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From the C-Suite to the Classroom: How Leeds鈥� Executive MBA is Redefining Business Leadership

Jane Majkiewicz — Tue, 27 May 2025 15:38:24 +0000

From the C-Suite to the Classroom: How Leeds鈥� Executive MBA is Redefining Business Leadership Jane Majkiewicz Tue, 05/27/2025 - 09:38

Julie Poppen

The University of Colorado 51传媒鈥檚 Leeds School of Business has found its stride in the competitive landscape of graduate business education, thanks to its dynamic Executive MBA program鈥攚hich just graduated its third cohort.

The Leeds Executive MBA:
Rising in the Ranks

#5 among U.S. public university business schools for career outcomes
#49 globally for employer reputation

Source: QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) EMBA rankings

Designed for high-level professionals seeking transformational leadership development, the Executive MBA (EMBA) program continues to distinguish itself with a hybrid structure, world-class faculty, and a curriculum infused with relevance and rigor. The professional program complements the school鈥檚 long-standing and well regarded full-time and professional part-time MBA programs, offering a full suite of options for continuing students and busy professionals alike.

鈥淥ur Executive MBA students are already leaders,鈥� said Tracee DeAntoni, senior program director for the Executive MBA at Leeds. 鈥淲e have physicians, attorneys, scientists, CEOs and CISOs in the cohort鈥攍eaders learning from leaders.鈥�

Purposeful design

The Leeds EMBA features a lockstep curriculum centered around three pillars: leadership, innovation and inclusion. Students progress together through foundational business topics and advanced courses drawn from Leeds鈥� other MBA programs.

鈥淥ne key differentiator is that we鈥檝e built a cohesive program with world-class faculty and select industry practitioners,鈥� said Lori Seward, faculty director of MBA programs. 鈥淥ther programs may rely on adjuncts or faculty from outside institutions, but most of the instruction comes from our Leeds faculty.鈥�

The hybrid format combines online learning with three in-person residencies each year, including three weeklong sessions and a three-day orientation and second-year kick-off event. This structure allows working professionals to fully engage without sacrificing their careers.

鈥淲e reduce the cognitive load so students can focus on learning,鈥� Seward said. 鈥淭hey don鈥檛 have to pick courses or manage complex schedules.鈥�

Recognition and global reach

The Leeds EMBA has already achieved notable rankings, including #49 globally for employer reputation, #63 for career outcomes overall and #5 among U.S. public schools for career outcomes, according to the recently released QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) EMBA rankings.

鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting to be one of the youngest programs ranked globally鈥攁nd the only new U.S. addition this year,鈥� said Seward.

A 10-day international residency caps the second year, offering students exposure to global markets and cross-cultural business leadership.

Tight-knit community, immediate impact

Each cohort includes a small number of students to foster connection and exceptional personal attention, and students remain in the same small study groups throughout the program. This cohort-based model at Leeds encourages collaboration, mentorship and alumni engagement.

鈥淎lumni return regularly for events and mentoring,鈥� DeAntoni said. 鈥淭he community is one of our strongest assets.鈥�

Students also see immediate benefits at work. 鈥淲hatever you're learning today in the classroom, you can apply tomorrow at work,鈥� Seward said.

Signature experiences鈥攍ike the Innovation Challenge鈥攚ith real clients and a second-year pitch competition, offer hands-on leadership development. Executive coaching is also included, helping students clarify goals and pursue promotions or career pivots.

鈥淲e鈥檝e seen students promoted during the program鈥攕ometimes earlier than expected,鈥� Seward noted. 鈥淎nd our alumni network supports students in everything from how to survive school and work, navigating LinkedIn, to career advice.鈥�

鈥淭here鈥檚 a value in having people that aren鈥檛 in your day-to-day business that can provide some third-party feedback and can give you their experience ...鈥�

Lauren McCabe (MBA鈥�25)

Already a well-established leader among leaders, Lauren McCabe, a recent graduate from the Executive MBA program and awarded the EMBA Student Excellence Award by the faculty, acknowledges the value of refining some of the tools in her toolkit.

