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

In a thick, well-loved, black sketchbook, Kirsten Benefiel keeps the lessons she's learned over her career as an executive. Benefiel's resume includes stops at Accenture, Newmont Mining, ViaWest and HSS, where she recently served as CEO. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Benefiel cracks open her notebook and shares her advice for stepping off the corporate ladder, communicating and selling a vision, navigating an unfamiliar industry, and the importance of the word "and" in leadership. Table of contents • 1:14 Using PR in a non-PR career • 3:02 Selling your ideas to your employees • 5:24 Becoming CEO in an unfamiliar industry • 9:05 It's lonely at the top • 11:14 The future of manned security • 12:26 Creating equity through Colorado Inclusive Economy • 14:49 Stepping off the corporate ladder • The power of "and" • 18:09 The entrepreneurial mindset—and what people forget about it • 23:08 Inside Kirsten's notebook • 26:13 "You can choose your own career" • 27:40 Show notes and credits

Lauren Guthrie wasn't much of a trekker or backpacker, but there she was, climbing 9,000 feet to reach the base camp at Mount Everest. The opportunity to join an all-Black team of climbers was too good to pass up—plus, it taught her valuable lessons about diversity in the corporate space. Guthrie is the vice president of global inclusion, diversity, equity and action (IDEA) and talent development at VF Corporation, the company behind big-name outdoor brands like The North Face and Smartwool. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, she explains what it takes to create DEI initiatives that work and how to practice DEI on a global scale. 1:16 Adding "action" to DEI • 4:26 From merchandising to the IDEA sphere • 10:24 DEI work at home • 12:19 "Global" DEI work vs. domestic DEI work • 15:50 What makes a DEI initiative work? • 19:04 Climbing Mount Everest • 22:06 Extending an "invitation to participate" • 26:06 The power of partner dancing • 28:36 "Don't be fearful of being expansive" • 30:00 Show notes and credits

Leigh Hitz is a strategic advisor in the hospitality industry that retired as CEO of Stout Street Hospitality in 2016. Hitz worked at Stout Street for nearly three decades, learning to manage all aspects of the hotel space, from the front of the house to the penthouse. In 2008, Hitz and her husband, James, established a scholarship fund for female students pursuing a hospitality degree at the University of Denver’s School Fritz Knoebel School of Hospitality Management. Table of Contents 1:04 How growing up in Aspen led to a hotel career 2:25 The changing tides of the hospitality industry 4:45 Building relationships first 8:48 Learning to become a leader 9:44 Differentiation in a competitive market 11:48 Rebranding a historic hotel 13:43 "If I had a crystal ball" 16:15 Scholarship for female students in the hospitality industry 18:21 Becoming one of the first female GMs 24:39 Show notes and credits

It was once the stuff of sci-fi stories, but in 2023 the metaverse is very real. Virtual reality, mixed reality and extended reality come together for an immersive experience that an increasing number of businesses are dipping their toes into. Colleen Reilly, senior vice president of business development for ImmersiveWorlds, explains how the metaverse works, how companies are putting it to use and what it means for the future. Table of Contents 1:10 What the heck is the metaverse? 2:16 "You could be wherever you want" 6:11 VR vs. AR vs. MR vs. XR 7:26 Metaverse in business 11:06 Trouble in (virtual) paradise? 12:23 The future of metaverse technology 15:43 Show notes and credits

Jodie Antypas (MBA 2005) didn't grow up playing video games. They weren't expressly forbidden in her house, but they also weren't encouraged. So, how does a non-gamer end up leading large teams at Nintendo and Electronic Arts (EA) in the consumer marketing space? Antypas isn't quite sure, but she's quickly become an expert in the field, using player data and consumer opinions to drive the past, present and future of the video game industry. Now, Antypas is walking down a new path that she couldn't predict. She's a newly published children's book author, taking an adapted bedtime story she told her daughters and repackaging it for the world to enjoy. The Daniels alumna joined the Voices of Experience Podcast to share how she ended up leading 100 person teams in the video game industry, what drove her to write her new book and why she's taking a leave from her current role. Table of Contents 1:10 A non-gamers journey to gaming 3:16 Deciding against law school for an MBA 8:03 "Games are constantly evolving" 12:54 From Pong to the modern era 15:06 Key management skills for large teams 17:35 Leveraging your objective mindset to lead 18:52 "I finally gave myself permission that I could take a break" 21:44 Pivoting to children's books 25:29 Be open to twists and turns 26:47 Show notes and credits

