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CU ��ý�� Named an Ignition School for Second Consecutive Year

Kelsey Cipolla — Fri, 17 Oct 2025 17:46:33 +0000

CU ��ý�� Named an Ignition School for Second Consecutive Year Kelsey Cipolla Fri, 10/17/2025 - 11:46

Kristen Fischer

Inc. and Fast Company have released their second annual list of “Ignition Schools,” honoring institutions that impact society through innovation and entrepreneurship. The ��ý�� has once again been recognized for its role in fostering this impact.

For the second year in a row, CU ��ý�� has been named to the prestigious Ignition Schools list, a collaboration between Inc. and Fast Company that highlights the top 50 institutions leading in entrepreneurship and innovation.

The Leeds School of Business and the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship are integral to CU’s culture of innovation, shaping trailblazing entrepreneurs through dynamic teaching and research long before they graduate.

Brad Werner, the Deming Center’s faculty director of the New Venture Launch program and the JRN Faculty Scholar, has seen Leeds grow tremendously in its entrepreneurial programming. He teaches the fundamentals of starting a business and shows students how to understand and solve complex problems. The classes go beyond memorizing facts; they teach students how to think.

“I think it’s really eye-opening for the students,” Werner said. “They become empowered.”

Whether students launch businesses or not, they can still bring entrepreneurial problem-solving skills to the table at large companies. “It’s not just starting businesses; it’s creative problem-solving, which goes everywhere,” Werner added.

Erick Mueller, an adjunct professor and Deming’s executive director, says classes are unique because they use existing partnerships that give students revenue to pursue ideas. Faculty often leverage their own connections in the business world to support students.

“We connect students with world-leading experts and scientists,” Mueller said. “There’s all this breadth of opportunities for them.”

Another differentiator is how faculty members guide their students and graduates to scale up after their businesses launch. “We meet them where they’re at, and we help them move a step or two forward,” Mueller added.

“CU has built a name for itself, with many schools around the country asking for the playbook."

Matt Brady, Leeds Assistant Teaching Professor

Deming stands above

Leeds was ranked the 15th best public undergraduate entrepreneurship program by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025 Best Undergraduate Business Program rankings, thanks to award-winning professors and programs at the Deming Center.

The center has been in the spotlight before, winning multiple awards over the years from AACSB International and the Global Consortium of Entrepreneurship Centers—the preeminent organization in entrepreneurship education worldwide—including the Exceptional Activities in Entrepreneurship Across Disciplines award and the Excellence in Entrepreneurship Teaching and Pedagogical Innovation award.

In addition, Deming hosted the preeminent Global Entrepreneurship and Innovation Research Conference (GEIRC) last year, which drew attendees from Taiwan, Australia, China, the United Kingdom, Italy and more to explore the wide-ranging impacts of entrepreneurship and innovation.

More recently, the Deming Center joined Leeds’ Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility in launching ��ý�� Climate Ventures, a collaboration with Breakthrough Energy to turn student-driven climate tech initiatives into startups. ��ý�� Climate Ventures (BCV) is part of Breakthrough Energy’s University Climate Ventures network, joining Stanford University, MIT and others. CU ��ý�� is the first public university to be included in the network.

From world-class to worldwide

The New Venture Launch (NVL) program, a class open to about 20 students each spring, has produced over a dozen companies in the last three years. Students in the program compete in the New Venture Challenge, a competition that unites students and the greater ��ý�� community to formulate and fund ideas.

The Colorado Sustainability Challenge is a powerful reflection of CU ��ý��’s growing innovation ecosystem—especially at Leeds. Originally launched in 2021 as the Sustainability Hackathon by Matt Brady, assistant teaching professor in Organizational Leadership and Information Analytics, the event has doubled in size each year. In 2025, it expanded statewide, drawing teams from across the Front Range to compete for $21,000 in prizes. The first-place team included CU students from both Leeds and the College of Engineering and Applied Science.

Brady sees even greater potential ahead. “CU has built a name for itself,” he said, "with many schools around the country asking for the playbook." He’s confident that some of this year’s winning ideas will become real businesses. “It will definitely happen that some of these ideas will come to life and go to market.” As a feeder to CU ��ý��’s New Venture Challenge, the hackathon has already helped launch ventures like FoodWise—and Brady expects more to follow.

