Graduation 2025

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 天美传媒 Boulder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 天美传媒 Boulder 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 天美传媒 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 天美传媒 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 Boulder 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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Dongoh Shin (PhD鈥�25)

Jane Majkiewicz — Fri, 09 May 2025 15:36:32 +0000

Dongoh Shin (PhD鈥�25) Jane Majkiewicz Fri, 05/09/2025 - 09:36

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Dongoh Shin (PhD鈥�25)
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Leeds Division: Accounting
Upcoming Position: Assistant Professor in Accounting at Wayne State University

Leeds Mentors: My dissertation co-chairs, professors Clare Wang and Nathan Marshall, have been invaluable guides throughout my PhD journey, particularly during my critical fourth and fifth years. They consistently challenged me with high-level questions and encouraged me to position my research within the broader context of existing literature. Additionally, Professor Henry Laurion has provided both emotional support and practical research guidance. I am particularly grateful for our research discussions, which evolved into a productive co-authorship.

Highlight: The highlight of my time at Leeds was successfully defending my dissertation proposal鈥攁 significant milestone that represented my first independent academic achievement within the program.

Research Inspiration: My experience as both an analyst and institutional investor in the equity market shaped my research interests. During my time in these roles, I became fascinated by the information flows that connect capital market participants and get them to make decisions. I was also drawn to examining how financial reporting serves as critical conduits for transmitting this information. This market experience sparked my curiosity about the underlying dynamics of information transfers in capital markets.

鈥淢y dissertation co-chairs consistently challenged me with high-level questions and encouraged me to position my research within the broader context of existing literature.鈥�

Dissertation: 鈥淲ho are my roommates: Corporate co-tenancy and information environment鈥�

Summary: My research examines how firms who share their headquarters buildings with others (i.e., corporate co-tenancy) potentially influences the information environment of corporate managers.

Why is this research impactful? This trend has become increasingly common in recent years. Given the prevalence of this trend, understanding potential information spillovers within an office building has important implications for corporate decision-making.

Dongoh Shin will begin a new role as an assistant professor of accounting at Wayne State University. His PhD journey at Leeds was enriched by the invaluable guidance and support of his mentors.

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Deepali Agarwal (MBA, MBusAn鈥�25)

Jane Majkiewicz — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:58:00 +0000

Deepali Agarwal (MBA, MBusAn鈥�25) Jane Majkiewicz Wed, 04/23/2025 - 09:58

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Deepali Agarwal
Majors: Business Administration and Business Analytics
Hometown: Lucknow, India

Why did you choose Leeds for your MBA?
I鈥檝e always believed that diversity is where innovation lives. I wanted to be part of a community that brings together bold, creative minds from all walks of life鈥攁nd Leeds is exactly that. Whether I鈥檓 in class, at a club meeting, or chatting over coffee with peers from around the world, I feel inspired by the range of perspectives and ideas.

As someone who champions women in business, I鈥檝e looked for spaces that truly empower and uplift them鈥攁nd that鈥檚 what I found at Leeds. From day one, I was drawn to the numerous initiatives undertaken by the school mission of supporting women leaders and fostering inclusive growth. It wasn鈥檛 just a checkbox on a brochure鈥攊t was reflected in the people, the programs and the culture.

How has Leeds shaped your perspectives about business?
Coming from a small town in India, I grew up watching women around me turn traditional embroidery and handwork into small businesses鈥攐ften from their homes. These women weren鈥檛 just artisans; they were entrepreneurs, caregivers and the financial backbone of their families.

That inspiration led me to pursue an undergraduate degree in business and later start a small NGO to support these women and their craft. But I knew I needed to grow my own knowledge and expand my toolkit if I wanted to create larger impact.

At Leeds, my perspective on business has grown from personal passion to global purpose. I鈥檝e learned how innovation, analytics and inclusive leadership can intersect to solve real-world problems. Being here has reaffirmed my belief that business isn鈥檛 just about strategy鈥攊t鈥檚 about people, communities and creating access. Leeds hasn鈥檛 just taught me how to lead鈥攊t鈥檚 shown me why I want to lead.

