Business Community

From Boardrooms to Classrooms: Visionary Leaders Share Secrets to Their Success

Jane Majkiewicz — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 19:07:38 +0000

From Boardrooms to Classrooms: Visionary Leaders Share Secrets to Their Success Jane Majkiewicz Mon, 01/13/2025 - 12:07

Anna Bedell (Mktg鈥�25)

Hundreds of industry leaders and alumni visited Leeds last fall to coach, teach and get to know students.

Every semester, business leaders come to Koelbel to share their expertise and stories with students. This fall was no different鈥擫eeds saw hundreds of executives, trailblazers and influencers visit classrooms, events, case competitions and more.

鈥淲e鈥檙e so lucky to have countless accomplished professionals come to speak at Leeds,鈥� said Katherine Ratledge, a program manager for the Center of Ethics and Social Responsibility (CESR). 鈥淚t is enormously valuable to our students who use the opportunity to network and ask questions, hear new perspectives and鈥攎ost importantly鈥攕ee an example of what they could be in the future.鈥�

Guest speakers are often alumni, board members and Leeds鈥� corporate partners鈥攖he best and brightest minds from the Leeds community. From sustainability to sports or banking, these speakers share their knowledge of modern business and provide students with inspiration and resources for their future careers.

"A great speaker can change a career trajectory, and that鈥檚 exactly what happens when leaders come to Leeds to share their expertise,鈥� noted Amanda Hansen, director of the Career Development Office.

Organic advice

CESR, in partnership with the Burridge Center for Finance, hosted Genevi猫ve Pich茅 (pictured above left), the head of sustainable finance at Wells Fargo. At a pivotal moment in her career, Pich茅 launched Wells Fargo's sustainable finance division, focused on creating positive impact through finance. She stressed the need for businesses to use inclusive language when communicating about climate and sustainability and emphasized the need for investments across ecosystems.

Supported by the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, Techstars co-founder David Brown鈥攐ne of the most influential figures in the entrepreneurial world鈥攙isited Leeds for a fireside chat. A lifelong entrepreneur and investor, he talked about his 40-year career of starting and building sustainable companies, including Pinpoint Technologies, Techstars and Zintinus. He stressed the importance of learning from failure, balancing risk and rewards, and advocating for DEI at small companies.

Organized by Leeds Student Government and in partnership with the 抖阴旅行射 Freeride club, CEOs and founders of POWDR advised students on ways to break into the outdoor industry. This leader-packed event featured John Cumming (founder and chairman), Justin Sibley (CEO), Raj Basi (vice president of sustainability), Maria Guarnieri (chief of staff) and Megan Fearnow (vice president of marketing). They discussed how everyone鈥檚 path to success is different, and even if you don鈥檛 start in the outdoor industry, it doesn鈥檛 mean you can鈥檛 end up there. They also advised students on networking with the right people and surrounding themselves with those who have similar interests.

Other influential leaders who visited this fall included:

Matt Pozzi, BAE Systems

Jeff Brown, BlackRock

James Calano, Boulder Investment Group

Angela Schwartz, Danone North America

Ben Lerman, Danone North America

Regan Ebert, Danone North America

Samantha Cotlov, Danone North America

Arden Gehl, Deloitte Consulting

Carson Smail, Deloitte Consulting

June Yuan, Deloitte Consulting

Lindsay Determan, Deloitte Consulting

Shreya Naik, Deloitte Consulting

Zachary East, Deloitte Consulting

David Williams, Fisher Investments

Erica Brown, Fisher Investments

Karson Jones, Fisher Investments

Chris Fogler, FTI Consulting

Claire Schaffer, FTI Consulting

Francheska Pokora, FTI Consulting

Leanne Sigman, FTI Consulting

Ryan Rule, FTI Consulting

Siobhan Cleary, FTI Consulting

Jamie Gardner, Google

Brandon Wilcox, KPMG

Colin Ellis, KPMG

Hope Cahoon, KPMG

Jordan Akiyoshi, KPMG

Jorge Velasquez, KPMG

Mat Groh, KPMG

Malcom Craig, McCaffery Interests

Michael Hovey, Morgan Stanley

John Cumming, POWDR

Jane Miller, Rudi鈥檚 Organic Bakery

Amy Halvorson, Starbucks Coffee

Get connected with opportunities to influence and inspire students.

Developing tomorrow鈥檚 business leaders requires today鈥檚 mentors. Last fall, more than 300 executives from companies such as WellsFargo, Google and Techstars shared their expertise at Leeds.

