Voices of Experience

Has there ever been a more chaotic time to be in business? Subjectivity aside, Matthew Pohl says today's companies need a specific mindset and skill set to push past roadblocks and thrive. He founded ReWild Group to help businesses find the roadmap to resilience. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Pohl recounts his personal transformation and explains how to prosper through chaos and competition. Table of Contents • 1:03 Prospering through chaos and competition • 2:13 Roadblocks businesses face • 4:25 Can a business be recession-proof? • 7:25 The meaning of ReWilding • 8:57 Looking back to look forward? • 10:10 Pushing past plateaus • 14:12 Discovering the stages of growth • 17:06 The last business frontier • 18:04 Show notes and credits

Randy Greenberg can remember his first movie experience like it was yesterday. He watched James Bond’s Goldfinger at a drive-in movie theater from the back of his family’s car, imagining that he too was floating down a canal in Venice. It opened his eyes to the power of film and set him on his own winding journey. But the executive producer is concerned that this in-person experience will disappear with the availability of at-home streaming. Greenberg is a Daniels alumnus and accomplished Hollywood executive, working on films like the Meg and Cowboys and Aliens, among many others. He now runs the Greenberg Group and teaches college courses on the business of film. On this episode, Greenberg shares how he picks the projects he works on, the impact of AI on the film industry and why it’s crucial you get off the couch and go to the movie theater. Table of contents • Falling in love with film • Producer vs. Executive Producer vs. Director • Why business school led to a film career • Why the first 10 pages of a script are everything • Managing creative egos on set • AI as both a threat and opportunity in Hollywood production • The business importance of going to the theater • Try it, fail fast, and pivot

Consumer preferences and buying behaviors in the alcoholic beverage space are changing faster than you can pour a pint and say ‘cheers.’ So, how do companies keep up? Erin Engels, Senior Vice President of Commercial Strategy, is helping lead those efforts with Breakthru Beverage Group. Breakthru is a leading North American beverage wholesaler, meaning they help thousands of brands land on store shelves, on restaurant menus and on the tap list at your favorite bars. In her role, Engels leads the development and implementation of Breakthru’s commercial strategy. She creates short- and long-term initiatives that support both innovation and growth. In this episode, Engels shares how Breakthru stays nimble in the face of changing consumer demand, how a special team at her company identifies the next big brands, plus how you can gain employee and executive buy-in for effective long-term strategy. Table of contents • 1:15 Adapting to consumers drinking less • 4:20 Identifying winning brands and the Trident team • 5:59 What to do if a brand flops • 9:06 Developing effective long-term strategies • 12:23 Bringing an engineering background to business • 17:09 How AI is being used in the beverage space • 18:27 Doing business internationally • 19:21 "Be curious"

In celebration of Women's History Month, the Voices of Experience podcast team took a look through its history, and picked four of its favorite interviews with female leaders. On this episode, hear insights on leadership, mentorship, work-life balance, gathered from the first four seasons of the VOE podcast. Table of Contents • 0:00 Intro • 0:21 Jodie Antypas's management advice • 7:09 Andrea Wescott Passman on the "glass cliff" • 12:56 Leigh Hitz on the qualities of a strong mentor and mentee • 17:55 Lesson's from Kirsten Benefiel's notebook • 22:14 Show notes and credits

Monica Williams (MBA 2013) is a people-centric strategist that has spent the last 15 years designing both equitable and high-performing workplaces. But her work didn’t start there. She made the transition to the people side of the business from, of all places, the accounting field. Monica’s career has taken her from spreadsheets to organizational heartbeats, as she’s led large-scale people efforts at both CenturyLink and the Denver Airport. In this episode, Monica shares more about what makes people-centric strategies successful, how transferable skills helped her discover her passion and how to stay centered in challenging times. Table of contents • 1:03 Designing equitable workplace cultures • 2:03 How non-managers can create inclusive cultures • 3:01 Monica's path from accounting to diversity • 5:47 How inclusive cultures lead to better business outcomes • 7:12 Monica's decision to pursue an Executive MBA • 9:09 Challenges and strategies at Denver International Airport • 12:26 Identifying and addressing performative equity efforts • 18:32 Staying centered in challenging times