What experiences have stood out?
At Leeds, every classroom feels like a space where every voice matters. In many of the classes, we鈥檙e not just listening to lectures; we鈥檙e actively engaging, solving real cases, and thinking critically alongside our professors and peers. I鈥檝e loved how professors act more like facilitators鈥攂ringing together our diverse and creative minds to explore complex business challenges. It鈥檚 made learning feel collaborative and alive.

What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I鈥檓 excited to gain hands-on experience in the business world in the U.S. In the long run, my dream is to start my own business鈥攐ne that blends technology, creativity and purpose to create meaningful impact, especially for underrepresented communities.

How has Leeds prepared you for your career? Leeds has been a transformational chapter in my journey鈥攏ot just professionally, but personally. Being involved in so many events, from organizing cultural celebrations to leading club initiatives, helped me find my voice and build my confidence. I鈥檝e realized that I鈥檓 capable of making an impact not just in my hometown, but anywhere in the world.

鈥滲eing here has reaffirmed my belief that business isn鈥檛 just about strategy鈥攊t鈥檚 about people, communities and creating access. Leeds hasn鈥檛 just taught me how to lead鈥攊t鈥檚 shown me why I want to lead.鈥�

Deepali Agarwal鈥檚 perspective has expanded from personal passion to global purpose. Her dream is to one day start her own business, especially to serve underrepresented communities.

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Camden Dempsey (Fin, Mktg鈥�25)

Jane Majkiewicz — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 15:35:36 +0000

Camden Dempsey (Fin, Mktg鈥�25) Jane Majkiewicz Wed, 04/23/2025 - 09:35

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Camden Dempsey
Major: Finance & Marketing (Minor in Leadership, Certificate in Entrepreneurial Studies)
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Leadership Award: Scripps Leadership and Career for Student-Athletes

What are your plans after graduation?
After graduation, I plan to continue building my startup, VerEstate, a digital title insurance company that aims to streamline the home buying process through AI-powered solutions. I鈥檒l also be completing my master鈥檚 in real estate at 天美传媒 to further deepen my knowledge of the industry, playing my final year of football at 天美传媒, and spending as much time as I can enjoying Colorado!

How would you sum up your experience at Leeds?
Leeds has been transformational. I鈥檝e had the chance to grow not only academically but also as an entrepreneur and leader. From the classroom to startup competitions, and through relationships with faculty and peers, I鈥檝e been challenged and supported every step of the way. Leeds has given me the skills and confidence to take advantage of opportunities to build, connect and create ideas!

How do you plan to stay connected to Leeds?
I plan to stay actively involved as a mentor and guest speaker, especially in the Deming Center and entrepreneurial programs that shaped my journey. I also hope to give back through alumni networks and by supporting future student ventures!

"Leeds has been transformational. I鈥檝e had the chance to grow not only academically but also as an entrepreneur and leader."

Camden Dempsey may be graduating, but his 天美传媒 connections continue. He will be pursuing his master's in real estate, and Buffs football fans will be happy to see him on the field for one more year!

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Noa Greene (Mgmt, Mktg鈥�25)

Jane Majkiewicz — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 18:46:37 +0000

Noa Greene (Mgmt, Mktg鈥�25) Jane Majkiewicz Thu, 03/06/2025 - 11:46

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Noa Greene
Hometown: Boulder, Colorado
Major: Sustainable Management and Marketing, SRE Certificate

A passion for sustainability has propelled Noa Greene toward places and spaces for her to thrive. Dedicated to a career in environmental impact, she created opportunities through outreach and networking that align with her key values, and she has worked with numerous mission-driven companies: The Boulder Farmers Market, Sati Soda, Mad Agriculture and Munson Farms. As she prepares for graduation and a big move to Kibbutz Ma'agan Michael in northern Israel, she believes that her empathy for the world and people can bridge gaps, foster trust and create connections.

鈥淏eing in a business environment, I am surrounded by future changemakers and trailblazers. I am consistently inspired by my peers' dedication to wielding business as an instrument of social change.鈥�

As a senior about to embark on her own path, Noa Greene is committed to personal authenticity, being a lifelong learner and envisioning a future that empowers emerging leaders to take meaningful action.