Deming’s podcast, “Creative Distillation,” hosted by Werner and Jeff York, faculty director of the Deming Center, has helped put the program on the map. It brings together entrepreneurs and researchers from around the globe to review research and share insights.

“We’re not only doing work that’s important to ��ý��…we’re doing work that’s world-class,” Werner pointed out.

Colorado, one of the technology hubs for quantum computing, leads the world in terms of quantum organizations and jobs. Faculty and students engage with these startups, and several graduates are even leading them.

Deming also brings in leaders from the entrepreneurial world to serve as instructors. David Brown, who co-founded the massive commercial accelerator Techstars in ��ý��, is now a faculty member associated with the Deming Center.

In addition to sending students to South Africa and Israel as consultants to local entrepreneurs, the school runs a five-year program to help rural areas and native communities in Colorado grow ventures. “It’s not just helping students; it’s helping Colorado,” Mueller said.

York has published several studies on environmental entrepreneurship, which is the intersection of creating eco-friendly and economically friendly startups. The fusion of sustainability and business is a big focus in the ��ý�� region.

“It’s a place where people care deeply about environmental issues but also social issues,” York said. This special interest—along with the university’s involvement in environmental ventures—is unique to CU ��ý��.

Today’s innovators, future igniters

Student success contributes to Deming’s notoriety in the entrepreneurial education arena.

For example, Jamie Saunders (center), a Leeds MBA graduate, took part in the New Venture Launch, where she developed her idea for Affix Communities. The startup makes tiny homes that become legal year-round residences, paving the way for more affordable homeownership.

Icarus Quantum, pioneered by Poolad Imany, Kaden Sisk, and Christian Wagner, is developing quantum dot technology to further secure quantum communications. It provides expanded data security that’s about 70 times more efficient than competitors, according to Werner.

Sristy Agrawal, Cameron Ghia, Ty Silver and Madeline Maersk Moller founded Mesa Quantum to build next-generation quantum devices. The company makes chip-sized atomic clocks that enable high-bandwidth use and precision GPS navigation.

“One of the most valuable skills I gained through the course was the practical knowledge of entrepreneurship, which was transformative for me, coming from an academic background,” said Agrawal, the current CEO. She completed her PhD in physics from CU and took the New Venture Launch class.

“[The] course gave me the tools to not only register my company but also build my first pitch deck, secure my initial grant and launch Mesa Quantum Systems,” added Agrawal, whose company has raised $4 million in venture capital and secured a $2 million government grant.

Aloukika Patro, a sophomore pursuing an entrepreneurship certificate, is grateful for the resources and support from Deming. “They give us insights on the business basics and how to bring it to reality,” said Patro.

“One skill that I have taken away from these workshops is the importance of having a growth mindset ... I believe that having a growth mindset and persevering through challenges in the journey is what is going to lead us to success.”

Fast Company and Inc. released their list for the second year of institutions that impact society through innovation and entrepreneurship. How is the Leeds School of Business igniting some of that impact?

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��ý�� Climate Ventures Ignites Climate Tech Momentum with Fall Series

Jane Majkiewicz — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 15:57:42 +0000

��ý�� Climate Ventures Ignites Climate Tech Momentum with Fall Series Jane Majkiewicz Thu, 10/16/2025 - 09:57

Jane Majkiewicz

CU ��ý��’s new BCV initiative kicked off a seven-week speaker series to spark climate innovation and entrepreneurship. The program connects the CU ��ý�� community with experts to explore opportunities in climate tech.

Seven Weeks of Climate Tech Brainstorming

Want to be a part of BCV? Register for upcoming sessions:

October 22: Electricity Demand
October 29: Critical Minerals
November 5: Ag Tech
November 12: Nuclear
November 19: Geoengineering
December 3: Adaption and Resilience

This week, ��ý�� Climate Ventures (BCV) kicked off its inaugural fall speaker series, “Business Opportunities in Climate Tech,” drawing a packed room of more than 100 attendees. Students from business, engineering, law, and arts and sciences joined faculty, staff and community members to explore the intersection of entrepreneurship and climate innovation.