Throughout the EMBA program, having the opportunity to refine some of the tools in her toolkit was impactful, especially in the practice of highly focused, peer-evaluated presentations, which McCabe said is probably one of the strongest skills she鈥檚 taken away from the program.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a value in having people that aren鈥檛 in your day-to-day business that can provide some third-party feedback and can give you their experience, their exposure, how they may handle a situation that I might not have thought of because of my specific industry experience,鈥� McCabe said.

Keep Exploring

Second-year Executive MBA student Lauren McCabe describes her experience in the program. Watch the video >>
Learn more about the Leeds Executive MBA. Read program details >>
Celebrate the Leeds MBA 60th anniversary. Join in the events >>

Leeds has found its stride in the competitive landscape of graduate business education, thanks to its dynamic Executive MBA (EMBA) program鈥攚hich just graduated its third cohort.

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What 鈥楴o Tax on Tips鈥� Really Means for Service Workers鈥攁nd Everyone Else

Kelsey Cipolla — Tue, 27 May 2025 15:24:56 +0000

What 鈥楴o Tax on Tips鈥� Really Means for Service Workers鈥攁nd Everyone Else Kelsey Cipolla Tue, 05/27/2025 - 09:24

A plan to eliminate federal taxes on tips is moving forward, but the benefits may be smaller than they sound.

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What the U.S. Credit Downgrade Means for the Economy and Your Wallet

Kelsey Cipolla — Wed, 21 May 2025 19:14:53 +0000

What the U.S. Credit Downgrade Means for the Economy and Your Wallet Kelsey Cipolla Wed, 05/21/2025 - 13:14

Finance expert Nathalie Moyen explains why the U.S. losing its top-tier credit rating is more than a symbolic shift鈥攁nd how it could impact borrowing, savings and government spending.

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A Lively Season of Case Competitions: Practical Lessons and Real-World Readiness

Jane Majkiewicz — Tue, 20 May 2025 20:49:17 +0000

A Lively Season of Case Competitions: Practical Lessons and Real-World Readiness Jane Majkiewicz Tue, 05/20/2025 - 14:49

Jane Majkiewicz

From ethics to algorithmic trading, Leeds students demonstrated their business acumen this spring at case competitions across the country.

This spring, Leeds students and faculty returned victorious from case competitions of all kinds鈥攍ocal, regional, national and beyond. Each year, both undergraduate and graduate students participate in case competitions, bringing home glory, prestige and prize money鈥攁nd, most importantly, confirmation that classroom lessons are directly applicable in real-world business environments.

In addition to collaborating with talented classmates, students benefit from working closely with Leeds faculty and mentors from Leeds Centers of Excellence.

Here are highlights from three national-level competitions.

Rising talent in real estate

Three Leeds real estate majors鈥攋uniors Yashwant Chapagain, Ali Marcus and Sehaj Singh鈥攅arned second place in Boston University鈥檚 School of Hospitality鈥檚 2025 Hospitality Real Estate Competition. The inaugural event brought together 21 teams and nearly 100 students from 17 universities.

The team placed second out of 12 national teams and was awarded $3,000 in prizes, said Chapagain. 鈥淭he challenge focused on the development of a high-profile air rights parcel near Fenway Park, where we proposed a luxury hotel, an indoor food and beverage mall, and a modern office tower,鈥� he explained.

The team used a strategic storytelling approach to pitch 鈥淔enway Heights鈥� to an audience of more than 180 industry professionals, Chapagain said. He noted that they leveraged AI tools to visualize market dynamics and support the team鈥檚 design rationale.

Team member Sehaj Singh emphasized that the site came with both high potential and plenty of challenges. 鈥淥ur concept aimed to meet growing demand for high-end hospitality, attract year-round foot traffic beyond game days, and connect key parts of the neighborhood through improved pedestrian access and transit integration.鈥� He added that the opportunity allowed the team to consider various audiences, including business travelers and local professionals, positioning the site as a vibrant new destination.