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Career Paths: How Luke St. John Became a Natural Networker

Jane Majkiewicz — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 20:18:11 +0000

Career Paths: How Luke St. John Became a Natural Networker Jane Majkiewicz Fri, 02/07/2025 - 13:18

Luke St. John (Fin鈥�25) built a robust habit of networking while pursuing his passions at Leeds. That ultimately helped him secure a job before graduation.

For senior Luke St. John, launching his career this spring has boiled down to two things: Doing what he loves and talking to everybody.

This May, St. John will graduate and begin his new role as a business analyst at McKinsey and Company in Denver. He attributes this success partly to his involvement in various student organizations at 天美传媒. Since his freshman year, he has served as vice president on the board of the Boulder Freeride ski and snowboard club鈥攖he largest student organization on campus. He has also been an active member of Leeds Student Government and has participated in the Leeds on Wall Street group.

Turning dreams into milestones

Joining clubs helped St. John navigate a challenging start to his freshman year, fostering friendships and cementing valuable connections to craft a positive college experience. His spring semester of junior year was another turning point: Realizing he had enough credits to graduate early, he took time off to pursue his travel dreams鈥攕kiing in Japan, surfing in Bali and exploring Europe. That didn鈥檛 thwart his plans to graduate鈥攂ut instead expanded his curiosity and confidence.

To fund his travels, St. John worked nearly every day at a restaurant for two months, a lesson in financial planning and perseverance. And navigating the unknowns of travel became a strong talking point during interviews. That semester off ultimately paid off. His new role at McKinsey will involve significant travel, and St. John feels ready for the challenge.

Follow your passions

St. John credits his parents for instilling in him an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for doing meaningful work. His father started a company more than 20 years ago building drift boats for fly fishing.

鈥淚 think that was so cool for me to see my entire life growing up 鈥� [my father] has been so focused and dedicated to his company. He has good days and he has bad days, and I get to see those firsthand. I know that deep down, he loves what he does.鈥�

His mother works as a curator and grant writer for the Steamboat Art Museum, a job she loves and one that has inspired St. John鈥檚 interest in nonprofits.

鈥淗aving both parents doing something they're so passionate about 鈥� it鈥檚 kind of hard not to think, 鈥楾hey made it work 100% doing that. So why can鈥檛 I?鈥欌€�

Network with peers

Early on, St. John recognized the value of Leeds鈥� career resources鈥攈e was in Leeds鈥� career coach Susan Brodnicki鈥檚 office at least an hour each week, he laughed. She worked tirelessly to help connect him with leads and contacts. Also, he never underestimated the power of collaborating with peers to practice and build skills.

His involvement with Leeds Student Government proved to be a fertile ground for learning and leadership. 鈥淚t was so cool that I could go in, and not really knowing much 鈥� the juniors and seniors were able to guide me to where I wanted to go, and then they let me take the reins on stuff that I was really passionate about,鈥� said St. John.

Through student government, St. John first learned about McKinsey from a junior who had secured a job there. That influenced his decision in freshman year to focus on finance and business. His involvement in the investment banking club starting sophomore year further honed his networking and interview skills.

"You need to put yourself out there. The worst that鈥檒l happen is people won鈥檛 respond."

Luke St. John (Fin鈥�25)

鈥淭hey trained us that you need to put yourself out there. The worst that鈥檒l happen is people won鈥檛 respond,鈥� said St. John. He learned how to 鈥渢ake that 鈥榥o鈥� and move to the next company or reach out to somebody else that might be more helpful.鈥�

Stick with it

St. John estimates he鈥檚 sent over 500 emails for coffee chats in the last three years.

鈥淚 probably had 30 or 40 calls with companies before I even got to McKinsey,鈥� he added. While he reached out to contacts from other schools, he found conversations with Leeds alumni to be the most productive.

鈥淥n other calls, they didn鈥檛 necessarily have the understanding about classes or looking out for me as much as people at Leeds,鈥� said St. John. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what鈥檚 so cool: Buffs looking out for Buffs.鈥�

When St. John had his first interview with McKinsey, he reached out to a couple of students in the Leeds Consulting Group, even though he isn鈥檛 a member. Those students happily devoted a couple of hours each to help St. John practice.