Katherine Ratledge (pictured above), program manager for the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility (CESR), welcomed guests to the first of seven sessions. ��ý�� Climate Ventures (BCV) is part of Breakthrough Energy’s University Climate Ventures network, joining Stanford University, MIT, Technical University of Munich and Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. CU ��ý�� is the first public university to be included in the network.

Ratledge explained that the interdisciplinary program, facilitated by CESR and the Deming Center, is designed to equip students with the tools and resources to develop and launch high-impact companies. “We are not talking about the future, we are talking about the here and now,” she said. “We don’t just need breakthrough tech—we need breakthrough companies.”

“We don’t just need breakthrough tech—we need breakthrough companies.”

Katherine Ratledge, program manager at CESR

BCV builds on CU ��ý��’s reputation for cutting-edge research, its status as a top university for startups, and the region’s strengths—including national labs and a thriving tech ecosystem. The goal, Ratledge said, is to educate the community about opportunities and to “think broadly and boldly” about ways to make the world cleaner, more efficient and more resilient. The endgame? Commercialize new technologies in an industry projected to reach $1.8 trillion.

Graduate students will be invited to participate in a climate tech venture discovery class this spring, building on ideas generated during the series. Ratledge emphasized the importance of community: “We want people in the room to ask questions and never stop pushing—this is what we need to solve these problems.”

Sonya Gustafson, founder of startup Distill Energy and a new Leeds mentor, was energized by the event. Her new company aims to de-risk development in energy markets, and she looks forward to connecting with students who may become future employees.

Climate Tech 3.0: A Multitrillion-Dollar Opportunity

Trent Yang, BCV team member and entrepreneur in residence at Leeds, shared sobering statistics about climate change’s impact. “Because the global economy and all our infrastructure was built on an idea that our climate was stable, we are going to have to rebuild our global economy for a changing climate,” he said.

Solutions must go beyond emissions mitigation to include resilience, adaptation and global heat management. Yang cited deadly heatwaves in India and Pakistan as examples of the urgent need for innovation. “This is a multitrillion-dollar opportunity to change our world for the better,” he said. “This is what climate investing is all about.”

Yang outlined three phases of climate tech evolution:

Climate Tech 1.0: Early investments, many of which failed due to long ramp-up times and funding challenges.
Climate Tech 2.0: The 2010s saw global collaboration and commitments from large companies.
Climate Tech 3.0: Today’s phase is marked by global investment, with China leading the way and the United States and European Union close behind.

“This is a multitrillion-dollar opportunity to change our world for the better. This is what climate investing is all about.”

Trent Yang, BCV team member and Leeds entrepreneur-in-residence

To transition to a net-zero world, Yang said, we must triple our investments. That means deploying massive capital for new solutions and infrastructure. BCV aims to address this urgency with scalable, pragmatic solutions. Key success factors include a regional focus vs. global collaboration, market-driven strategies in the United States, a laser focus on product-market fit, and economically competitive solutions, he said.

Local leadership

Susie Strife, CU ��ý�� MENV instructor and director of sustainability, climate action and resilience for ��ý�� County, highlighted the power of local climate leadership. “There are 3,000 cities across the U.S. banding together to respond to the climate crisis,” she said.

Strife described how local governments respond to climate-related disasters, drive policy and power communities more efficiently. In ��ý��, strategies include climate action services and seed funding for innovation. She cited the Buy Clean Colorado Act, biochar projects, and ��ý�� Mushroom’s wildfire mitigation efforts as examples.

Despite the challenges, Strife remains optimistic. “I can’t help but think there’s no better time to be in climate—it’s a field full of possibilities,” she said.

“I can’t help but think there’s no better time to be in climate—it’s a field full of possibilities."

Susie Strife, ��ý�� County director of sustainability

Entrepreneurial wisdom

The session concluded with Yang moderating a panel featuring (pictured from left to right) Doug Campbell, founder of Solid Power; Mike McGehee, professor of chemical engineering at CU ��ý�� and founder of Tynt Technologies; Tasso von Windheim, a climate tech investor; and Bryn Rees of CU ��ý�� Innovation and Partnerships.

“Entrepreneurship is part science and part art—you can’t just learn it in the classroom,” said Yang. “We will bring real, successful practitioners in to help you create a successful venture going forward.”