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Ben Woolf to Lead the International Advisory Board for the Colorado University Real Estate Center

Christen DeThomas — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 19:57:14 +0000

Ben Woolf to Lead the International Advisory Board for the Colorado University Real Estate Center Christen DeThomas Wed, 07/10/2024 - 13:57

For nearly 20 years, University of Colorado real estate alumnus Ben Woolf has been giving back to his alma mater. This year, he is taking on a new challenge as chairperson for the International Advisory Board (IAB) for the University of Colorado Real Estate Center (抖阴旅行射REC), a role he will helm for two years. Woolf earned his MBA with a real estate focus in 2004 from the Leeds School of Business.

鈥淚 feel a sense of responsibility to give back to 抖阴旅行射REC, Leeds and the students by stepping into the chairperson role," Woolf said. 鈥淔or the past 20 years, I have seen time and time again 抖阴旅行射REC鈥檚 impact on students and the real estate industry, and I know I wouldn鈥檛 be where I am today without 抖阴旅行射REC. I look forward to serving the center in this new capacity.鈥�

Leeds and 抖阴旅行射REC benefit from a robust and engaged alumni community and a powerful group of industry supporters. The IAB, an invitation-only board, consists of C-suite leaders from the nation鈥檚 leading real estate firms who commit significant resources to support the academic and co-curricular work of 抖阴旅行射REC. The board provides counsel, curriculum advice, mentorships, financial support, industry insights and career opportunities for the program.

鈥淏en鈥檚 commitment and involvement with 抖阴旅行射 since he graduated has been tremendous. He is strategic and thoughtful in all he does, and I can think of no one better to step into the chair role for the IAB. Ben has taught the MBA Real Estate Principles class at 抖阴旅行射 the past several years, so he has seen firsthand the impact that 抖阴旅行射REC has had on hundreds of 抖阴旅行射 students and alumni,鈥� said Julie Gibson, executive director of 抖阴旅行射REC. 鈥淗e is enormously respected by the real estate industry, and we are thrilled to welcome him as the new IAB chair.鈥�

Woolf, who is co-founder and director of commercial investments for Conscience Bay Company, a private equity firm focused on real estate assets in and around Colorado, was part of the 抖阴旅行射REC alumni board for 15 years. He joined 抖阴旅行射REC's advisory board in 2023. He has also worked for the 抖阴旅行射 Real Estate Foundation in a project manager (asset manager/portfolio manager) role and was president of the Leeds MBA alumni board in 2018-19.

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Working with Colorado, for Colorado鈥攁nd Its Future

Anonymous — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 17:02:19 +0000

Working with Colorado, for Colorado鈥攁nd Its Future Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 04/11/2024 - 11:02

The Business Research Division has served communities across the state for more than 100 years.

When you read the business forecast report published annually by the Business Research Division (BRD) at the Leeds School of Business, you鈥檒l see data points from every corner and pocket of Colorado. It represents the business landscape in its entirety鈥攕mall, family-owned restaurants and farms, to global corporations and every business venture between.

To contribute to the state鈥檚 economic prosperity and thriving business community, BRD makes a deliberate effort to provide every sector with the tools they need to be successful.

鈥淲e feel that the University of Colorado is an extremely important part of the state economy, and we think it is extremely important that we analyze the economy, and we give people actionable information so that they can lead better lives through education,鈥� said Richard Wobbekind, Leeds associate dean of business and government relations and senior economist. 鈥淲hat we're doing is taking the information we produce to the people.鈥�

Leeds鈥� BRD has been around for more than a century, nearly as long as the business school itself. From its inception, the division prioritized community engagement鈥攊ts work is co-created with the Colorado communities it serves.

鈥淚t is a long-running unit within this school of business that was really designed to interface with the broader business community in terms of both presenting material and doing research projects,鈥� Wobbekind said.

鈥淏eyond doing individual projects for companies or local governments and forecasting projects like the annual outlook report, more broadly we disseminate our information in a wide variety of channels and a lot of that information is available for free on our website. In many ways, it is about the access to trusted business information.鈥�

They're working on an economic dashboard that lives on the site that provides a barometer of key economic indicators in the state, with an emphasis on recent economic developments and the resulting impacts and implications on the Colorado economy. It will provide a handful of charts with brief analysis and be updated as key data are released.

鈥淭he work that we do is raising the quality of life in the state, one person at a time, one business at a time.鈥�

Richard Wobbekind, Leeds associate dean of business and government relations and senior economist

The center publishes a quarterly Leeds Business Confidence Index, which gauges Colorado business leaders鈥� opinions about the economy and how their industry will perform in the coming quarter. Additionally, it produces the Colorado Business Review, which provides specific analysis on a particular topic or industry, and the Quarterly Business and Economic Indicators report, produced in conjunction with the Colorado Secretary of State鈥檚 Office to reveal the correlations between various business filing data and economic metrics. BRD has been partnering with the secretary of state鈥檚 office since 2011.