鈥淚t was a great hands-on experience that challenged us to apply financial modeling, design and strategy in a real-world context. Case competitions like this are invaluable for learning, networking and testing ideas under pressure,鈥� said Singh.

鈥淚t was a great hands-on experience that challenged us to apply financial modeling, design and strategy in a real-world context.鈥�

Sehaj Singh (RelEst鈥�26)

At the regional level, another Leeds real estate team secured first place in the Sherman Miller Case Competition at Colorado State University. Seniors Emma Bedrick, Jackson Eskridge, Jonah Duran, Madison Fanshawe and Blake Kuykendall, along with sophomore Dane Westen, competed against CSU and University of Denver teams to win $4,000 in prize money.

CU team shines at the Daniels Fund Case Competition

Under the guidance of Joshua Nunziato, a team representing CU 51传媒 earned second place in the Daniels Fund National Ethics Case Competition, advancing from an original pool of 83 teams across 38 universities to compete in person as one of the top 20 finalists. Their impressive performance earned them an $80,000 prize.

The team鈥擬itali Desai, Jesse Hettleman, Marina Levine and Aaditya (Aadi) Pore鈥攚ere all CU seniors from outside Leeds but were heavily involved with the Leeds Consulting Group.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a big prize and symbolic milestone in these hardworking students鈥� journeys: They鈥檝e been developing their consulting and teamwork skills for years as active members of the Leeds Consulting Group and Presidents Leadership Class,鈥� said Nunziato. 鈥淎fter graduation, Aadi will be joining NASA, while Mitali, Jesse and Marina have all accepted positions at McKinsey.鈥�

Top honors in quantitative trading

Darrell Zechman, senior director of Career Development and Experiential Learning at Leeds, mentored three CU students鈥攖wo from Leeds and one from engineering鈥攁t the 13th Annual UChicago Algorithmic Trading Competition. CU鈥檚 team鈥擡phram Cukier from Engineering, and Caden Patel and Yusuf Hanif of Leeds鈥攅arned recognition in several categories.

鈥淭o see engineering and business students collaborate and perform so well was such a wonderful feeling,鈥� Zechman said. 鈥淭his is the premier collegiate quant trading competition in the country and attracts teams from places like MIT, CalTech, Carnegie Mellon, Harvard and Princeton,鈥� he added.

The two-day event included cases on market making, options trading and time series analysis, and featured networking opportunities with over a dozen trading and financial firms. The winnings exceeded $13,000.

鈥淚鈥檓 excited to announce we ended up winning second place overall,鈥� Patel shared on LinkedIn, 鈥渨hile taking third place for Algorithmic Trading and 4th place for Portfolio Optimization.鈥�

His teammate Yusuf Hanif noted, 鈥淚t was an incredible opportunity to apply quantitative strategies and classroom concepts to real-world inspired challenges, all the while meeting with many other fantastic students and learning more from professionals about the quantitative finance industry as a whole.鈥�

Developing a solid business acumen

Case competitions offer students more than just accolades鈥攖hey are transformative experiences that foster collaboration, critical thinking, valuable networking and real-world readiness.

鈥淟eeds students have an impressive track record of performance, often competing against teams from the top business schools in the country.鈥�

Julie Gibson, Sherman R. Miller Executive Director of the Michael A. Klump Center for Real Estate

鈥淓verything we do at the Klump Center is in partnership with the industry, giving students opportunities to deepen their learning outside the classroom from industry experts,鈥� noted Julie Gibson, the Sherman R. Miller Executive Director of the Michael A. Klump Center for Real Estate at Leeds.

鈥淐ase competitions offer an incredible opportunity for students to apply their classroom learning on real projects. Leeds students have an impressive track record of performance, often competing against teams from the top business schools in the country,鈥� Gibson said.

