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

For the first time, four generations are working side by side — a modern-day renaissance of values, vision, and communication. From World War II to 9/11, the first moon landing to our first black president, each generation carries priorities shaped by decades of unique interactions, crises, and recoveries. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Millennials make up 36% of the U.S.  Read more

Higher education is often the vehicle to pursue a dream job and a brighter future. College also provides key networking and personal development opportunities rarely found elsewhere. However, rising costs can make college less accessible. The CU Denver Business School is proud to support students from diverse backgrounds, alleviating financial burdens through scholarships.  Read more

At the annual 2025 Economic Forecast event, featuring Ellen Zentner ’95, Morgan Stanley’s Chief Economic Strategist, and Kate Watkins, Colorado State Demographer, one peculiar data point stood out: the Tooth Fairy is paying less. That surprising stat became a powerful baseline for a deeper discussion about shifting financial behaviour, demographic transitions, and the quiet but imminent redefinition of work itself.  Read more

College affordability may not be a buzzword phrase anymore, but the staggering gap between students and the cost of college is still on the rise. In 2023, 92% of students were worried they wouldn’t be able to pay for another semester of school. A study by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators found that nearly half of the 2,000 colleges examined were only affordable for students coming from families with an annual income of over $160,000.  Read more

What if business wasn’t just about profit, but about purpose? For Christian Andrade, MBA ’21, that’s never been hypothetical. This principle has guided every chapter of his journey, from educating clients in the banking world to leading strategic communications for the Colorado Department of Corrections (CDOC) and helping nearly 20 family members build new lives in the US.  Read more

The end of tax season means finances and the economy are on everyone’s mind, but have you ever considered economic inequalities? Currently, women and people of color have less access to the economy. Despite social advances that mean women don’t need to marry, married women are richer than their single counterparts. Many barriers prevent equal access to the economy, and to analyze these barriers, and how to overcome them, Danielle Shoots, ‘08, and Councilwoman Shontel Lewis joined CU Denver’s Empowering Women in Business course to host an open discussion.   Read more