McGehee, whose students have launched 19 businesses, emphasized mentorship. “You want to pick investors that do far more than give you money,” he said.

Von Windheim stressed the importance of a strong tech team and early founders’ agreements, while Rees encouraged students to leverage CU ��ý��’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and the wealth of resources in the region.

Panelists agreed on key ingredients for success: the ability to pivot, understanding your minimum viable product, knowing your strengths and weaknesses, and building the right team.

“Look to your left, look to your right—that’s called your network,” said Campbell. “That’s the most valuable thing in your career.” Reflecting on his own entrepreneurial journey, he added, “At the end of the day, it was a leap of faith. That’s what being an entrepreneur is.”

CU ��ý��’s new BCV initiative kicked off a seven-week speaker series to spark real-world solutions for climate innovation and entrepreneurship.

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A Passion for Fashion: Introducing Leeds’ New Student Club

Jane Majkiewicz — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 22:14:46 +0000

A Passion for Fashion: Introducing Leeds’ New Student Club Jane Majkiewicz Tue, 10/14/2025 - 16:14

Grace Garfoot

This fall, Ryder Nicolaus (Mktg’28) and Oliver Welsh (Bus, Fin’28) launched the Fashion Case Club at Leeds. With ambitions to expand beyond the Leeds community, the duo is shaping the club’s mission to incorporate underrepresented aspects of fashion while building a following, securing notable guest speakers and actively growing valuable industry connections.

Sewing the seeds of inspiration

Friends and fashion entrepreneurs Ryder Nicolaus (Mktg’28) and Oliver Welsh (Bus, Fin’28) didn’t wait for college to start making their mark. Even before arriving at Leeds, they had already launched their own branded clothing lines–Nicolaus with PAX Apparel and Welsh with Chill Ville. Now, as undergrads, they’ve channeled that shared passion into founding the Fashion Case Club—Leeds’ first student organization focused on the fashion industry.

The idea took shape last year over winter break, when the two realized that Leeds lacked representation for students interested in the business of fashion. “We feel like this is something that doesn’t have a lot of resources at CU and Leeds,” Welsh said. “Fashion as a whole is underrepresented within clubs and classes, especially compared to other universities. That’s why we started the club."

With a strong attendance at its first few meetings and an unfolding lineup of high-profile guest speakers, the club is already gaining traction.

“I’ve always been into really niche, creative endeavors, whether it was making rings or woodworking. I also knew that I wanted to go into business, so combining those two aspects, I decided to start my own clothing company,” Nicolaus (pictured right) said. “I wanted to experience what it was like running a company, so I decided to do that through something I really enjoy. I like the marketing and business analytics side of it, and that’s what brought me to Leeds,” he added.

For both Welsh and Nicolaus, getting into fashion was sparked by the desire to design their own clothes and appreciating the thrift culture. When visiting Leeds during an admitted students’ day, it resonated with them to hear that some graduates had gone on to work at North Face.

After getting their new club registered as an official Leeds student club, Nicolaus and Welsh promoted it at the Leedsapalooza annual student club event, catching the attention of CJ Riggins, an advisor for the Deming Center for Entrepreneurship. Intrigued by their apparel and their effort to bring a fashion initiative to Leeds, she became a faculty sponsor for the club.

“She has been so helpful in that role,” said Welsh. “I think she loves seeing students come together who are creatively driven entrepreneurs,” he added. And with fashion being the seventh largest industry in the world, projected to reach $1.87 trillion in 2025, Riggins’ support further validated for Nicolaus and Walsh that fashion should have a place in the business conversations happening at Leeds. Entrepreneurs like Garmai Matthew (MBA’25) and Rylan Montoya (Bus’25) are prime examples of Leeds students who have applied their business education to fashion startups.

Following the threads

As they’ve begun to hold meetings, the club has attracted new members by lining up high-level fashion industry insiders. One of their first meetings featured speaker Anthony Pace, a representative from Crocs. An executive from Ralph Lauren will be an upcoming presenter.

Attracting speakers of that caliber is a result of something Welsh and Nicolaus have been practicing in both life and business: persistence.