The Leeds Edge

Across the curriculum, Leeds students have consistently proven they have what it takes to apply their academic experiences to complex business environments.

At the 2025 Leeds Sustainability Case Competition, which brought in top students from leading business schools, Leeds MBA student James Anderson was a member of The Green Beans team, which won second place.

The experience took 鈥渁 mix of hard work, practice and maybe a little magic," Anderson said.

鈥淚 came in with limited knowledge of the sustainability space, so learning from my teammates was awesome. It also gave me great practice in translating technical knowledge into digestible insights that resonated with a broader audience, including the judges.鈥� He also enjoyed participating in the Venture Capital Investment Competition, organizing logistics for five visiting teams and supporting the Leeds competitors with research and diligence screening.

A few other competitions where Leeds students grabbed the spotlight this spring included the NAIOP Rocky Mountain Real Estate Challenge, the Bascom Undergraduate Real Estate Competition and the New Venture Challenge. Smaller competitions also offer big benefits, like the Leeds semiannual Communication Strategy Case Competition, in which winning students developed an innovative solution for client Blue Sport Stable.

From ethics to algorithmic trading, Leeds students demonstrated their business acumen this spring at case competitions across the country.

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No Likes? No Problem: Why Posting Your Vacation Photos Still Gives You Good Vibes

Kelsey Cipolla — Tue, 20 May 2025 14:40:29 +0000

No Likes? No Problem: Why Posting Your Vacation Photos Still Gives You Good Vibes Kelsey Cipolla Tue, 05/20/2025 - 08:40

New research shows that just being seen on social media鈥攚ithout likes or comments鈥攃an still boost your mood and shape your memories.

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Will Tariffs Disrupt Your Summer Vacation Plans? Probably Not, Finance Expert Says

Kelsey Cipolla — Tue, 20 May 2025 14:34:21 +0000

Will Tariffs Disrupt Your Summer Vacation Plans? Probably Not, Finance Expert Says Kelsey Cipolla Tue, 05/20/2025 - 08:34

Tariffs may hit prices for toys and clothes, but your travel costs are likely safe. Finance professor Edward Van Wesep explains why.

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Leeds鈥� Class of 2025: Remember that 鈥楪reat Ideas Come From Everyone and Everywhere鈥�

Jane Majkiewicz — Mon, 12 May 2025 14:53:50 +0000

Leeds鈥� Class of 2025: Remember that 鈥楪reat Ideas Come From Everyone and Everywhere鈥� Jane Majkiewicz Mon, 05/12/2025 - 08:53

More than 1,700 undergraduate and graduate students鈥攖he largest graduating class in Leeds鈥� history鈥攃rossed the stage this May, ready to make their mark on the world with purpose, compassion and joy.

The 2025 commencement ceremonies at Leeds School celebrated not just academic achievement, but the culmination of a transformative journey鈥攐ne grounded in community, resilience and a shared commitment to meaningful impact.

Shannon Sisler鈥檚 career compass

Shannon Sisler (Fin鈥�95), executive vice presidents and chief people officer at Crocs, delivered a keynote address to undergraduates centered on confidence, service to others and authenticity.

She offered students three enduring takeaways. Recalling her mother鈥檚 advice to step confidently into any room, Sisler shared a powerful reminder that 鈥淚f you are in the room, you are meant to be there.鈥� As an engaged member of the Leeds Advisory Board, she highlighted the importance of mentorships and coaching, emphasizing that personal and professional growth is a two-way relationship.

Lastly, pairing Crocs鈥� company mantra "Come as you are鈥� with advice from her father, she encouraged graduates to resist the pressures of the 鈥渟hould-do鈥� list, focusing instead on unique strengths and passions鈥攐ne鈥檚鈥渟uperpowers鈥濃€攖o guide career and life choices that lead to fulfillment.