They are also a resource for conducting research studies on specific areas, entities and industries. For example, the recent University of Colorado 2023 Economic Impact Study and the 2019 Colorado Natural and Organic Industry Study.

Just released is a report on the nonprofit industry, completed with the Colorado Nonprofit Association. It showed that nonprofits contributed $62 billion to the state鈥檚 annual economy and supported 262,000 jobs.

Commitment to Colorado

Wobbekind and Brian Lewandowski, executive director of the BRD, deliver frequent presentations to the business community and the community-at-large all over the state, both virtually and in person.

鈥淲e really try to disseminate the work that we do and the information we collect to a wide variety of audiences both geographically and industry-wise,鈥� Wobbekind said. 鈥淲hether we鈥檙e talking about the economy to the nonprofit community or hospitals or healthcare groups, we are customizing that information and making it useful.鈥�

He continued, 鈥淲e share general information, but when we are in Northern Colorado, we are highlighting data that is important to Weld and Larimer counties, and when we鈥檙e in Grand Junction, for instance, we鈥檙e highlighting important industries in that geographic area like agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, natural resources and mining.鈥�

The BRD will celebrate the release of its 60^th forecast report in December 2024 at its Annual Colorado Business Economic Outlook Forum. There鈥檚 always an in-person kickoff with webinars and virtual opportunities for alumni and business leaders. Again, accessibility is key to effectiveness and true impact.

鈥淭he annual report features input from more than 130 business and government contributors from around the state of Colorado, so part of the annual kickoff is highlighting all of this work and data collection, but the ultimate goal is converting it all to usable data for business and government decision-making,鈥� Wobbekind said.

Serving through teamwork

Three people make up the BRD team: Wobbekind, Lewandowski and Adam Illig, the BRD鈥檚 data scientist.

The division also hires five to seven undergraduate students, many of them Leeds students, to help proofread the annual report and create data charts. The students help keep the tone of the report engaging and accessible, and they learn how to interpret data and other useful economic research skills along the way.

Often, the annual report contributors around the state include 抖阴旅行射 and Leeds alumni. Wobbekind describes how helpful it has been over the years when Leeds MBA graduates contribute to their research projects, lending invaluable perspective from their vantage points working across the Colorado business landscape.

It is a true collaboration for Colorado and with Colorado, because everyone involved cares about the people and ultimate prosperity of the state.

鈥淲e're really trying to help people across the state of Colorado understand the economy better, understand the environment they're operating in better to make better decisions,鈥� Wobbekind said.

In the media, they are frequently called upon as experts at making sense of the economy鈥檚 twists and turns, including fluctuations in the housing market, unemployment and rate of business formation.

鈥淚 think what we鈥檙e doing, the work that we do is raising the quality of life in the state, one person at a time, one business at a time. We're helping the state be more successful. We are helping the government and business leaders be more effective at their jobs with spending and hiring. And we鈥檙e helping people be prepared for the things that we see as potential clouds on the horizon so they can be ready for change.鈥�

The Business Research Division has served communities across the state for more than 100 years.

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Japan and Colorado: Economic Partners

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 20:04:49 +0000

Japan and Colorado: Economic Partners Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 04/10/2024 - 14:04

Mia Armbruster (Mktg鈥�24) , Student Writer

On March 11, representatives from Japan and Colorado came together at the Japan-Colorado Business Seminar, presented by the Leeds School of Business in partnership with the Denver Consulate-General of Japan. Panelists and presenters discussed the strengthening economic ties between Japan and Colorado and how they are thriving.

Vijay Khatri, the Tandean Rustandy Endowed Dean of Leeds School of Business, shared that Japan is the seventh largest exporter to Colorado making up 4.3% of its total exports, and it is the 21st largest importer of Colorado goods. The substantial investment Japan has made in the U.S. makes its one of our strongest trading partners.

Chief Executive Director Akira Kajita of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) shared that there are currently 80+ Japanese companies operating in Colorado, supported by JETRO, which helps enable Japanese companies to expand their businesses in the U.S. by assisting with outreach and relationship-building.

Kajita shared, 鈥淛ETRO LA has had an increased focus on bettering the ties between Japan and Colorado鈥檚 business communities鈥ust as Colorado businesses are making successful entries into Japan, the reciprocal is happening with Japanese companies here in Colorado.鈥�

Brian Lewandowski, executive director of the Business Research Division and organizer of the seminar, pointed out that in planning the seminar, 鈥渨e worked closely with the Deputy Consulate General, Isamu Azechi, to ensure that we had Japanese and American representatives on the panel. It was phenomenal hearing about Japanese companies doing business in Colorado, and Colorado companies doing business in Japan. Panelists shared stories about cultural experiences and economic opportunities.鈥�

The discussion provided a great opportunity for community members to gain in-depth insight into international business relations in the state.

