private equity (e.g., starting in investment banking), it's most important to exhibit entrepreneurialism, critical thinking and a love of learning different business models and strategies. Be confident and reach out to potential mentors in your desired profession - it never hurts to start a conversation.

What do you miss most about Boulder?
I love Boulder's entrepreneurial mindset.

Is there anything else you would like to share?
I would encourage young alumni to stay engaged. The YAM program and GOLD Board events are great ways to meaningful help current students and connect with other Buffs.

To nominate yourself or a fellow Leeds alumnus or alumna to be in an upcoming alumni newsletter, fill out this survey!

August 2021

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Michael Earman (MBA'15)

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 17:31:15 +0000

Michael Earman (MBA'15) Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 07/07/2021 - 11:31

Logistics and Warehouse Manager at Stem Ciders

Why did you decide to come to Leeds?
I was interested in Leeds before undergrad, but plans changed. Once I decided to get my MBA and researched the School and the surrounding area, I desired the entrepreneurial landscape and wanted to learn in an area with that kind of expertise. Having the trails and mountains didn't hurt either.
What is one thing you learned at Leeds that you will never forget?
The process of creating a business plan was incredibly valuable, even if having the physical document is less useful than it was years ago. In a nutshell, it taught me every facet that can make a business succeed or fail.
Tell us about a particular professor or mentor that influenced you while you were at Leeds.
There is a reason I took multiple classes from George Deriso. His lecturing style and the way he facilitated discussions allowed you to agree or disagree with him or classmates in a productive way.
Where has life taken you since you graduated Leeds?
It has been an interesting road. Immediately following graduation, I got into the brewing world and became a brewer in Indianapolis. The idea being to learn every facet of “how-to” before trying to own a brewery. Unfortunately, breweries became a dime a dozen and owning/running one didn’t seem as attractive or financially feasible as it did in 2015. Upon moving back to Colorado, after one more year of brewing in Longmont, I pivoted to the supply chain side of craft brewing and used the other side of my MBA degree at Stem Ciders in Lafayette. This has allowed me to get firsthand knowledge regarding supply chains, purchasing, warehousing, and marketing in the craft industry. Personally, my wife, Laura, and I are proud first-time parents to our active and loving baby boy, Milo Brooks. He is 7 months old and has been life changing in so many ways.
What is one piece of advice/best practice that has stuck with you throughout your career?
Change is inevitable – sometimes good, sometimes bad. The quicker and more efficiently you can deal with change management the more attractive you are to your employer or vice versa.
What advice would you give to anyone interested in pursuing a career in your professional field?
The best part about being in the logistics field is no days are the same. My best piece of advice is to roll with the punches so to speak. When things get hard (think logistics during COVID hard), I had to be able to tell myself, “It is just cider.” In other words, take your work seriously, but not too seriously – there will always be another truck, another inventory count, another purchase order, etc. and if you make a mistake, learn from it and correct it on round two rather than obsessing over what went wrong.
What do you miss most about Boulder?
I am lucky enough to still be in the area and can enjoy the trails, food, and hiking this area has to offer.

To nominate yourself or a fellow Leeds alumnus or alumna to be in an upcoming alumni newsletter, fill out this survey!

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Clare Topper (Mktg'12)

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 17:18:34 +0000

Clare Topper (Mktg'12) Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 07/07/2021 - 11:18

Senior Key Account Manager at PepsiCo

Why did you decide to come to Leeds?
Growing up, my family explored many different parts of the country. I fell in love with Colorado and the mountains at a very young age. I always dreamed of going to college in a beautiful place with a strong academic record. When my sister left home for Leeds in 2006, I knew I would follow right behind her! Leeds offered everything I was looking for and more in a University.

What is one thing you learned at Leeds that you will never forget?
I learned several life and business lessons from Leeds. However, one thing I learned that I will never forget is how important group work and projects are. I feel very fortunate to have been given the opportunity at Leeds to partake in several group projects throughout my four years.
Tell us about a particular professor or mentor that influenced you while you were at Leeds.
Each professor I had at Leeds impacted my life and Leeds experience in a different way. One professor that I will never forget is Dr. Wayne Boss. Dr. Boss made every student feel special, important, and valued. He taught me that in order to be a great leader, we must first look within ourselves. As I have progressed throughout my career, I often refer to the lessons learned from Dr. Boss.

Where has life taken you since you graduated Leeds?
Thanks to Leeds Fall Career Fair, I started a career with PepsiCo right after graduation. I have now been working for PepsiCo for over 9 years and have lived in 5 different cities throughout the country while working for them. I currently reside in Denver and am a Senior Key Account Manager, calling on a Major Retailer here in Colorado.

What is one piece of advice/best practice that has stuck with you throughout your career?
The best advice that I have held onto in my career is to stay true to my authentic self. I have found myself to be much happier and more fulfilled every day when I am just 'me.' I believe strongly in kindness, a positive attitude, and that everyone has a gift to bring into this world. Helping others to see the greatness in themselves has been a highlight of my career!