鈥淲hen I started to really embrace focusing on my strengths and being my authentic self, I began to really enjoy what I was doing.鈥�

鈥淲hen I started to really embrace focusing on my strengths and being my authentic self, I began to really enjoy what I was doing.鈥�

Shannon Sisler (Fin鈥�25)

Carol Callan鈥檚 team-driven legacy

After earning her MBA at Leeds, Carol Callan (MS鈥�77, MBA鈥�87) was encouraged to pursue a doctorate鈥攁 move that promised financial security for her family. Instead, she chose to follow her values and remain in education and sports leadership.

She explained to graduate students how that decision led to a trailblazing career as the women鈥檚 national team director at USA Basketball and a leader in the global basketball organization FIBA. Seven Olympic gold medals later, Callan shared one of her guiding principles, quoting Roy Disney: 鈥淲hen principles are clear, decision making is easy.鈥�

Alongside that conviction, Callan emphasized another key to success: 鈥淏e a good teammate.鈥� She noted that teams are everywhere鈥攚ithin families, among colleagues and across communities. She advised graduates to honor the contributions of every team member, respect the competition, and remember that everyone has something to offer.

鈥淕reat ideas come from everywhere and everyone ... Be the person who brings the team together鈥攖he person who people count on.鈥�

鈥淕reat ideas come from everywhere and everyone ... Be the person who brings the team together鈥攖he person who people count on.鈥�

Carol Callan (MS鈥�77, MBA鈥�87)

A celebration of community

Commencement at Leeds is more than a personal milestone鈥攊t鈥檚 a tribute to supportive family members, friends, mentors and peers. Faculty and staff awards were a special part of the ceremonies.

Graduates were encouraged to stay connected to Leeds as engaged alumni鈥攎entors, thought leaders and ambassadors of a global network bound by shared values and the courage to change the world.

On the graduation program, Tandean Rustandy Endowed Dean Vijay Khatri invoked the words of the Dalai Lama: 鈥淭he purpose of our lives is to be happy,鈥� adding, 鈥淭he ultimate source of happiness is not money and power, but warm-heartedness.鈥�

Graduate ceremony student speaker Brandon Christensen (PhD鈥�25) shared his personal story of overcoming obstacles as he and his family relocated to Colorado during the pandemic, with gratitude for the community at Leeds that showed empathy every step of the way.

Prior to the ceremony, MBA student Deepali Agarwal, whose parents were unable to travel from India for graduation, captured that spirit of warm-heartedness when she commented how her father鈥斺€渨ho neither speaks nor writes in English and is unfamiliar with technology鈥濃€攖ook it upon himself to write a message in Hindi, translate it into English, and to record a video to share his appreciation with Leeds, wishing all Leeds graduates a bright future.

As she reflected on her time at Leeds, Agarwal echoed her father's sentiments: 鈥淚 want to express my deepest gratitude for being part of a community that has truly transformed my life 鈥� Thank you for creating a space where students like me can dream big, grow boldly and feel genuinely supported. Leeds will always hold a special place in my heart.鈥�

Meet members of the class of 2025 >>

Glenn J. Asakawa/University of Colorado

Emma Coburn (Mktg鈥�13): 鈥楰eep Moving Forward鈥�

Three-time Olympian and Leeds alumna Emma Coburn (Mktg鈥�13) delivered CU 51传媒鈥檚 2025 Commencement address, inspiring students with her personal story of hard work, persistence and triumph over failure. She shared insights about 鈥渃losing the gap,鈥� meaning continuously evolving from the person you are today to the person you want to become. From aiming to win at everyday choices, such as being kind, listening and building a habit of self-discipline, to letting go of what you can鈥檛 control, Coburn inspired the class of 2025 to always keep moving forward.

She assured graduates they already had a great head start: earning a degree at CU 51传媒 and being a part of the powerful Forever Buffs community.

More than 1,700 undergraduate and graduate students crossed the stage this May, ready to make their mark on the world with purpose, compassion and joy.