"Just as Colorado businesses are making successful entries into Japan, the reciprocal is happening with Japanese companies here in Colorado."

Akira Kajita, chief executive director of the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO)

Business leaders on the panel included Elise Hamann, global business development manager in the office of economic development & international trade in Colorado; Jonathan Coors, CEO of CoorsTek; Keita Yasuda, vice president of strategic planning for Panasonic Smart Mobility; Gregory P. Hanes, CEO of Cattlemen鈥檚 Beef Board; and Takahiro 鈥淭aka鈥� Fukuo, senior business development analyst of Terumo BCT.

Sharing their experiences working with both countries, the panelists pointed out the benefits that come from collaboration in large markets like the agriculture industry to the partnership on high-tech products like the Reveos Machine鈥攁 one-of-a-kind product created by Terumo BCT, a Japanese company that specializes in blood and cell technology and has based its global headquarters in Lakewood, CO for the past 56 years. Bringing together minds from different cultures and backgrounds, Terumo BCT created the Reveos to help the U.S. address its platelet shortage.

To learn more about the event, watch the recording here.

Panelists and presenters discussed the strengthening economic ties between Japan and Colorado and how they are thriving.

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Big Brands Come to Life at Leeds

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 07:00:00 +0000

Big Brands Come to Life at Leeds Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 01/09/2024 - 00:00

Leaders and alumni from the biggest and the best companies impart sage advice to Leeds students.

Glenn Sanford, CEO and Founder of eXp Realty, collaborated with a student team working on an assignment to write a strategic brief for his company. Photo by AJ Canaria.

Access to industry: It鈥檚 one of the most valuable aspects of a business education and something that the Leeds School is particularly effective in facilitating. Each semester, hundreds of experts from nearly every industry walk the halls of Koelbel, eager to give students real-world perspectives beyond textbooks and advice that informs their career preparation.

鈥淚t鈥檚 important that our students connect what they鈥檙e learning in the classroom with the realities of what鈥檚 happening in industry,鈥� said Vijay Khatri, who serves as the Tandean Rustandy Endowed Dean at Leeds. 鈥淚t also gives students an opportunity to ask questions about what it鈥檚 truly like to work in a particular field or occupation.鈥�

Guest speakers typically include alumni, board members and Leeds鈥� corporate partners, including leaders from some of the most recognizable brands in business. Last fall鈥檚 roster of speakers was no exception.

Lessons from luminaries

Nike鈥檚 Chief Sustainability Officer, Noel Kinder, explained how to 鈥楯ust Do Good鈥� at a fireside chat last fall.

During a fireside chat sponsored by the Center for Ethics & Social Responsibility, Nike鈥檚 Chief Sustainability Officer Noel Kinder shared the company鈥檚 commitments to a sustainable future and also shared his career journey, including how his time in the Peace Corps shaped his future trajectory.

Jane Miller, CEO of Rudi鈥檚 Organic Bakery and Leeds Advisory Board Chair Emeritus, revealed the key traits required to be successful in the CPG industry at the Natural and Organic Bootcamp workshop, a highly interactive two-day intensive workshop for students who want to break into the natural products industry.

Pete Anderson, former chief ethics and compliance officer at Carnival Cruise Lines, ran a workshop on ethics in the workplace and provided students with insights about how company culture affects whether people consistently do 鈥渢he right things, in the right ways, for the right reasons.鈥�

The Women鈥檚 Collective event for MBAs and MS students also featured a substantial slate of prominent guest speakers, including Sevrin Huff, vice president of software engineering and head of Dish Grand Central at DISH Network, who shared her professional journey and tips for success.

鈥淲e are so grateful to all of our speakers who gave their time and shared their expertise with our students this fall,鈥� said Carolyn Gleason, assistant dean of advancement at Leeds. 鈥淏usiness leaders bring concepts to life and enrich the learning experience. We鈥檝e seen a 20 percent increase in the number of guest speakers since last year and look forward to welcoming even more alumni and leaders this spring,鈥� she said.

Close to 400 guest speakers from finance to fashion, and sustainability to supply chain management made connections with students between August and December. The following list is but a sampling of those who took the time and effort to influence students鈥� lives.

Select guest speakers in fall 2023:

Ellen Balaguer (Fin, Psych鈥�82), retired Global Managing Director at Accenture & Leeds Advisory Board Chair Emeritus, inspired countless MBA women at the Women鈥檚 Collective last year.