“We started off by cold calling on LinkedIn, and the success rate wasn’t great for that,” Welsh admitted. “But every time someone did reach out, we would make sure to be as enthusiastic and as sociable as we could to make an impression.”

“One of the first people we met with—who works at North Face—gave us helpful information on how we could improve our networking. Since then, every time we talk to someone, we ask them for contacts they can pass on,” Welsh added.

“It’s cool being a part of Leeds because you learn how intertwined everyone is networking-wise," said Nicolaus. His connections for the new club started in the Sustainable Business Club: “From there, I spoke to someone in Leeds and asked for a connection, and she was the one who led us to a contact from North Face.”

Setting trends for the CU ��ý�� community

As they move past the initial stages of evolving the club, Welsh and Nicolaus want to open it to any CU student that is interested in fashion, giving them practical industry experience before they go out into the world. We are a business-oriented club, but that doesn’t mean we’re exclusive to business," said Welsh.

The co-founders want to expose students to professional aspects of the fashion industry that are cross-disciplinary and applicable to a wide range of interests. They plan to address subjects such as color theory, retail math, merchandising, and other real-world concepts that aren’t typically taught in the classroom. For fashion-oriented and non-fashion-oriented people alike, Welsh and Nicolaus believe this learning will be invaluable.

“We’re going to teach concepts through workshops, case studies and guest speakers. We will offer topics that anyone considering the fashion industry should learn," said Welsh.

As the co-founders continue to raise the club’s visibility and look forward to carving out their professional career paths, they have already learned one essential component of success—collaboration. They both echoed the same sentiment: They couldn’t do this without each other.

Leeds’ new Fashion Case Club is tailoring its focus on the business of fashion to engage students across the CU ��ý�� community. With a growing membership and a lineup of industry insiders, the club is stitching together style, innovation and opportunity.

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How to Outsmart Online Scammers in the Age of AI, According to a Cybersecurity Expert

Kelsey Cipolla — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 14:58:21 +0000

How to Outsmart Online Scammers in the Age of AI, According to a Cybersecurity Expert Kelsey Cipolla Tue, 10/14/2025 - 08:58

As cybercriminals use generative AI to craft more convincing scams, Leeds School of Business expert Sebastian Schuetz shares tips for protecting yourself.

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Real Talk, Real Impact: Business Leaders-in-Residence Inspire Leeds Students

Kelsey Cipolla — Thu, 09 Oct 2025 16:50:30 +0000

Real Talk, Real Impact: Business Leaders-in-Residence Inspire Leeds Students Kelsey Cipolla Thu, 10/09/2025 - 10:50

Fourteen top professionals brought candid insights, career advice and networking opportunities to Leeds students during a dynamic day of connection.

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How Privacy Rules Meant To Protect Consumers May Hurt Small Businesses

Kelsey Cipolla — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 19:22:34 +0000

How Privacy Rules Meant To Protect Consumers May Hurt Small Businesses Kelsey Cipolla Tue, 10/07/2025 - 13:22

New research finds that laws designed to safeguard personal data can backfire, slowing innovation, raising costs and leaving disadvantaged consumers behind.

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Getting Down to Business: How Leeds’ Career Events Can Turn Handshakes into Hires

Jane Majkiewicz — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 16:39:38 +0000

Getting Down to Business: How Leeds’ Career Events Can Turn Handshakes into Hires Jane Majkiewicz Fri, 09/26/2025 - 10:39

Jane Majkiewicz

The Leeds Career Development Office hosted three days of its signature fall programming, highlighted by the All Industries Career Fair—a lively event at ��ý��'s new Limelight Hotel. Students gave the event a resoundingly positive review, and now they’re keeping up the momentum as they pursue new connections, internships and career opportunities.

More than 900 undergraduate and graduate students convened at the Limelight to kick off the fall semester by exploring internship and career opportunities, from stepping stones to leadership tracks and permanent positions. A total of 79 businesses participated in the All Industries Career Fair on Sept. 17, creating a lively atmosphere filled with connection, curiosity and conversation.

Dressed in business attire and armed with polished resumes, students arrived ready to make strong first impressions. Their professional demeanor set the tone for meaningful conversations with recruiters, many of whom noted the students’ preparedness and enthusiasm.

