Coffee is one of the few things that needs no introduction. Across cultures, backgrounds, and time zones, it is part of millions of people’s morning routines, it’s the quiet constant that helps them get through long days of work, and the backdrop to conversations that might otherwise never happen. And more often than not, the place where people drink it matters just as much as what is in the cup.  Read more

From livestream storefronts in TikTok to high-growth tech startups, Vietnamese business leaders are not waiting for permission to build. In the first half of 2025 alone, TikTok Shop’s gross merchandise value in Vietnam surged by 148% year-over-year, supported by more than 266,000 revenue-generating sellers. Many of them are young adults launching fashion, beauty, and lifestyle brands with no more than a smartphone, consistency, and high digital literacy.  Read more

Clinton Hughey MBA ’25 grew up in Nashville, Tennessee. ‘Music City’ left him with a fundamental love of music and nature. Nights spent camping beneath open skies lead Hughey to a revelation. “I realized at a very young age that this world is precious, and we need to protect it.” Food also found its way into his heart. Hughey worked in many restaurants, but even before that, he saw food as a unique art form.  Read more

As the fall semester comes to a close, CU Denver Business School is proud to celebrate five outstanding graduates. Spanning a range of fields, this notable group has not only succeeded within the classroom but also championed their passions in their communities. From discovering spaces for diverse voices to conquering healthcare hurdles, business will continue to be a force for good in the compassionate and capable hands of this class.  Read more

When people are young, their dreams often feel certain and clearly defined. They imagine careers that fit neatly within what they know at the time — teacher, doctor, engineer, astronaut, something they can picture. Yet life has a way of revealing other paths. For Tasnim Ahmad ’21, MBA ’26, that moment of realization came when she reconsidered her long-sought passion to serve in healthcare.  Read more

The road to leadership rarely comes with a clear map. For Kelly Mackey MBA ’08 Chief Financial Officer at RTD, it started with curiosity and a quiet determination to figure things out one step at a time. As a first-generation college student and a woman navigating fast-moving and often male-dominated spaces, she discovered early that growth comes from movement, whether it is through staying open-minded, asking questions, or finding confidence in the process of learning.  Read more

Even as a kid, Curtis Crawford MBA ’13 knew he wanted to shoot for the stars. He wanted to be an astronaut and even attended space camp one year. As he grew up and his head settled back below the clouds. Crawford became interested in travel agency work, seeking a way to satisfy his urge to explore. “I think what those two jobs have in common is ‘going far.’ I wanted to go far, see stuff, and do stuff.”  Read more