Why did you decide to attend Leeds?
I was living in the mountains outside of Boulder and working for Celestial Seasonings (I was one of their first employees!) when I decided I needed to go back to school and get my degree in accounting. Knowing that accounting is the foundation of all business, I thought it would serve me well in my future.
Could you share an experience (or two) that was particularity memorable at Leeds?
My favorite class was actually on case studies in finance, taught by Professor Kolb. He was engaging and energetic. I formed a great study group in that class and love Professor Kolb's knowledge, presentation and humor. I learned a lot from him and used him as an advisor and mentor for the rest of my time at CU.
Where has life taken you since you graduated from Leeds?
I was fortunate to be hired as a real estate investment broker. As a result of my accounting and finance degree, I was able to run DCF's (discounted cash flow analyses) by hand, which no other broker had a clue how to do and most definitely set me apart from my competitors. I had a very successful 34-year career in institutional real estate and completed over $10 billion in transactions across the country.
What is one piece of advice/best practice that has stuck with you throughout your career?
Several pieces of good advice: Be persistent and determined. Work harder than your peers. Keep your client’s best interests above yours. Finally, never ever give up!
Is there anything else you would like to share?
I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at the Leeds School, which prepared me to be successful in my career.
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August 2019