The most successful executives, Debbie Brown says, have a few things in common. Through meetings with the governor, Congresspeople, diplomats and even the White House, the president of the Colorado Business Roundtable has an up-close look at how some of the most respected businesspeople carry themselves. In her role, Brown advocates locally and nationally on the issues she sees as most important for a thriving economy. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Brown shares some of her top priorities for the year ahead and explains what it takes to build relationships that bridge ideological differences. Plus, she shares the traits she needed to develop to get to where she is today. Table of contents • 1:12 "Business as a force for good" • 2:04 Local vs. national advocacy • 3:43 Navigating politics in business • 5:21 The influence of immigration • 6:40 Optimism in 2025 • 10:10 Lessons in leadership and communication • 12:09 What successful CEOs have in common • 13:27 How to build a relationship • 13:27 Advocating for yourself in the office • 16:27 Dealing with disruption • 18:38 Growing as a leader • 21:03 Show notes and credits

On the Daniels College of Business podcast, John Swieringa shares his thoughts on what makes large-scale change successful, what he does to motivate his team and how a strategy paper from his time at the Daniels College of Business set up the next decade of his career. Table of contents • 1:00 How he became the "accidental CIO" • 2:50 Breakfast burritos for software releases • 4:48 Being your best self • 6:00 Preparing to learn new skills • 6:57 How Daniels prepared him for a fruitful career • 9:00 What EchoStar is up to • 11:16 Supporting employees through change • 14:15 Blocking out the noise • 15:45 "Surround yourself with the right people"

On the Daniels College of Business podcast, Jandel Allen-Davis dispenses key leadership lessons she’s gained from her patients, shares how to champion diversity in the health care space and offers ways to buck that pesky imposter syndrome. Table of contents • 1:13 Ball Arena redevelopment in a nutshell • 2:19 Why arenas make vibrant neighborhoods • 3:52 Building a (literal) bridge between communities • 5:10 What about overdevelopment? • 6:58 Make or break factors for a district • 8:30 The growth of sports ownership empires • 10:08 Planning a 20-year project • 12:25 Will Ball Arena be replaced? • 15:06 From a history to degree to a development career • 17:04 "It may not be a perfect role but just get it" • 19:36 Getting people to like you • 20:54 Show notes and credits

The heart of the Mile High City could get a major jolt of electricity. If all goes according to plan, the Ball Arena Redevelopment Project will pave the way for new buildings, parks, housing and litany of retail spaces that are estimated to expand downtown by 40%. For Matt Mahoney, senior vice president of development at Kroenke Sports and Entertainment (KSE), scoping the massive project is as much an exercise in architecture as it is in building relationships—especially in a place like Denver, where "development" can be a dirty word. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Mahoney explains KSE's vision for a new entertainment district, the key to getting the community on board, and how to plan for a project that won't wrap up for at least 20 years. Table of contents • 1:13 Ball Arena redevelopment in a nutshell • 2:19 Why arenas make vibrant neighborhoods • 3:52 Building a (literal) bridge between communities • 5:10 What about overdevelopment? • 6:58 Make or break factors for a district • 8:30 The growth of sports ownership empires • 10:08 Planning a 20-year project • 12:25 Will Ball Arena be replaced? • 15:06 From a history to degree to a development career • 17:04 "It may not be a perfect role but just get it" • 19:36 Getting people to like you • 20:54 Show notes and credits

It's a word that can send a shiver down the spine of an organization. But "disruption" happens every day, Naomi Boyd says, and that isn't a bad thing. As she takes the helm of the Daniels College of Business, the new dean says higher education is due for a shakeup. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Boyd outlines what it takes to create an environment that sparks innovation—a quality that is key to her vision for Daniels. Plus, she explains how a leader should listen to a diverse group stakeholders—and how to know when it's time to stop listening and take action. Table of contents • 2:13 Transitioning from arts to academia • 3:43 The aftermath of breaking glass ceilings • 5:51 Servant leadership in higher ed • 6:58 Keeping everyone happy • 8:55 How much listening is too much? • 10:20 Goals for Daniels • 12:24 "Disrupting" in a supportive way • 14:21 Teaching students to deal with disruption • 15:23 What should people expect from you as dean? • 16:45 Life outside the office • 17:58 "This is where I am." • 19:38 Show notes and credits