What advice would you give to anyone interested in pursuing a career in your professional field?
I have absolutely loved working in the CPG field for the past decade, and I would recommend it to any young professional seeking a challenging and very rewarding career! This industry takes a lot of hard work, self-motivation, perseverance, and teamwork to be successful. It is constantly changing and evolving, now more than ever.

What do you miss most about Boulder?
I miss the strong community and seeing friends every day!

To nominate yourself or a fellow Leeds alumnus or alumna to be in an upcoming alumni newsletter, fill out this survey!

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Kallie Beebe (MBA’21)

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 19:12:34 +0000

Kallie Beebe (MBA’21) Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 06/07/2021 - 13:12

Why did you decide to come to Leeds?
When I decided to go back for my MBA, I had already been living in Boulder for a few years so this particular program felt like an easy and natural decision. I was also drawn to the ways in which Leeds advertised prioritizing diversity and inclusion within the business school, and in particular, the ways in which Leeds was working to elevate women in business. As a queer person, I appreciate business schools pushing for curriculum, staffing and classroom dialogue that prioritize and elevate underrepresented populations, and I look forward to seeing how Leeds continues to build its masters and undergraduate programs in this direction.

What is one thing you learned at Leeds that you will never forget?
In my time at Leeds, I learned the true magic behind authentic networking. As a person who grew up feeling like I needed to get things done on my own, I used to be quite stubborn in leveraging my relationships, not wanting to inconvenience anyone. While getting my MBA, I realized how powerful genuine professional relationships can be, whether you want to learn more about a particular career, need a recommendation that sets you apart from the pack, are looking for an introduction to someone you admire, or need help talking through a challenging decision. In building my expansive network through Leeds, I learned that more often than not people are glad to give you their time and help you along in any way they can. Looking ahead, I will never underestimate the power of strategic networking − especially when it can be used to bring passionate people together to create meaningful and sustainable impact.

Tell us about a particular professor or mentor that influenced you while you were at Leeds.
Kristi Ryujin was such a positive influence on me during my time at Leeds. I really appreciate her dedication to making Leeds a more just, equitable, diverse and inclusive space for students who are traditionally underrepresented in business schools, including students of color and students who identify as LGBTQ+. Kristi was approachable, eager to hear feedback on the program, and always willing to help put that feedback into action. I think she really sees students for who they are and appreciates the natural gifts they have beyond the curriculum.

I would also like to give a shout out to Kimberly Kosmenko, who teaches over at MENV. She is one of the most thoughtful, passionate and intelligent professors I have ever had, and it was such a privilege to be in her Movement Building in Business class during my time at Leeds. Kimberly pushed us to think deeply about the cross-section of business and social impact, and she challenged us to analyze our roles as business leaders through rich course content and rigorous dialogue.
I am so grateful to have built relationships with both of these leaders at ��Ƶ Boulder.

Describe some of your most significant professional or community achievements as related to being part of the LGBTQ+ community.

While living in San Francisco, I was fortunate enough to participate in AIDS/LifeCycle for four consecutive years. This event and fundraiser is a 7-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles that helps fund the life-saving work of the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. Being a part of the AIDS/LifeCycle family was a life-changing experience full of activism, community, lots of tutus, and profound purpose. I believe the last year I rode, we had over 2,300 cyclists, hundreds of roadies, and we collectively raised around $15.5M. A great accomplishment!

When I moved to Boulder in 2016, I volunteered as a panelist with the Speaking Out program through Out Boulder County − a nonprofit organization here in Boulder that supports our LGBTQ+ community through various social and supportive programs. Speaking Out is focused on bringing diverse perspectives from the LGBTQ+ community into middle and high schools. These panels create safe spaces for young people to ask questions and learn about a population that is still very underrepresented and misrepresented within the media and throughout the world. Speaking Out creates important visibility, helps to reduce stigmatization of the LGBTQ+ population; bringing this positivity to our young people literally helps save lives.

What is one piece of advice/best practice that has stuck with you throughout your career?
I have two. In a discussion about authenticity in the business world someone told me, “Some people like hot tea and some people like cold tea, but no one likes lukewarm tea.” That really stuck with me because I think in the business world, there is often pressure to assimilate to whatever culture surrounds you. At the end of the day, it’s better to show up as yourself in all your glory − your vision and your style might not resonate with everyone, but being a genuine person is always going to bring you closer to the kind of company and culture where you can make the biggest impact. Since that conversation, I stopped trying to be everyone’s cup of tea and just decided to be hot tea. Another great piece of advice is, “Never take advice from someone whose life you don't want.” I think that one speaks for itself.

What advice would you give to anyone interested in pursuing a career in your professional field?
I have a nontraditional background that includes sociology, nonprofit management, childcare, international work, and small-scale farming experience, so I don’t really identify with one professional field. Some advice I would offer to anyone who shares a diverse or nonlinear professional background is: Try to tune out the noise and reflect on the aspects of your previous positions that made you feel most alive and purposeful. How might those be applied to your next career pivot? What other skills can you add to your toolkit to land a job that emphasizes your natural competencies and interests? How can your community help you get there?

