Voices of Experience

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