Through his 30 years of experience in the cable industry, Shane Portfolio has come to realize that the "C" in C-suite stands for "culture." After serving in the U.S. Army, Portfolio rose through the corporate ranks—from the Comcast call center to senior-level leadership. Along the way, he discovered that winning teams are diverse teams. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Portfolio lists the soft skills needed to support a team that is bought in and ready to produce high-quality work. He also discusses his commitment to lifelong learning, the future of the cable industry and his new role as chief technology officer at Congruex. Table of contents • 1:03 The key to climbing the org chart • 3:17 Enabling your organization to thrive • 4:24 The moment that changed Shane's leadership journey • 6:29 A dissertation on diversity • 9:25 "Culture is defined by the worst behavior you're willing to accept." • 10:55 "The best leaders are lifetime learners" • 13:01 Knowing when it's time to leave • 15:17 Leaving your professional comfort zone • 16:38 The next frontier of the cable industry • 19:30 Be vulnerable, build trust • 20:32 Show notes and credits

This is a special edition of the VOE Podcast, recapping the Daniels College of Business signature speaker event: "Voices of Experience: Denver’s AI Future." That discussion explored the future of AI in Denver, where city and county leaders shared how emerging technologies are already aiding residents in the Mile High City. They discussed includes things like immigration and asylum, housing, permitting, infrastructure, workforce development and the economy. It took place on Monday, May 20, on the University of Denver’s campus and was moderated by Dean Vivek Choudhury. Table of contents • 1:05 Why is Denver using AI? • 3:13 Data vs. Information • 3:45 How the city is already using AI • 5:18 Time saving in permitting • 6:27 Meet Sunny, the AI chatbot • 8:17 Dream big about the future • 10:33 AI in healthcare • 11:07 Denver's predictive analytics • 12:31 Preparing for an AI future • 15:18 Show notes and credits

This is a special edition of the VOE Podcast, designed to serve as a primer for our next in-person speaker series: "Voices of Experience: Denver’s AI Future." That discussion will cover the future of AI through a Denver-centric lens. City and county leaders will share how they're using emerging technologies to address the most pressing issues in the Mile High City. That includes things like immigration, housing, infrastructure, workforce development and the economy. Register now for that free event, which takes place on Monday, May 20, at 6 p.m. in Community Commons on the University of Denver’s campus. Table of contents • 1:24 The early days of AI • 2:17 Star Trek holograms and a computer being • 2:45 The expansion of AI • 4:52 Assist, augment and automate • 6:39 Uncommon AI applications • 8:02 "A different way of computing" • 9:34 Predicting the AI future • 11:33 ChatGPT asks a question • 14:24 How to learn more about AI • 15:19 Show notes and credits

In just their second season, the NHL's Seattle Kraken put together a solid record, made the playoffs and even won their first-round playoff series. But during an 82-game pro hockey season, losses are inevitable—which means teams need to find ways to send their fans home happy, even when the customer may not be satisfied with the on-ice result. Sam Holloway (MA 2007, MBA 2012), the co-owner and co-chair of the Kraken, is working to build a fanbase, create a winning culture and center the team's off-ice values. Holloway joined the Voices of Experience podcast to talk about building a brand, whether winning cures all and how to separate the emotions of being a fan from the pragmatism of being a business owner. Table of contents • 1:42 The sports industry vs. others • 2:30 Building a fanbase in Seattle • 4:09 What it means to be "customer obsessed" • 5:33 Delivering a good experience during a loss • 7:48 "Stick to sports?" • 9:42 From psychology to business • 11:12 Using "context switching" to balance priorities • 14:11 Returning for an MBA • 16:29 Separating emotions from business decisions • 17:55 Tactics for hard conversations • 19:00 Are you on the hot seat? • 19:45 Advice from other owners • 20:57 "Your career is a journey" • 21:56 Show notes and credits

If you’re distilling Mary Beth Cote-Jenssen’s career into three words, they’d be sustainability, water and partnership. As a global water stewardship executive at PepsiCo, she knows the importance of bringing people together to tackle a global issue. Her career North Star has been creating access for water, and that has followed her to roles at Keurig, global non-profit Water for People, and now PepsiCo. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, the Daniels alumna shares how water access is being addressed on the global stage, gives a few keys to build strong partnerships and details how your personal and professional lives are more intertwined than you might realize. Table of contents • 1:21 An entryway into sustainability and water • 3:20 How PepsiCo approaches water stewardship • 6:42 Partnering with your competition • 8:33 Bringing the public and private sector together • 10:41 "We bought a motorhome" • 15:16 Lifelong friendships at Daniels • 17:50 How to conduct business globally • 22:20 An intertwined personal and professional life • 24:44 Show notes and credits