“The Career Fair gives students the chance to explore opportunities and connect with employers across industries in a supportive, structured environment.”

Angie Vermillion, associate director of Employer Relations

Clusters of students gathered around tables hosted by companies such as Cain Travel, Crowe, Enterprise Mobility, memoryBlue, CBRE, Danone, Sprouts, Artist Capital, Comcast and Sage Hospitality—just a sampling of the diverse organizations represented. Nonprofit organizations, including the Peace Corps and Teach for America, also had a presence. The fair showcased businesses across all industries represented by Leeds’ 10 academic areas of emphasis.

Company posters enticed students with remote work, employee perks and leadership possibilities, such as Parallon and HCA Healthcare’s note that 85% of their former associates are currently in leadership positions. Inspirational slogans added to the visual flair:

“Our Brands. Your Future.”—Gallo
“Work Where You Belong”—Sage Hospitality
“Let’s Build Something Big”—ibotta
“Grow with Us”—Tallgrass Energy

From table talks to career moves

“I definitely think the career fair was a good use of my time,” said Lucas Fernandes (Fin, Acct’27), who spoke with representatives from Comcast, among other businesses. “Not only did I find out about internship opportunities that I previously wouldn’t have known about, but I was able to get a few contacts that I can use to leverage my network and opportunities.”

Students surveyed gave the event a resoundingly positive review, describing it as 'awesome,' 'well done' and 'very helpful'—especially appreciating the opportunity to connect with companies.

“The Career Fair gives students the chance to explore opportunities and connect with employers across industries in a supportive, structured environment,” said Angie Vermillion, associate director of Employer Relations at Leeds.

Kristin Day, an HR specialist with Tallgrass Energy, attended her first Leeds event and was impressed by the students’ professionalism and confidence. "We met many great candidates. They were all wonderful to talk with and very engaged in the conversations," she said. “I was impressed with the way students presented themselves. It made them stand out as a whole,” she added.

“Not only did I find out about internship opportunities that I previously wouldn’t have known about, but I was able to get a few contacts that I can use to leverage my network and opportunities.”

Lucas Fernandes (Fin, Acct’27)

To help students prepare, Leeds hosted a Career Workshop the day before the fair that focused on resume building, interview practice and networking skills. Following the fair, an “Instant Interviews” event offered more than 100 students a chance to engage directly with top professionals at 10 companies—often bypassing the formal application stage, Vermillion said.

“Together, these experiences not only boost students’ confidence in their professional readiness, but they also help them form authentic, lasting connections with employers and alumni—connections that can lead to internships, jobs and long-term career success,” she added.

Keeping up the momentum (and staying motivated)

Vermillion encourages students to follow up with employers they met at the fair—whether through a thank-you note, LinkedIn connection or application—to keep those new relationships active. Meeting with a career coach is another valuable next step to refine resumes, practice interviewing, or discuss tailored strategies for the opportunities they are pursuing.

“Students can also strengthen their confidence and skills by joining student organizations, participating in case competitions, or attending upcoming Leeds programs like career treks to meet directly with companies at their offices,” Vermillion said.

“Continuing to engage with Career Development ensures that students not only maintain momentum but also grow their professional network and readiness for future recruiting cycles,” she added.

One employer commented, “The quality of students was top-notch. There were lots of good introductions and great questions.” That sentiment was widely shared, underscoring the strong impression Leeds students make.

Making Career Events Work: Five Reasons to Show Up and Stand Out

Leeds Associate Director of Employer Relations Angie Vermillion outlined key career event benefits for students.

Increased confidence: Feel prepared to introduce yourself professionally, talk about your skills and navigate conversations with employers.
Practical experience: Gain first-hand practice with resume reviews, mock interviews and networking in real recruiting settings.
Meaningful connections: Build new relationships with employers, alumni and industry professionals that can lead to internships, full-time roles or ongoing mentorship.
Career insights: Acquire a clearer understanding of industries, company cultures and career pathways that align with your goals.
Opportunities for next steps: Secure an interview, receive a job or internship offer, or get invited to apply—moving you closer to your goals and dream careers.