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2025 Teaching and Staff Award Recipients Shine

Kelsey Cipolla — Fri, 09 May 2025 16:00:53 +0000

2025 Teaching and Staff Award Recipients Shine Kelsey Cipolla Fri, 05/09/2025 - 10:00

Anna Sheffer

Leeds faculty do more than just teach鈥攖hey encourage, mentor and advocate for their students. Meanwhile, Leeds staff show up every day to help students have the best student experience possible and achieve their goals. These faculty and staff are recognized annually for their contributions to students鈥� education and experience. Here鈥檚 a look at some of our award recipients this year.

Frascona Teaching Excellence Award

Established by the Falkenberg family in 1992, the Joseph L. Frascona Teaching Excellence Award honors Leeds faculty who go the extra mile.

The recipient of the 2025 Frascona Teaching Excellence Award is Lev Szentkir谩lyi, an assistant teaching professor in the Social Responsibility and Sustainability (SRS) Division. Szentkir谩lyi called receiving the award 鈥渉umbling and validating,鈥� as he worked to reinvent himself as a teacher and scholar since joining Leeds in 2022, while noting that 鈥渇aculty are only as good as their students.鈥�

鈥淵ou can have the best intentions and the best topics in a class, and if the students aren't there to help carry that burden of creating an engaging classroom, it's going to fail,鈥� he said. 鈥淭his award is on behalf of all those students who make teaching a privilege.鈥�

Szentkir谩lyi holds a PhD in political science from CU and a master鈥檚 in philosophy from the University of Connecticut. He also holds bachelor鈥檚 degrees in political science and environmental science. Before teaching at Leeds, he taught skills-based academic writing courses at the CU College of Arts and Sciences. No matter what he is teaching, he uses his multidisciplinary background to focus on applied ethics.

In the classroom, Szentkir谩lyi consistently challenges students to make personal connections with course content, such as asking his first-year World of Business students to look at local Zillow listings and to critically reflect on the limited availability of affordable off-campus housing when discussing resource scarcity.

鈥淚f I can get them to be thinking about the relevance of these different topics that we talk about, and they can carry it with them into the future, that's where I hope the intangible meets the tangible,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 would like to think we're creating thoughtful generations of future community leaders.鈥�

Finalists for the 2025 Frascona Teaching Award also included David Gross, a teaching professor and the associate chair in the Finance Division, and Erin Lionberger, an assistant teaching professor in Professional Effectiveness. Gross was recognized for his in-depth teaching materials and his sense of humor. He noted that humor is part of his natural communication style, which then shows up in his teaching.

鈥淚n any relationship or any situation in which you鈥檙e interacting with people, a connection is important,鈥� he explained.

Lionberger garnered praise for her student engagement, which she does by relating the material to students鈥� lives.

鈥淭o be relatively early in my teaching career and reach finalist status feels pretty surreal,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 have to give a huge shoutout to my division and my colleagues鈥擨 definitely wouldn鈥檛 be here without their support and guidance.鈥�

Innovative Teaching Award

Matthew Brady, 2025 David B. Balkin and Rosalind & Chester Barnow Endowed Innovative Teaching Award winner

The 2025 David B. Balkin and Rosalind & Chester Barnow Endowed Innovative Teaching Award has been awarded to Matthew Brady, an assistant teaching professor in the Organizational Leadership & Information Analytics (OLIA) Division. Brady鈥檚 courses are united in their entrepreneurial approach and embrace of AI technology.

鈥淚 try to bring these techniques into the classroom because I don't know another way,鈥� Brady said. 鈥淚 am an entrepreneur and I'm thinking about the students being entrepreneurs and future business leaders, and so I want to equip them accordingly.鈥�

Brady鈥檚 courses often focus on 鈥渓ow-code鈥� development鈥攅nabling students to use AI to build their own applications. As an instructor, he models his classroom after the boardroom, asking students to familiarize themselves with resources before class and then ask questions about what they have learned.