Explore options through internships

Internships helped St. John gain clarity about his career path.

鈥淚 knew I wanted to do something in finance, but I didn鈥檛 necessarily know what,鈥� St. John said. Interning with both private and nonprofit organizations allowed him to discover his preferences and envision his future. Gaining that professional experience has allowed him to feel confident going into his new role, knowing how to gauge expectations.

Looking ahead

St. John will spend two to three years as a general business analyst for McKinsey, following the company鈥檚 track to consultant, senior consultant and engagement manager roles.

No matter where the path ultimately takes him, St. John knows he鈥檒l benefit from the experience.

鈥淚 am incredibly excited just to be able to touch a variety of industries,鈥� he said. He hopes to pair the business knowledge he develops with his passion for the outdoors and sustainability. He dreams of starting a company to make skis, inspired by his father鈥檚 entrepreneurial journey.

One certainty: Networking will remain a cornerstone of St. John鈥檚 path. Here鈥檚 some proof: After the interview for this story, he followed up with an email to share contacts for other articles, including his younger brother, a current 天美传媒 student transferring to Leeds this fall.

That鈥檚鈥淏uffs looking out for Buffs鈥� in action, which, for St. John, comes naturally.

Want to put your networking skills to work? Connect with the Leeds Career Development Office.

Luke St. John (Fin鈥�25) built a robust habit of networking while pursuing his passions at Leeds. That ultimately helped him secure a job before graduation.

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Career Paths: How Two Leeds Students Turned Internships Into Careers Before Graduation

Jane Majkiewicz — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 22:33:16 +0000

Career Paths: How Two Leeds Students Turned Internships Into Careers Before Graduation Jane Majkiewicz Mon, 11/25/2024 - 15:33

Anna Bedell (Mktg鈥�25) and Spencer Taliaferro (Mgmt鈥�24) have managed to do something that many students dream of鈥攈ead into graduation with a job offer already in hand.

Anna Bedell (Mktg鈥�25) and Spencer Taliaferro (Mgmt鈥�24) share a few things in common: They both came to Leeds with an interest in marketing, they鈥檙e both student workers at Leeds, and they both managed what many students dream of鈥攇etting full-time jobs even before they don their graduation caps.

Bedell will graduate this spring with a marketing major and journalism minor. After that, she鈥檚 headed to Europe for a month, and then on to Austin, Texas, where she鈥檒l join IBM in marketing. Meanwhile, Taliaferro, who majored in business analytics鈥痑nd information management, will step into Boeing as a competitive intelligence specialist after he graduates this December.

Their secret? Internships.

Starting early to build experience

Students at Leeds hit the ground running, and Bedell and Taliaferro are no exception.

Bedell started working part-time as a Leeds ambassador freshman year. From her sophomore year on she has built a portfolio of published articles working with Leeds鈥� marketing team. On top of academics and student government, she鈥檚 also done 鈥渁lmost every Leeds鈥� abroad experience possible,鈥� including a鈥� First-Year Global Experience and a鈥�semester abroad, adding to her resume and worldview.

Bedell talked with mentors each year, and one alumni mentor connected her with Assistant Teaching Professor鈥�Meg Winter. 鈥淪he had a lot of insightful things to say to give me advice on what could be best for me,鈥� Bedell said.

Taliaferro has worked at Leeds in various capacities since the first time he stepped into Koelbel, where he now works with the Advancement team. He considers his student employment to be the biggest influence on his work experience.

鈥淚t has really helped evolve my professional development,鈥� he said, listing essential skills: how to talk with colleagues, manage deadlines and collaborate with a team. 鈥淪o that's been very monumental, not just to me getting the job, but to the success of my internship last summer,鈥� he said.

He also credits his success to three interview prep sessions with the Career Development Office, two of which involved behavioral interviews. 鈥淚 sometimes ramble, and the biggest practice I learned was how to be concise with my answers. Career services was great at teaching me the STAR [situation, task, action, result] method." (See "Ace Interviews with the STAR Method.")

A foot in the door

Bedell鈥檚 proactive approach led her to IBM鈥檚鈥�Accelerate Summer Program, a virtual career readiness program. After that, securing an internship with IBM the following summer was a natural next step.