Watching George Floyd's murder on TV shook Rob Cohen to his core. He was well aware of racial injustices and inequities; he had already implemented diversity, equity and inclusion policies at IMA Financial Group, where he serves as chairman and CEO. But he realized he needed to step up to create even greater change. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Cohen explains the "listen, learn, then lead" approach he used in response, the best way for a company to build a healthy culture, how he juggles competing priorities and how he keeps things interesting, 34 years into a job. Table of Contents 1:14 "No Way in Hell" 3:02 Keeping it interesting after 34 years 6:15 Reacting to George Floyd's murder 8:59 Approaching DEI as a white person 12:34 What's next for DEI at IMA 14:47 Creating a good culture 20:34 Balancing life's "platter" 24:08 Attracting today's new, talented workers 27:54 "Write your dreams down" 29:54 Show notes and credits

When people think of philanthropy, they often think of wealth—but it doesn’t have to be that way. Alan Frosh (BA 2005, JD 2011, MBA 2020) calls himself a “next-generation philanthropist,” and he’s spreading the word about how to make an impact on a smaller budget. Frosh is co-owner of Denver’s Tattered Cover Book Store and the Denver market director at Notley Ventures, where he supports people, businesses and nonprofits striving for social change. On the Voices of Experience podcast, Frosh explains his philanthropic philosophy and how he’s rebuilding the community’s trust in Tattered Cover. Table of Contents 0:59 Three tours of DU-ty 2:57 A not-dirty or not-flirty 30th birthday 4:34 What is a "next generation philanthropist?" 6:28 Where to start your philanthropic journey 7:03 "American-style" philanthropy 8:42 Taking over at Tattered Cover 11:28 Rebuilding trust in Tattered Cover 15:27 How to support social change 16:57 Serving communities as an "outsider" 19:26 Keys to career success 22:18 Show notes and credits

With a lifetime spent in real estate and development, Chris Frampton has seen and built it all. From a bustling transit hub like Denver's Union Station to a village at an internationally known ski resort like Steamboat, Frampton has managed a variety of projects in his career as CEO of East West Partners. On the Voices of Experience podcast, Frampton shares the path that led him to a top Denver-based developer, his thoughts on the current state of the city and what the future of development may hold. Table of Contents: 0:57 Finding a solution 3:55 A commitment to quality 5:00 The changing real estate world, or not? 6:29 Creating a "pedestrian paradise" 8:10 A return to Denver's Downtown 11:25 Developing without gentrifying 13:27 The current state of Union Station 17:38 How East West thinks bigger 19:20 Maintaining employee trust 21:20 Sustainability and design trends 25:56 "Do great work" 27:20 Show notes and credits

She had a comfortable job with a six-figure salary in a familiar industry, but Taylor Iascone (MS 2017) wasn't happy with where she was. Her gut told her she needed to do more for herself—and for the environment. So Iascone changed course, moving to Denver to pursue a degree from the Burns School of Construction Management and a career in sustainability. As the senior ESG manager at Verdani Partners, she works with companies, investors to decarbonize the built environment. On the Voices of Experience podcast, Iascone reflects on the politicization of ESG, the future of sustainable building and finding the courage to change course. Table of Contents 1:14 What is ESG? 3:02 Changing careers 7:30 Refusing to settle 10:19 Working at Verdani Partners 11:31 The future of sustainable building 14:10 SEC regulations, preventing greenwashing 18:09 The politicization of ESG 20:45 Advice for starting over 23:13 Finding the right career 27:11 "Follow your instincts" 27:52 Show notes and credits

