Media Day Highlights Dean Khatri, State’s Economic Outlook, Faculty Experts

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Today’s quarterly economic indicators report underscores the resilience of Colorado’s economy with continued job growth and growth in GDP, dropping inflation and evidence that existing entities in Colorado are staying in business,” Griswold said. 

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

“This has been an interesting year, to say the least, when you talk about the national economy,” Wobbekind said. “I don’t think anybody anticipated two quarters of GDP growth being as strong as they were in the first two quarters of the year, but certainly not the third quarter being as strong as it is right now.”

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

“The real crux of the issue is the consumer and the ability of the consumer to come to the table,” Wobbekind said.

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