鈥淭hey already knew me as a person. They already knew the effort I'd put in for the project that we had. I was one of the presenters for our final project as well, so it put me on the radar at IBM.鈥� Her internship led to her job offer without even having to interview.

鈥淭hey already knew me as a person. They already knew the effort I'd put in ... so it put me on the radar at IBM.鈥�

Anna Bedell (Mktg鈥�25)

Taliaferro was seeking an internship in a STEM-based organization where he could enhance his knowledge of data analytics. Working in a well-established industry like aviation, known for its great opportunities for advancement, appealed to him.

So, he attended career fairs to hone his networking skills and connected with a retired aerospace industry professional through Leeds鈥� Professional Mentorship Program. Those efforts helped him gain the confidence鈥痶o connect with a recruiter on LinkedIn to express his interest in an internship at Boeing. Within four days, the recruiter responded, leading to the internship Taliaferro started last summer. He was excited to tackle three major projects that allowed him to gain real-world data analytics skills, and he has been interning since while completing his last semester.

For Taliaferro, the support from managers and colleagues won him over immediately. 鈥淚 was very lucky to have the flexibility to be able to learn and to train myself, and I had a lot of opportunities to fail in a safe environment,鈥� he said.

鈥淚 was very lucky to have the flexibility to be able to learn and to train myself, and I had a lot of opportunities to fail in a safe environment.鈥�

Spencer Taliaferro (Mgmt鈥�24)

Planning for work-life balance

As large employers call employees back to the office鈥�five days a week, both Bedell and Taliaferro are grateful they have hybrid options.

They both had a clear sense of their goals, including being able to consider further education through their employers if they choose to pursue graduate degrees.

By interning, they could get a sense of how their new work environments align with their values and goals.

鈥淚BM is an old company, but it鈥檚 such a fun, youthful culture in its working environment,鈥� said Bedell. She now is also familiar with what life will be like in her new home of Austin. That helped her weigh out the job offer in hand, adding, 鈥淭here鈥檚 still so much room for mistakes and growth, and to know that I'm not pushed toward anything specific right now.鈥�

Taliaferro is looking forward to settling in Denver and diving into his career, especially after moving every year of college. Grad school may be five years down the road, he said, and he may even go for his pilot鈥檚 license.

Keeping longer-term goals flexible

One of Bedell鈥檚 greatest discoveries during her college years is that the whole world is her classroom. It has led to a sense of optimism she hopes to share. 鈥淚 want to tell other students not to put an exuberant amount of pressure on themselves 鈥� even if something doesn't go to plan, that just means there鈥檚 a new opportunity waiting for you elsewhere.鈥�

As Taliaferro prepares to graduate in December, he鈥檚 realistic about the ups and downs of any industry but is also optimistic. Having witnessed his father go through two layoffs has steeled his reserve for facing unpredictable events. In fact, his manager at Boeing had informed him in October about the looming layoffs at Boeing, although Taliaferro鈥檚 department, to date, has been unaffected.

Taliaferro remains confident about his future. 鈥淚'd love to be with Boeing for at least the next five years, because I love my team. I love my coworkers and I would love to be an expert in my field.鈥�

Ace Interviews with the STAR Method

The STAR method stands for "situation, task, action, result." It's a behavioral interview format that helps you frame a story by succinctly describing a situation, task, action and result. Jessica Baumgarten, assistant director of career coaching at Leeds, shared the following example.

Situation: In my XX class, my group was assigned a project centered on ABC. As my team delved into the project, I realized everyone had very different opinions on the direction we should take to complete the assignment.

Task: Due to the differing opinions, I realized we were not going to be able to successfully move the project forward.

Action: I stepped into the leadership role and asked each team member to come prepared with research to present why their idea would be the best approach to take. This gave each person the floor without interruption. We then asked follow-up questions and voted as a group once all the evidence was presented.

Result: Once we agreed on a direction, my team and I completed the project and earned an A.

Anna Bedell (Mktg鈥�25) and Spencer Taliaferro (Mgmt鈥�24) leveraged their internships to launch their careers.

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