The first time the spotlight found Arjun Murti, he didn't like it very much. An analyst at Goldman Sachs, Murti (BSBA 1992) had made a bold—but ultimately correct—prediction about a "super spike" in the price of oil, and his career would never be the same. He shied from the limelight and finished his career in mostly private-facing roles. But now, he's raising his voice, hoping it can change the way the country talks about a transition away from fossil fuels. On the Voices of Experience podcast, Murti explains what the labels "clean" and "green" energy overlook, dissects the Inflation Reduction Act, and offers advice on starting a career and finding a mentor in the business world. Table of Contents: 1:47 From Cornell to DU 2:19 The "Super-Spiked" prediction and its aftermath 9:34 What's wrong with the energy transition discussion? 13:43 "Nothing is clean, green or brown." 15:45 Evaluating the Inflation Reduction Act 19:27 The importance of mentorship 21:14 Picking your career path 25:29 Choosing work-life balance 28:24 Show notes and credits

Steve Lucas Korn Ferry estimates that by 2030, 80 million high-skilled jobs will go unfilled globally. This means companies will have to compete for talent—more than they already are. Yet, the CEO of ICIMS says there's currently a lack of qualified employers. What does CEO Steve Lucas mean? And, what does he think companies should do to attract high-quality talent?  Steve Lucas joined the VOE Podcast to talk about talent acquisition and retention, and what ICIMS has to offer. With 25 years of leadership experience, Lucas has a strong message for fellow leaders, employees and students: Be curious.  The VOE Podcast is an extension of Voices of Experience, the signature speaker series at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business. Keep tuning in each month for more business insights from Daniels’ alumni voices of experience. Transcript: Kristal Griffith: Hello and welcome to the VOE Podcast, Nick Greenhalgh: An extension of Voices of Experience, Lorne Fultonberg: The signature speaker series at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business. Kristal Griffith: We’re your hosts, Kristal Griffith, Nick Greenhalgh: Nick Greenhalgh,  Lorne Fultonberg: And I’m Lorne Fultonberg from the Daniels Office of Communications and Marketing. Kristal Griffith: We’ll be unpacking topics at the intersection of business and the public good with CEOs and other business leaders from the Daniels community.­ Let’s dive in. Joining me today is Steve Lucas, CEO of iCIMS. Steve has extensive leadership experience in companies like Adobe, SAP and Salesforce. Before iCIMS, he was the CEO of Marketo. In his many leadership roles, he's been a great partner to the Daniels College of Business, consistently recruiting our students, providing feedback on curriculum and sponsoring student projects. If you’re not familiar with iCIMS, it’s a recruiting software, so we look forward to visiting with Steve about his perspectives on the labor crisis. Steve, welcome to the VOE Podcast. Steve Lucas: Oh, thank you. It's a pleasure to be here. Kristal Griffith: Let's start with your background. You have more than 25 years of leadership experience with cutting-edge software companies. Tell us about your journey to become the CEO of iCIMS. Steve Lucas: Every time I hear I've got more than 25 years of experience, I'm genuinely terrified. I don't recognize myself anymore. But yes, it's been fantastic, journey-wise. I started my career working for Microsoft and my title, which was a big deal, was demo rep. And so it was kind of the "Let's name the job, exactly what it is. Demo rep." And I demoed the heck out of software, but actually I demonstrated compelling Microsoft titles, like Microsoft Dogs and Encarta, which was a CD-based encyclopedia before the internet. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And so all these years later, now you're probably thinking, "How is this guy, a CEO." But I've always wanted to be a CEO. And I love software. I feel like I get paid to play baseball. It's just so fun. And for me, I'm a naturally curious per person and anytime I've been thrown into a situation, I've always wanted to understand more than just, "What's my job? How does it work? Why is it this way?" These are just the innate things that well up within me. And it turns out there is a really good job for that. It's called CEO. Kristal Griffith: That's terrific. Steve Lucas: And so my journey's been Microsoft. And then I worked with an amazing company, Crystal, which made Crystal Reports and then Business Objects, Salesforce, SAP. I jumped in as CEO of Marketo back in 2016. And I worked with a private equity firm, Vista Equity Partners, to take Marketo private, which we did for $1.6 billion. My job was to grow the company, improve it, build the software. And Adobe acquired the company 24 months after I started for about $5 billion. So we did a good job in terms of growing the company and returning equity to our shareholders.