Ellen Balaguer, Retired Global Managing Director of Human Resources and Learning BPO services at Accenture
Eric Blank, Chairman of Colorado Public Utilities Commission, Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies
Jeff Brown, Director at BlackRock
Courtney Carter, Contracts Administrator at Ball Corporation
Ali Clifford, Solution Engineer at HubSpot
Luke Giusto, Client Services Associate at Trailhead Wealth Management
Mark Hedstrom, retired COO of Colony Capital, Inc.
Demesha Hill, Head of Diversity & Community Relations at Janus Henderson Investors
Chas James, Investor Relations & Corporate Strategy at Crocs
Mo Jensen, Former Talent Acquisition Specialist at Charles Schwab
Jordyn Johnson, Events and Entertainment Coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens Football Club
Liv Landblom, Director of Project Management at Patagonia
Gary Lutz, Executive Vice President & Regional Managing Director at Wells Fargo Bank
Sarah Lyons, Manager of Procurement Sustainability at Danone North America
Matthew McConaty, Client Strategist at Bank of New York Mellon (BNY Mellon)
Christopher Miller, Head of Global Activism Strategy at Ben & Jerry's
Glenn Sanford, CEO and Founder, eXp Realty
Matthew Siayap, Account Strategist at Ogilvy
Andrew Siegmund, Delivery Practice Manager, Global Financial Services at Amazon Web Services
Ian Silverman, Business Technology Analyst at Deloitte Consulting
Craig Smith, Retired Chairman at Owens & Minor
Larry Swonke, Principal Architect at Microsoft Corporation
Anna Tam, Core Assurance Associate at Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC)
Lucas Thelosen, Head of Product at Google
Adam Warner, President of KeyBank
Roland Warns, Former Executive Team Leader of Logistics at Target
Brock Weatherup, CEO and Founder of Metamorphosis Partners
Jeff Yorzyk, Senior Director of Sustainability at HelloFresh

Leaders and alumni from the biggest and the best companies impart sage advice to Leeds students.

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Media Day Highlights Dean Khatri, State鈥檚 Economic Outlook, Faculty Experts

Anonymous — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 17:26:41 +0000

Media Day Highlights Dean Khatri, State鈥檚 Economic Outlook, Faculty Experts Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 10/31/2023 - 11:26

Dean Vijay Khatri, faculty members showcase research and discuss third-quarter economic indicators.

Vijay Khatri, Tandean Rustandy Endowed Dean of the Leeds School of Business, was among the faculty members who met with journalists during Leeds Media Day.

Leeds Business School held what organizers hope will be an annual Media Day on Oct. 24, featuring faculty experts and the release of Colorado鈥檚 third-quarter economic indicators report.

Attended by local and regional media including 7News, BizWest and the Denver Gazette, the event at the Koelbel building included remarks from Colorado鈥檚 Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Dean Vijay Khatri, the Rustandy Endowed Dean of the Leeds School of Business.

Khatri welcomed members of the media and highlighted strategic initiatives for Leeds, including developing a framework around a culture of care; enhancing momentum in research; accelerating student-centered education; and engaging alumni, recruiters and the community.

Four Leeds faculty members then provided brief overviews of their research and expertise:

Jeffrey York, associate dean for strategic initiatives and research director of the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, discussed what drives the success of entrepreneurial organizations.
Kai Larsen, a professor of information systems in the Division of Organizational Leadership and Information Analytics, highlighted the use of artificial intelligence in an ongoing study about the drivers of stress.
Tony Kong, associate professor of organizational leadership, reviewed his research on building inclusive workplaces.
Heather Kennedy, a teaching associate professor and consumer marketing specialist, spotlighted Boulder鈥檚 unique place in the natural and organics industry.

The event included the release of the Quarterly Business & Economic Indicators report, produced by the Leeds Business Research Division on behalf of the Colorado Secretary of State.

鈥淲e enjoyed meeting our media partners in person and connecting them with our school priorities and incredible faculty expertise,鈥� Khatri said. 鈥淲e're grateful for all that they do to inform and educate the public. Having Colorado鈥檚 Secretary of State on-site made the event especially memorable and newsworthy for all of us.鈥�

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold discussed the Quarterly Business & Economic Indicators report, produced by the Leeds Business Research Division on behalf of the Colorado Secretary of State, during Leeds Media Day.

According to the indicators report, Colorado鈥檚 job growth cooled significantly in 2023, but the number of jobs increased 1.4% throughout the state in September versus September 2022.

鈥淭oday鈥檚 quarterly economic indicators report underscores the resilience of Colorado鈥檚 economy with continued job growth and growth in GDP, dropping inflation and evidence that existing entities in Colorado are staying in business,鈥� Griswold said.

Brian Lewandowski, executive director of the Business Research Division, and Richard Wobbekind, associate dean and senior economist of the BRD, who prepared the report in conjunction with Colorado鈥檚 Secretary of State, provided context on employment and job growth, business filings, inflation and other state-level economic measurements.

