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Data Analyst Consultant, CapTech听

It can be intimidating to make the jump from newly minted college graduate to full-time student in a master鈥檚 program.听

Wes Weber is not easily intimidated. That鈥檚 one of the lesser-discussed advantages of chasing after a full-grown buffalo during home football games.听

Wes is part of the Ralphie handler program. He and his fellow student-athletes lead the university鈥檚 live mascot onto the field before and during home football games, while also helping care for the animal when she鈥檚 out of the spotlight. It鈥檚 an obvious physical challenge to keep up with Ralphie, but the program also teaches plenty of intangibles鈥攍eadership, communication, improvisation, resilience鈥攖hat translate in the boardroom.听

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e in the public eye like this, you learn to focus and perform under pressure,鈥� Wes said. 鈥淲hen I walk in the room鈥攚hether in class or an interview鈥擨 know I can hold my own, and feel like I belong there.鈥�

Chasing the dream鈥攍iterally

The pandemic put an asterisk on his time as a handler, though, so when the opportunity to run for a fifth year as a master鈥檚 student presented itself, Wes put his professional career on hold to literally chase the dream one more time.听

There aren鈥檛 many graduate students who are part of the program, so Wes is able to offer perspective that his younger teammates may not have.听

鈥淚鈥檝e learned how to earn respect from people, while also teaching and being a good teammate鈥攁nd that is a huge part of being a professional, the ability to lead and listen,鈥� he said.听

Learning to listen, in particular, has been a skill he鈥檚 developed as a graduate student. Wes said he鈥檚 fortunate enough to be attending classes with professionals who are bringing years of experience to classroom discussions, which gives him invaluable perspective on changes in business analytics.听

鈥淚 don鈥檛 have the tangible workplace stories鈥濃�攖hough he does have multiple internships, at Ball and Hi There Solutions鈥斺�渂ut I do have the confidence and curiosity to engage in the conversation. Taking part in those discussions and learning from others is my job as a student.鈥�

Wes came to CU because of the Ralphie program鈥攈is first memory of seeing Ralphie run was as a 10-year-old, attending a Buffs game with his father鈥攂ut he鈥檚 stuck around for an extra year because he appreciates the value of the intangible skills he cultivated as an undergrad.听

鈥淵ou walk out of Leeds feeling prepared for anything,鈥� Wes said. 鈥淢y professors have given me the confidence and preparedness to help me feel I can do this. And it goes hand in hand with the Ralphie program of being a leader, being able to use my voice and believing in myself to get the job done, whatever it may be.鈥�

More Faces of Leeds听 M.S. Business Analytics听