Carrie Hackenberger is a rising star in the petroleum industry. Actually, if we’re going to use a metaphor from astronomy, it might be more accurate to call her rise “meteoric.” After completing her bachelor’s degree in 2013, Carrie worked in sales operations for an industrial automation firm for about three years before switching industries and joining the Colorado Petroleum Council (part of the American Petroleum Institute [API]).  Read more

Tim in his office. Tell us about your current position and what it entails. I’m an Associate Director in the Events and Logistics division serving the entire United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC). My team and I cover the logistics for events from everyday meetings to the actual Olympic, Paralympic, Youth Olympic, Pan American and Parapan American Games.  Read more

Shouldn’t I know what I want to be when I grow up by now?

Not really. But the first step is to stop waiting for your passion to arrive. Ask anyone to help you figure out what you should do with your life and there’s a good chance they’ll ask, “Well, what’s your passion?” Turns out, most people (8/10) answer the passion question with either “I don’t know” or “Which one should I start with?” So maybe the problem is the question.  Read more

President and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Kelly Brough (MBA ’89) has held some interesting jobs in her career, including human resources director for the City and County of Denver, chief of staff to former Mayor John Hickenlooper, and snowplow driver at Stapleton International Airport. Throughout her life, she has been a trailblazer: she was the first female to hold various positions—including her current title. As a child, Bough’s father was injured and then unemployed, leading her family to receive government assistance.  Read more

Charlotte Bockstahler, a CU Denver Business School alum and accomplished leader in the sports and entertainment industry, knew early on she had found the right career field. Charlotte started her career in sports while she was an undergraduate student at University of Colorado – Boulder. She got an internship in corporate sales at the Pepsi Center, where she worked for the Avalanche, the Nuggets, and the Mammoth. After she graduated with her bachelor’s degree, she joined the Kroenke team full-time with the newly formed Altitude Sports.  Read more

When Ryan Pocius enrolled in the Global Energy Management Program at the CU Denver Business School, he focused on a future in oil and gas finance. It was 2010, and oil prices were trending toward $100 a barrel; so, who could blame him? For the next 18 months, Ryan was immersed in the business of energy. His learning would include all energy sectors and encompass the regulations, global economics, technology, and geopolitics that affect how companies operate.  Read more

The Business School Alumni Network (BSAN) recently hosted the Summer Alumni Workshop: Averting (or Addressing) Burnout, facilitated by Maggie Graham, Assistant Director of Career and Professional Development for Business Career Connections (BCC). The event was a small, casual workshop for alumni over lunch, and participants were able to take an emotional intelligence (EQ) assessment and leave with knowledge and tools to protect against professional burnout. What is EQ and why should I care? Emotional intelligence (EQ) is your ability to be aware of, understand, and manage your emotions.  Read more