鈥淭his has been an interesting year, to say the least, when you talk about the national economy,鈥� Wobbekind said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anybody anticipated two quarters of GDP growth being as strong as they were in the first two quarters of the year, but certainly not the third quarter being as strong as it is right now.鈥�

He said economists expect GDP to be over 3% in the third quarter, and some see it slowing dramatically in the fourth quarter or into next year.

鈥淭he real crux of the issue is the consumer and the ability of the consumer to come to the table,鈥� Wobbekind said.

Following the indicators report release, Griswold, Lewandowski and Wobbekind answered reporters鈥� questions from members.

Dean Vijay Khatri and faculty members showcased research and discussed third-quarter economic indicators.

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Julie Gibson Poised to Lead 抖阴旅行射 Boulder鈥檚 Real Estate Center

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Oct 2023 17:55:59 +0000

Julie Gibson Poised to Lead 抖阴旅行射 Boulder鈥檚 Real Estate Center Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 10/10/2023 - 11:55

抖阴旅行射REC鈥檚 new leader plans to partner with industry to provide top-notch experiences for students.

Following a comprehensive national search, the Leeds School of Business is pleased to announce the 抖阴旅行射 Real Estate Center鈥檚 next Sherman R. Miller Executive Director, Julie Gibson. She will join 抖阴旅行射REC and the Leeds community in January 2024.

Gibson, who holds a degree in business administration from Pepperdine University and an MBA from Portland State, has served as director of the Portland State University Center of Real Estate for nearly two decades. She brings a wealth of experience leading a real estate center at the intersection of faculty, students, community partners, industry leaders and employers. Prior to her work in higher education, Gibson served as vice president for underwriting at PNC bank.

Julie Gibson, the 抖阴旅行射 Real Estate Center鈥檚 next Sherman R. Miller Executive Director

鈥淚 have admired 抖阴旅行射 Boulder's Real Estate Center for many years from afar,鈥� said Gibson. 鈥淭he center's real estate program has experienced tremendous growth in the past few years, and I look forward to developing innovative industry partnerships to teach and educate the next generation of real estate professionals.鈥�

Vijay Khatri, dean of the Leeds School of Business, praised the extensive work of 抖阴旅行射REC鈥檚 International Advisory Board (IAB) in conducting the robust search that ultimately identified Gibson as the right leader to take real estate education and student experience to the next level.

鈥淚n meeting with Julie, I was struck by her deep experience in real estate education and passion for the next generation of industry leaders,鈥� said Khatri. 鈥淥ur Centers of Excellence and the 抖阴旅行射 Real Estate Center are vital to a positive student experience at Leeds, and I am hopeful that under Julie鈥檚 leadership, 抖阴旅行射REC will continue to contribute to our excellence in student-centered education, research impact and external community engagement.鈥�

Gibson notes that industry partnerships are key to the center鈥檚 work to create awareness, education and pathways for students to land in commercial real estate careers. She plans to work collaboratively to build an even stronger real estate student experience at Leeds.

鈥淎s I look ahead to joining the 抖阴旅行射 Boulder team, I see an opportunity to leverage the strong industry and alumni partnerships already in place and grow opportunities for students to deepen their knowledge and connections in commercial real estate,鈥� said Gibson. 鈥淲ith top real estate faculty and an outstanding international advisory board of leaders from a variety of commercial real estate sectors, 抖阴旅行射REC is positioned well to become a nationally recognized program.鈥�

Want to upskill in real estate?

If you aspire to build a skill set in commercial real estate and also gain access to a built-in network of peers and instructors, the Executive Education Commercial Real Estate Certificate offers flexible courses that can be taken independently or combined to earn a certificate and continuing education credits.

Leeds School of Business is a leader in providing robust real estate education to all levels of students鈥攆rom undergraduates to professionals, who can choose from the MS in Real Estate, MBA coursework, and Executive Education programs.

抖阴旅行射REC鈥檚 new leader plans to partner with industry to provide top-notch experiences for students.

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On Economy, Growth Continues, but at a Slower Pace

Anonymous — Thu, 04 May 2023 06:00:00 +0000

On Economy, Growth Continues, but at a Slower Pace Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 05/04/2023 - 00:00

Report finds jobs, GDP, income all rising in Colorado, though momentum is fading.鈥�

The Denver skyline on a clear day. According to a new report from Leeds and Colorado's secretary of state, the economy is in a state of growing, but slowing, as key indicators like employment and GDP have started to lose momentum.

Growing, but slowing.

That鈥檚 the key takeaway from the Quarterly Business and Economic Indicators Report prepared by the Business Research Division at the University of Colorado Boulder鈥檚 Leeds School of Business, in partnership with the Colorado secretary of state鈥檚 office.

鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing slower growth in jobs, GDP, personal income and retail, as well as declines in home pricing and construction,鈥� said Brian Lewandowski, BRD executive director. 鈥淎ll of that contributes to the idea that Colorado is in a growing, but slowing, economy.鈥�

While Colorado has been among the national leaders in job recovery coming out of the pandemic, that rate is slowing down. Employment grew 1.2 percent year over year in March, though the state鈥檚 labor force participation rate ranked fourth highest in the country in March (68.3 percent). The labor force grew 0.7 percent year over year, and Colorado鈥檚 per capita personal income ranked eighth at $75,206.

A very welcoming sign for businesses and the economy is an improvement in inflation. The Consumer Price Index increased 5.7 percent year over year in the Denver-Aurora-Lakewood metro area, only slightly ahead of the national rate of 5 percent.

Other highlights from the report, which summarizes activity from the first quarter of 2023:

New-entity filings soared 27.6 percent year over year, a record for the first quarter. Lewandowski attributed this to a fee credit that reduced limited liability filing fees to $1.
Colorado鈥檚 businesses generally are healthy. Business renewals increased year over year and over the previous quarter鈥�1.2 percent and 13.3 percent, respectively鈥攁nd the list of entities considered to be in good standing increased 7.4 percent over the year.
The home price index fell for six of Colorado鈥檚 seven metro areas. Only the Pueblo region recorded growth (0.5 percent).

Read the full report here.

Why Leeds Business Research Division Download full report

Colorado鈥檚 economy is growing, but slowing, according to a new report from Leeds and the Colorado secretary of state.

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Building Back Better: Leeds Gets Assist from Industry in Refreshing Real Estate Master鈥檚 Program

Anonymous — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Building Back Better: Leeds Gets Assist from Industry in Refreshing Real Estate Master鈥檚 Program Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 04/28/2023 - 00:00

The revamped curriculum is designed to prepare graduates for the significant changes facing the field.鈥�

The Denver skyline at sunrise. Changes in the commercial real estate industry in Denver and beyond helped highlight some weaknesses in the real estate master鈥檚 program at Leeds, but the school and industry collaborated to completely refresh the curiculum to create better-prepared graduates. Below is Christophe Spaenjers, faculty director of the program; Carl Koelbel (MBA鈥�10) presenting an award at the 抖阴旅行射 Real Estate Center's annual forum; and Michael Kercheval, 抖阴旅行射REC executive director.

If you were to ask Carl Koelbel why he approached the Leeds School of Business about refreshing its master鈥檚 program in real estate, you鈥檒l get a fairly blunt answer.

鈥淓nlightened self-interest,鈥� is how he put it.

鈥淭here were a couple of instances where I was working鈥攅ither as a judge or engaging with 抖阴旅行射 students鈥攁nd I did not see that level of fundamental understanding that I was looking for,鈥� said Koelbel (MBA鈥�10), chief operating officer of Denver-based Koelbel & Co. 鈥淎nd that was a major concern to us, because something like 10 percent of our workforce comes from 抖阴旅行射 Boulder.鈥�

But when industry talks, Leeds listens, which is why the school just unveiled a completely revamped real estate graduate program for the fall.

鈥淲e were able to have a truly candid conversation with our partners about their needs for professionals coming out of the program,鈥� said Michael Kercheval, executive director of the 抖阴旅行射 Real Estate Center. 鈥淲e want to be responsive to industry input, both because we鈥檙e asking them to hire our students and because we want to make the industry better.鈥�

Kercheval also noted that Leeds faculty were especially receptive to suggestions from industry partners.

鈥淲e want to be responsive to industry input, both because we鈥檙e asking them to hire our students and because we want to make the industry better.鈥�

Michael Kercheval, executive director of the 抖阴旅行射 Real Estate Center

鈥淭hat openness to input is part of our special sauce at the 抖阴旅行射 Real Estate Center that other schools don鈥檛 have,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd that absolutely extends to the faculty teaching the real estate courses at Leeds.鈥�

An entirely reimagined curriculum

The enhancements to the master鈥檚 program were designed to incorporate the contemporary requirements of a real estate profession adapting to an environment where commercial real estate product supply is lagging shifting demand. The relaunched degree program includes new or substantially upgraded courses in law, modeling and analytics, along with a renewed emphasis on case studies and a special skills training course designed to ensure students have hard skills鈥攍ike financial modeling and Excel.

Christophe Spaenjers, faculty director of the master's program, said the changes draw on the strengths of Leeds' faculty, not just its ties to the industry.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a big focus on real estate research from our faculty, and we also have adjunct professors who have years鈥攊f not decades鈥攐f experience,鈥� Spaenjers said. 鈥淭hat gives our program a combination of academic depth and real-world connections that is so valuable to students.鈥�

Those areas were important to Cooper Williams (MBA鈥�10), president and principal at Essex Financial Group.