Bryan Leach took an unorthodox path to becoming the founder and CEO of Denver-based Ibotta, beginning his career as a lawyer. After a lightbulb moment and swift career change, Leach has led the cashback technology company for a decade, guiding it to more than 40 million downloads and delivering over $1.1 billion in cash rewards to its users. And, with nearly 750 total employees, Ibotta has been named one of the fastest-growing companies in America by Inc. Magazine in each of the past four years. Leach joined the VOE Podcast to chat about his unique career path, what he's learned at the helm of Ibotta and where Denver stands as a technology hub. The VOE Podcast is an extension of Voices of Experience, the signature speaker series at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business. Keep tuning in each month for more business insights from Daniels’ alumni voices of experience. Transcript Nick Greenhalgh: Hello and welcome to the VOE Podcast, Kristal Griffith: An extension of Voices of Experience, Lorne Fultonberg: The signature speaker series at the University of Denver’s Daniels College of Business. Nick Greenhalgh: We’re your hosts, Nick Greenhalgh Kristal Griffith: Kristal Griffith Lorne Fultonberg: And I’m Lorne Fultonberg from the Daniels Office of Communications and Marketing. Nick Greenhalgh: We’ll be unpacking topics at the intersection of business and the public good with CEOs and other business leaders from the Daniels community.­ Let’s dive in. Nick Greenhalgh: As the founder and CEO of one Denver’s fastest-growing technology companies, the last two years have been a whirlwind for Bryan Leach. When Covid-19 struck, the longtime Ibotta leader organized weekly calls with area business leaders to discuss how they were navigating the choppy waters of a never before experienced pandemic. Now, after a decade at the helm of the cashback technology company, Leach joined the VOE podcast to share his wisdom on building culture at a fast-growing firm, how Ibotta attracts and retains key employees and what Denver needs to do to remain relevant as a tech hub. Welcome, Bryan, to the VOE Podcast. Bryan Leach: Thanks for having me. Nick Greenhalgh: Great to have you here. Before we sort of get into where Ibotta is today, I want to take a step back and talk a little bit about your background. You sort of have an unorthodox path to tech founder and CEO, with a full-fledged career in law, prior to landing at Ibotta. What led you away from law and into tech? Bryan Leach: I loved many aspects of being a lawyer. I thought it would be just like it was on television, like it was in A Few Good Men. It turned out that there were fewer fence line shootings in Cuba that I got to investigate and fewer cross examinations in swashbuckling form, and a little bit more research and writing. And I enjoy research and writing, but I'm really an extrovert, and I like interacting with people more often. And the trials were great, but they weren't very frequent, compared to the writing portion. So I started to sort of find entrepreneurial things to do within the law. So I started by helping to build an international arbitration practice at my firm, which meant dreaming up our different approach to international arbitration, going and learning about it, getting the credentials, traveling to conferences. And I realized that I was not super well suited for international arbitration when I went to a conference in Rio and I was the only person there who was monolingual. I was from a city that no one had really heard of in the international arbitration world, and a firm that really didn't do any of this work. I also realized that I was enjoying pitching my business so much more than practicing the actual business. So I would win the business, and then what I won was a chance to write 250 pages of briefs. So I realized that the sales element was actually what I loved, and that being a trial lawyer is really telling stories and s...