鈥淚 try to give them the tools and let them become the artists, and they can learn art by way of watching other artists learn,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat's a real joy.鈥�

Brady has also helped found several hands-on learning opportunities for students, including the Sustainability Hackathon and the newly launched 51传媒 Founder Summit, which connects students to funding and mentors in the start-up world.

The runner-up for this year鈥檚 Balkin Award is Sina Khoshsokhan, assistant professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship.

Leeds Values Awards

The Leeds Values Award recognizes one staff member and one faculty member who best embody Leeds鈥� values. This year, the winners are Tracy Sanders and Yonca Ertimur.

2025 Leeds Value Award Winners Yonca Ertimur and Tracy Sanders

Yonca Ertimur is the Tandean Rustandy Esteemed Professor and the recipient of the 2025 Leeds Values Award for faculty, which she won due to her unwavering dedication to excellence and impact. Before her current position, she served as the senior associate dean for faculty, the acting dean of the Leeds School of Business and as the chair of the Accounting Division.

Tracy Sanders is the assistant to the division chairs at the Office of Finance and Administration. She is the recipient of the 2025 Leeds Values Award for staff for embodying Leeds values in all she does.

Leeds faculty do more than just teach鈥攖hey encourage, mentor and advocate for their students. Take a look at some of our award recipients this year.

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New Breakthrough Energy-Funded Climate Initiative to Turn Student Innovations into Startup Success

Kelsey Cipolla — Mon, 05 May 2025 15:30:49 +0000

New Breakthrough Energy-Funded Climate Initiative to Turn Student Innovations into Startup Success Kelsey Cipolla Mon, 05/05/2025 - 09:30

/today/2025/05/05/new-breakthrough-energy-funded-climate-initiative-turn-student-innovations-startup

In a major step toward accelerating Colorado鈥檚 climate innovation economy, CU 51传媒 has launched 51传媒 Climate Ventures, a new interdisciplinary program that equips students to develop and launch high-impact startups focused on climate solutions.

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The Leeds Professionalism Summit: Career Lessons that Stick

Jane Majkiewicz — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 18:40:32 +0000

The Leeds Professionalism Summit: Career Lessons that Stick Jane Majkiewicz Mon, 04/21/2025 - 12:40

Jane Majkiewicz

Alex Freimuth (MAcct鈥�19, Fin, Acct鈥�18) and James Campbell (Mktg鈥�22), both members of the Leeds Graduates of the Last Decade (GOLD) Board, shared candid career insights with a group of sophomores at the 2025 Leeds Professionalism Summit (LPS). Instead of a list of rigid 鈥渄os and don鈥檛s,鈥� they emphasized a refreshing theme: Enjoy college, take risks and be yourself.

鈥淐lasses were like a debate between me and my teacher,鈥� Campbell joked, encouraging students to embrace the unique opportunities that college provides. 鈥淭here will never be another time in your life where you鈥檒l be in walking distance from all of your friends.鈥�

Freimuth advised students to think broadly about their futures while staying grounded in the present. 鈥淢ake connections and ask a lot of questions,鈥� he said. He advocated for study abroad for growth beyond the classroom.

Kate Minnihan (Mgmt鈥�18), now a senior employer relations manager at Leeds, reflected on her decision to become an au pair overseas before diving into a career. 鈥淲hen else am I going to do this?鈥� she asked herself鈥攔eminding students that unconventional and nonlinear paths can still lead to success.

Campbell added a final insight: 鈥淏e your individual and authentic self. You are not like other people.鈥� He summed it up powerfully: 鈥淭he ladder of success starts at failure.鈥�

All three shared their career trajectories that led to their current roles: Freimuth is a CPA, Campbell is a director of marketing and lead analyst at Trilateral, and Minnihan works at the Leeds Career Development Office as well as offering professional career coaching.

