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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—Leeds saw hundreds of executives, trailblazers and influencers visit classrooms, events, case competitions and more.

“We’re so lucky to have countless accomplished professionals come to speak at Leeds,” said Katherine Ratledge, a program manager for the Center of Ethics and Social Responsibility (CESR). “It is enormously valuable to our students who use the opportunity to network and ask questions, hear new perspectives and—most importantly—see an example of what they could be in the future.”

Guest speakers are often alumni, board members and Leeds‘ corporate partners—the 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’s exactly what happens when leaders come to Leeds to share their expertise,” noted Amanda Hansen, director of the Career Development Office.

Organic advice

CESR, in partnership with the Burridge Center for Finance, hosted Geneviève Piché (pictured above left), the head of sustainable finance at Wells Fargo. At a pivotal moment in her career, Piché 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—one of the most influential figures in the entrepreneurial world—visited 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 CU 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’s path to success is different, and even if you don’t start in the outdoor industry, it doesn’t mean you can’t 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:

Get connected with opportunities to influence and inspire students.