鈥淐oming out of the master鈥檚 program, it鈥檚 very important for students to have a good fundamental understanding of valuation and cash flow modeling,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淚 wanted 抖阴旅行射 to get back to having more real-time cases, doing case competitions, getting that real-world practice in modeling, and understanding both capital and risk.鈥� For Koelbel, the skills are crucial, but so is the fundamental knowledge and high-level perspective needed to understand how the different disciplines and players within the industry work together to get projects and deals done.

鈥淲e need our new hires to have a close understanding of how all the players work together鈥攖he developer, the banks, legal, and of course the tenant or homebuyer鈥攕o that as environmental conditions change, they鈥檙e able to anticipate how that will impact different stakeholders and react accordingly,鈥� Koelbel said. 鈥淭hat means they can find or structure a deal no matter what larger trends are shaping the markets.鈥�

Spaenjers is confident the program meets those demands.

鈥淭he updates give this program a blend of that knowledge base鈥攖he sort of industry vocabulary they need鈥攚ith exposure to specific software and databases, like ARGUS and CoStar. That ensures they鈥檙e ready to create impact from the start,鈥� he said.

Top-quality students

One thing both executives want to see unchanged is the quality of students admitted to the program.

鈥淭he character of student coming out of the master鈥檚 program is as high as I鈥檝e ever seen it,鈥� Williams said. 鈥淭he recruiting of the student base has been fantastic, and I think that鈥檚 a credit to 抖阴旅行射REC鈥檚 leadership and history of engagement with the real estate community.鈥�

Unique to Leeds is the incorporation of societal challenges, such as sustainability, into the fabric of each course鈥攃rucial as the industry faces pressure on areas like climate change.

鈥淔or example, in my real estate finance course, I have a guest lecture by one of our faculty here, who shares research on how climate change effects house prices,鈥� Spaenjers said. 鈥淩ather than packaging this in a separate course, we also try to bring those issues into our core materials.鈥�

The master鈥檚 program isn鈥檛 the only real estate offering at Leeds. The school also offers an MBA with a real estate pathway, which offers a broader business and management degree that includes special courses and co-curricular experiences for students looking to take leadership roles in the industry. At the undergraduate level, Leeds offers an area of emphasis in real estate that prepares students for roles in development, brokering, investing, law and consulting, among others.

The refreshed approach to the master鈥檚 program puts it firmly on par with these other offerings鈥攁nd, Kercheval said, the updates aren鈥檛 done yet.

鈥淣ow that we have this solid curriculum, we want to look at how the program is delivered,鈥� he said. 鈥淚s there a way to create a part-time option, or a hybrid version of the program? We鈥檝e addressed a pressing need in very short order鈥攂ut it鈥檚 not a one and done. We鈥檒l be continuing to innovate.鈥�

Prospective students are encouaged to visit the program website to learn more, or contact the Leeds graduate programs team at leedsgrad@colorado.edu or (303) 492-8397.

Why Leeds 抖阴旅行射 Real Estate Center M.S. Real Estate

When commercial real estate companies said a Leeds master's program was outdated, the school invited industry to be part of the solution.

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Vijay Khatri appointed Tandean Rustandy Endowed Dean of the Leeds School of Business

Anonymous — Thu, 27 Apr 2023 17:21:52 +0000

Vijay Khatri appointed Tandean Rustandy Endowed Dean of the Leeds School of Business Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 04/27/2023 - 11:21

Provost Russell Moore today announced his appointment of Vijay Khatri as the Tandean Rustandy Endowed Dean of the Leeds School of Business, effective July 1. Khatri will hold the first named endowed deanship at 抖阴旅行射 Boulder, supported by a $5 million gift by Tandean Rustandy.

鈥淒r. Khatri demonstrates a deep and compelling understanding of the critical interrelationship between promoting a strong and welcoming culture and developing strong academic programs,鈥� Moore said. 鈥淗e articulates a vision that is truly consistent with Leeds鈥� focus on ethics and social responsibility.鈥�

Khatri currently serves as the executive associate dean for strategy, innovation and technology at Indiana University Bloomington鈥檚 Kelley School of Business, where he spearheads Kelley鈥檚 strategic initiatives, integrates Kelley鈥檚 and the university鈥檚 global education initiatives, and spearheads innovations in schoolwide processes, including the underlying systems for those processes.

Read the full article here.

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Building Back Better: Leeds Gets Assist from Industry in Refreshing Real Estate Master鈥檚 Program

An entirely reimagined curriculum

Top-quality students

Vijay Khatri appointed Tandean Rustandy Endowed Dean of the Leeds School of Business