Facing Covid 19 - Insights for Uncertain Times | Leeds School of Business

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Facing Covid 19 - Insights for Uncertain Times

INsights for Uncertain Times

On Monday morning, March 30, the Leeds community opened an email announcing the school鈥檚 first COVID-19 webinar series. The university had just completed a rapid transition to remote learning and working. Amanda Kramer, Leeds鈥� alumni engagement program manager, went right to work on organizing COVID-19-related webinars featuring Leeds faculty and alumni. Her goal: broadly share relevant, informative insights for life during and after the pandemic from renowned experts and thought leaders. The popularity of the webinars sparked a cross-campus collaboration with schools and colleges across CU Boulder.

Over the following months, Kramer coordinated three additional webinar series with CU alumni and faculty presenters from Law; Media, Communication and Information; Engineering and Applied Science; Arts and Sciences; and Public Health. The commentary examined all sides of the pandemic, from the CARES Act, supply chain, and entrepreneurship to the importance of brands, virus epidemiology, airborne transmission, the impact on sports and more鈥攑roviding advice for uncertain times.

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Economic Forecasting
During COVID-19
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more valuable than ever. Typically, BRD conducts economic impact studies and research for businesses, governments and nonprofi ts, but within the fi rst few months of the pandemic, the BRD Executive Director Brian Lewandowski and Faculty Director Rich Wobbekind gave over 30 COVID-related economic presentations, primarily in Colorado. Tax revenue forecasting also became a focus of their work, as funds from sales taxes took a dramatic dip along with consumer spending during the lockdown. The Business Research Division is currently assisting multiple municipalities and public entities with revenue projections.

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Redefining Career Success During a Pandemic
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Leeds鈥� Office of Career Strategy shifted into high gear to help 2020 graduates facing the extremely volatile job market. In April, they collaborated with alumni and business partners to launch a mentorship program called Adopt a Business Buff to help graduating students find work. The Wall Street Journal featured the program, which garnered interest from large and small companies alike.

The career strategy team also supported current students with a Micro-Internship program, which allows them to build skills and explore careers through short-term, paid professional projects. They partnered with CU Boulder on the fi rst all-campus virtual micro internship fair, hosted a variety of virtual events, and held more than 550 online industry coaching appointments.

Published: Oct. 1, 2020