Artificial intelligence is entering the business world, welcome or not. Binh Diep (MBA 2012), general manager at Slalom, a consulting firm, is doing his best to prepare his company and his clients for the future. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Diep explains how Slalom is taking a "human-centered approach" to the new technology and discusses how he sees AI shaping the consulting business. Plus, he offers his top piece of advice for building a relationship while networking. Table of contents • 1:09 Aligning values and organization • 3:16 Creating a culture like Slalom's • 6:01 "Let's thrive in turbulence together" • 7:42 Maintaining culture through layoffs • 10:22 What's next at Slalom? • 11:58 "Human-machine collaboration" and AI • 14:02 How AI might change consulting • 15:30 The most important skills for an AI workplace • 16:13 From engineering to business • 21:02 How to build a relationship • 21:02 Show notes and credits

After spending time at Amazon and Meta (formerly Facebook), Stephen Newton knows what a visionary leader looks like. Jeff Bezos and Mark Zuckerberg certainly fit the bill. Now, Newton is looking to back the next generation of these leaders at his technology-focused investment firm Occipital Ventures. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Newton shares how he helped Amazon and Facebook stay in compliance with data protection and privacy laws, and out of the news. We also talked about what makes a visionary leader, the future of AI in business and why you should rock the boat at your job. 1:12 Making an impact at a big company 5:08 Staying in compliance and out of the news 7:45 Trust and science in tech 8:38 Switching to the investor side of the table 10:15 Investing in the visionary and what defines one 14:04 Why AI is crucial to Stephen's investments and personal life 16:58 Using AI for good 20:35 "Rock the boat" 24:02 Show notes and credits

It's 2008. The economy is taking a nosedive. The government is bailing out the country's top mortgage lenders. And Doug Duncan walks into a new job at Fannie Mae. The ship has steadied over the past 15 years and Duncan, the senior vice president and chief economist, has kept his core values intact: good communication, a commitment to the truth, and a willingness to make decisions. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Duncan relays how he makes predictions (knowing full well he could get it wrong), his best advice for clear communication and the "big breaks" that put him where he is today. Table of contents • 1:04 From dairy farm to chief economist • 2:55 Joining Fannie Mae in 2008 • 6:24 Getting to "The Truth" • 9:48 Making predictions and getting it wrong • 10:59 Most important lesson in leadership • 12:29 What to expect from the housing market • 16:09 "Big breaks" in Doug's career • 19:13 The importance of communication • 21:02 Show notes and credits

Staring down a surprise $26,000 bill after his first semester in college, Terrence Cummings was certain his dream of higher education was dashed. He persevered, using that experience as his career North Star. Now his goal is to ensure that money alone isn't the reason people can't return to school. Cummings is the chief opportunity officer at Denver educational technology unicorn Guild, a career opportunity platform that is building a "future of work that works for everyone." On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Cummings details the journey that took him from dreaming about film production to helping millions of Americans progress in their jobs. He also shares how a chance encounter involving burgers and fries helped flip his own career. Table of Contents 0:59: A fake scholarship and a real $26,000 bill 3:16: Ensuring that others don't face that same nightmare 4:10: How to create a "culture of mobility" 6:27: The role of storytelling in career progression 7:36: Hamburgers and leadership lessons 12:50: How to remove luck from career and personal growth 17:21: Attributes of a good coach 18:27: "I would break the cycle of poverty in my family" 21:20: Show notes and credits

Chris Dawson says he's always been attracted to big challenges—and he certainly found one when he became CEO of Arcimoto earlier this year. The Oregon-based electric vehicle company was floundering: its worth had plummeted, production was at a halt and the staff was reeling from layoffs. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Dawson describes his approach to turning around a struggling organization, including his decisions to make deep cuts and how he regained the trust of those who kept their jobs. Plus, he explains how his leadership style shifted to one of implicit trust and weighs in on the future of the electric vehicle industry. Table of contents • 1:01 "Right-sized" electric vehicles • 3:37 Using "fun" to sell a greener future • 8:22 The future of the electric vehicle industry • 10:53 Taking the helm at a challenging time • 13:31 Cutting staff and regaining trust • Leading with "implicit trust" • 21:11 "Decide it is possible. Make it so." • Show notes and credits