Be sure to stay connected with the Career Development Office's advisors and to keep track of career events >>

The Leeds Career Development Office kicked off the fall semester with three days of its signature programming, highlighted by the All Industries Career Fair—a lively event that filled the ballroom at ��ý��’s new Limelight Hotel.

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Business as Art: Wendy Lea Inspires the Leeds Community

Jane Majkiewicz — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:07:29 +0000

Business as Art: Wendy Lea Inspires the Leeds Community Jane Majkiewicz Thu, 09/25/2025 - 15:07

Jane Majkiewicz

Nationally renowned ecosystem builder Wendy Lea came to Leeds to share exclusive insights from her career in building businesses, forging strategic alliances and inspiring go-to-market innovation, including the future she sees for quantum technology in Colorado.

Wendy Lea (second from left) with Leeds' Birdie Reznicek, Kathryn Wendell and Erick Mueller.

As Leeds’ first Community Leader-in-Residence, Lea’s first day included four sessions with members of the community, including the Dean’s Cabinet; members of the Leeds’ Centers of Excellence, Employer Relations and Career Development Office; graduate and undergraduate students; and staff from across Leeds.

A thought-provoking session with Leeds’ Business Research Division was a prime example of Lea’s captivating storytelling, tracing her career path—a journey shaped by building relationships, being curious, continually learning, and making bold decisions.

“I am a business artist,” said Lea, explaining that she sees potential before problems and focuses on how businesses can deliver value. “I see business-making as art because there is no set way to get it done—it’s the most creative thing in the world to me.”

Lea’s current work involves channeling her decades of experience into shaping the state of Colorado’s quantum ecosystem. As a board member of Elevate Quantum, Lea is helping position Colorado as a national leader in quantum technology—an industry McKinsey projects will reach $97 billion worldwide by 2035. Colorado, which currently has 50 quantum-related startups, expects 10,000 new jobs within the next 10 years, and 30,000 workers trained in quantum technology.

“I was never afraid of failure. NEVER. I am a natural innovator and entrepreneur,” Lea said. That spirit of entrepreneurship, she believes, will be key to accelerating Colorado’s leadership in building a quantum-ready workforce. High schools and colleges will play a pivotal role in this transformation, alongside partners in New Mexico and Wyoming, who are collaborating with Colorado to advance the field.

“If we do our work, we can build an amazing future for our state and our region,” she said. She emphasized that building the talent pipeline will not only require PhDs and engineers, but also skilled business professionals and trained workers in the trades, especially in manufacturing.

“If we do our work [in quantum technology], we can build an amazing future for our state and our region.“

Wendy Lea, ecosystem builder and board member of Quantum Elevate

Lessons for the next generation of business leaders

In another session, Lea met with student leaders to reflect on the pivotal decisions and turning points that shaped her career. She distilled her path into a powerful insight:

“Self-knowledge is the most important knowledge.”

By understanding herself, Lea said she was able to make thoughtful career choices. While not every decision was perfect, each one helped her apply her skills in new and imaginative ways, building expertise that ultimately allowed her to help others.

Her parting advice: Challenge your boundaries and embrace innovation and reinvention. “Break out in any way you can from the mold you have created for yourself.”

Nationally renowned ecosystem builder Wendy Lea came to Leeds to share exclusive insights from her career in building businesses, forging strategic alliances and inspiring go-to-market innovation.

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Why We Laugh—Or Lash Out—At Political Jokes

Kelsey Cipolla — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 18:50:35 +0000

Why We Laugh—Or Lash Out—At Political Jokes Kelsey Cipolla Thu, 09/25/2025 - 12:50

Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension shows how quickly political humor can spark outrage. CU ��ý�� professor and humor researcher Peter McGraw explains why some punchlines delight audiences while others trigger backlash.

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How Does Growing Up Poor Influence Financial Decision-Making? New Study Sheds Light

Kelsey Cipolla — Wed, 24 Sep 2025 16:11:36 +0000

How Does Growing Up Poor Influence Financial Decision-Making? New Study Sheds Light Kelsey Cipolla Wed, 09/24/2025 - 10:11

Research has long linked childhood poverty to financial risk-taking in adulthood. But a new analysis casts doubt on this stereotype.

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News

CU ��ý�� Named an Ignition School for Second Consecutive Year

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Deming stands above

From world-class to worldwide

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