Q&A with Leslie

What does a typical day look like for you during the semester?
My degree is primarily online. Sometimes I’ll have to come to campus for testing and things like that, but, I do maintain a full-time job. I go to my 9 to 5 and then in the evenings, I’m able to handle my courses and homework. I do have balance work and school.

What has your journey at MSU Denver been like?
It’s been an adventure! I originally, came to MSU Denver fresh out of high school in 2009. There were things I didn’t know about myself and I didn’t have the tools to be successful. So I stopped going to school and did a lot of growing and I worked and started to build my professional career without my degree. But as I’ve grown and learned, I was able to find the tools to be successful and was able to come back to MSU in 2021. It’s been a great ride, but it has been an adventure.

What are you passionate about within business?
I am kind of a nerd! I’m passionate about data. I love data! I love the fact that we can ask questions and then find answers to those questions and make data driven decisions to operate effectively or to maximize opportunity.

What are your future career plans?
I already have an established career in the IT field, but after graduation, I intend to continue on my data management experience but actual focus more on project management within the IT world. I do plan to get my PMP after I get my bachelor’s and will continue to work in that field.

What clubs, organizations, or events have you enjoyed the most at MSU Denver? 
I am kind of a performer as well. I’ll be honest and say my favorite events are going to the recitals and student productions and just all of the different, activities at the King Center with all of our wonderful performers and students at MSU Denver.

What advice would you give to new business students?
Use your resources! Find all of the resources MSU Denver has to offer, overall they have incredible resources. To the extent of, Rowdy’s Corner, which is a food pantry, there’s sort of a thrift store situation happening. If things like that which support you outside of life, beyond that, within the College of Business, we have incredible tutors. Our professors are magnificent, and they will make time to guide us in whatever way we need to help us be successful. It’s just about us taking advantage of that. Something that I wish I knew when I started college. There is a way for you to learn effectively. There is an opportunity for you to have all of the success that you want. Just don’t get disenchanted before you find exactly what tools you need to be successful.

What’s something that you wish you knew before you started college?
Something that I wish I knew when I started college is that there is a way for you to learn effectively. There are opportunities for you to have all of the success that you want. Just don’t get disenchanted before you find exactly what tools you need to be successful. Take advantage of the resources available. Constant or continuous communication with your professors and other leaders is really important because they can help you identify tools that you’ll need to be successful. It’s going to go faster than you think, but it might take longer than you think. School is a lot. Learning and growing is an endeavor. But if you push through it and you keep going, it’s going to be worth it in the end. You will change as a person. You will grow as a person, and you’ll become the best person that you can be!

What’s your favorite thing about being part of the College of Business at MSU Denver?
My favorite thing is probably access to knowledge. I love learning and growing in all of the ways that I can. We have incredible faculty here in the College of Business at MSU Denver, and there are wonderful opportunities to see guest lecturers. The access to knowledge is incredible. It makes me really happy!