Build a personal brand that gets you hired

Creating & Deploying Your Personal Brand: A 5-Step Strategic Marketing Framework

Inventory foundational skills and experiences. These are your brand attributes.
Package the attributes in a way that reflects you. This is your brand narrative.
Research and prioritize areas of career interest. This is your target audience.
Craft a message that will resonate with your target. This is your brand positioning.
Deliver the message to your target. This is your marketing plan.

Source: 鈥淏randing Yourself for the Job Market: Tips from a Marketing Expert,鈥� by Jamie Cheston. During the presentation, Cheston noted that many people think they can skip steps 1鈥�4 and go directly to 5. Nope!

Assistant Teaching Professor Jamie Cheston鈥檚 session on personal branding opened with an unexpected question: 鈥淒escribe me.鈥� After a palpable silence, one student mentioned his beard. Another commented, 鈥渁 plaid shirt like what my dad wears.鈥� Laughter broke the ice, and Cheston had the room engaged.

鈥淚鈥檓 passionate about applying all that I鈥檝e learned along the way to help others navigate their own career paths,鈥� Cheston said.

His workshop, 鈥淏randing Yourself for the Job Market: Tips from a Marketing Expert,鈥� highlighted how a personal brand can set someone apart in a crowded job market. Among the insights: 80% of people report not feeling passionate about their jobs. One slide captured it: 鈥淣o one ever dreams about a career in dissatisfaction.鈥�

He encouraged students to overcome fear by reframing a job search through the lens of a strategic marketing framework. Instead of saying, 鈥淚鈥檓 not sure what I want to do with my life,鈥� consider 鈥淭here are so many directions I could take!鈥� Such small shifts can lead to big impacts, shaping a fulfilling career vs. getting a job, he explained.

鈥淵ou are writing your own story,鈥� said Cheston. As with any strong brand, it starts with insight鈥攁n emotional connection that resonates with the audience. He closed with reassurance: 鈥淩ealize that literally everyone gets rejected except one person."

Using AI in the job search鈥攕martly

A session led by career advisor Elizabeth Ferguson addressed how to use AI tools in job searches. She explained how platforms like HireVue and applicant tracking systems rely on keywords and offered practical tips for improving resumes and cover letters accordingly.

Ferguson also cautioned that recruiters can often spot AI-generated documents and encouraged students to blend technology with authentic voice.

Dan Murray, founder of the Rocky Mountain AI Interest Group and real estate entrepreneur, emphasized a core truth: Networking remains essential, even in an AI-driven world.

Skills such as problem solving, critical thinking and creativity will never go out of style, he emphasized.

Boosting confidence through practice

Although attendance at the LPS is mandatory for sophomores, students resoundingly appreciated the value of the events. They got to practice real-world skills: mock interviews, networking, refining their career searches and learning how to present themselves.

Sophomore Lucy Treccia (BusAn鈥�27) said she especially enjoyed advice from the GOLD Board and learning about Leeds' accelerated master's programs.

鈥淢y favorite session was the Business Analytics Roundtable. I put myself out of my comfort zone by approaching an empty table and had a really great conversation with a man who works in sustainability at FedEx. I talked to him about how much I enjoyed learning about integrating AI into business analytics, and he told me a lot about how companies are using AI in a secure way. He encouraged me to keep building this skillset, as it is becoming more and more applicable,鈥� said Treccia.

鈥淚 was already aware that what I am learning at Leeds will apply directly to my future careers, but this conversation made me confident that I am taking all the right steps towards success in analytics.鈥�

Experience the 2025 Leeds Professional Summit

More than 1,000 sophomores participate in the Leeds Professionalism Summit each year. The summit provides dozens of sessions throughout the day, covering a range of skill-building techniques, interview preparation and industry professional insights to guide students with practical how-to advice and expertise.

Explore the highlights from this year鈥檚 summit.

View the LPS Slideshow

The annual Leeds Professional Summit offers a full day of powerful tips and practical advice to set Leeds students up for success in their career journeys.

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