What do you miss most about Boulder?
Boulder continues to be my home for awhile. What I most appreciate about this area is the incredible access to nature, the community’s prioritization of health and wellness, and the abundance of dog friends everywhere you go. I also appreciate the impressive entrepreneurial spirit of the city, especially those focused on social and environmental impact.

Is there anything else you would like to share?
Happy Pride Month! As business leaders, let’s continue to build new systems and strategies that emphasize equity and justice. Let’s highlight the voices, ideas, and stories of communities that historically have been silenced, and continue to be overlooked and ignored. As students of Leeds past, present and future, let’s show the business world how it’s done.

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Madison Polansky (Info’17)

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 18:57:25 +0000

Madison Polansky (Info’17) Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 06/07/2021 - 12:57

Advisor, IT Recruiting, Learning & Development at Phillips 66

Why did you decide to come to Leeds?
I toured a number of different schools when looking to attend a university. I stepped onto ��Ƶ's campus and toured Leeds and immediately felt at home. I loved the beauty of the landscape and the University as well as the welcoming people.

What is one thing you learned at Leeds that you will never forget?
When at Leeds, I learned the importance of mentoring, networking, and making connections. It was through the amazing mentoring programs, like the Leeds Peer2Peer Mentoring Program and the Young Alumni Mentors Program, that I built incredible connections with professionals that I'm still in contact with today.

What have been some of your most significant professional achievements as related to being part of the LGBTQ+ community?

I’m the Co-Lead for PRIDE66, our LGBTQ+ employee resource group, in Houston, TX. I founded the first field chapter, outside of our headquarters office, of PRIDE66 at our San Francisco Refinery. I’ve also presented LGBTQ+ topics to the Executive Inclusion and Diversity Council at Phillips 66.

Tell us about a particular professor or mentor that influenced you while you were at Leeds.
There are too many professors and mentors to list here that influenced my time at Leeds, but one that sticks out the most is Lorna Christoff. Lorna taught my Leadership Challenges class, where high-level executives shared critical challenges they have faced in their careers and students prepared and offered solutions to their moral and ethical dilemmas. Lorna coached me on public speaking and presenting to executives, but most importantly, she helped shape my thinking around solving ethical issues in the workplace that has served me well beyond the course. Additionally, I came out as a member of the LGBTQ+ community my freshman year of university, and the Office of Diversity Affairs and the Multicultural Business Student Association at Leeds welcomed me with open arms and became my family.

Where has life taken you since you graduated Leeds?
Upon graduating from Leeds, I moved to Bartlesville, Oklahoma and began working for Phillips 66. Two short months later, I moved to our headquarters office in Houston, TX, where I worked in IT serving our Commercial and Marketing business units. I was then surprised with an offer to move to the Bay Area of San Francisco, where I worked at a refinery in IT supporting our digital initiatives. After nearly two wonderful years there, I moved back to Houston and worked in refining digital innovation. Most recently, I accepted a new role where I run the IT recruiting, new hire, and intern programs along with the learning and development programming for our 450 IT employees. I'm happily based in Houston, Texas now with my fiancée, our many house plants, and adorable dog named Walter.

What is one piece of advice/best practice that has stuck with you throughout your career?
"If it scares you, it's probably worth it." This is the piece of advice that motivated me to start a career in a field that I was unfamiliar with and then relocate four times in less than four years! If it scares you but also excites you... the opportunity is probably worth it!

What advice would you give to anyone interested in pursuing a career in your professional field?
If you are looking to join the energy industry, get to know the different types of energy and the dual challenge of providing affordable energy to support economic growth while addressing the environmental effects of that development, including the risks of climate change. Knowing and understanding things like the dual challenge and the comparison of energy sources will help you have more educated conversations with recruiters and other professionals!

What do you miss most about Boulder?
Iced Chai from The Buff and live music on Pearl Street!

Is there anything else you would like to share?
Students, take advantage of your time at the Leeds School of Business. Stay involved and connected with your peers... you never know when you'll reconnect after graduation!

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Alumni Spotlight

Stephen Katz (Acct&Econ'71)

CEO of Katz Factoring

Leeds Distinguished PhD Alumni Award: Dr. Jerome D. Williams (PhD’86), 1947-2021

Leah Schwartz (Info'21)

Law Student, University of Denver

Kumar Kothari (MBA'18)

Manager, Video Products at Comcast NB��������Ƶniversal

Emily Rippeteau (MBA'13)

Founder and CEO Rippeteau Consulting LLC

Cy Barton (Acct&Fin'12)

Vice President at Revelstoke Capital Partners

Michael Earman (MBA'15)

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Clare Topper (Mktg'12)

Senior Key Account Manager at PepsiCo

Kallie Beebe (MBA’21)

Madison Polansky (Info’17)

Advisor, IT Recruiting, Learning & Development at Phillips 66

Manager, Video Products at Comcast NB��Ƶniversal