Voices of Experience

Innovating the Museum Model

Dioramas just don't cut it anymore for museums that want to keep new generations of kids interested in their collections. Instead, George Saunders has steered the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in a direction that has kept the 125-year-old institution relevant, in an age when almost anything in the world can be seen on a computer screen.On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Saunders explains how his industry has changed—and how he's developed the mindset to make it happen. Table of Contents: 1:14 Life-changing executive coaching • 2:32 Creating the "10-year plan" • 3:14 "It's not just about making money" • 4:22 Developing a strong moral compass • 5:25 What people don't realize about museums • 7:07 Surviving COVID-19 • 9:56 Today's challenges for museums • 15:42 The career "identity crisis" • 18:10 Developing an innovative workforce • 19:41 What if you were an executive coach? • 21:35 Rebuilding community • 13:08 Show notes and credits

Inside Summit FC’s Denver Launch

When it comes to running a sports franchise, wins and losses only tell part of the story. The business side has its own scoreboard, and that is where Jen Millet thrives. She's a seasoned sports executive and now the president of the newest National Women’s Soccer League team, Denver Summit FC. Jen arrives in Denver fresh off helping launch another NWSL franchise, Bay FC, and after leading marketing for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. Her next challenge? Bringing professional women’s sports back to the Mile High City for the first time in nearly three decades. On this episode of Voices of Experience podcast, Jen shares her goals for Summit FC both on and off the pitch, her vision for the club’s inaugural match at Mile High Stadium and what she sees on the horizon for women’s professional sports in Denver. Table of Contents • 1:11 Building a franchise from scratch • 3:54 Why community drives early momentum • 5:31 The decision to play at Mile High Stadium • 6:37 What’s next for women’s sports in Denver • 8:53 Don’t underestimate your audience • 10:50 How Jen defines success off the pitch • 14:25 Turning season tickets into real membership • 18:29 Leading through wins, losses, and chaos • 24:10 Supporting working parents at work • 27:05 Show notes and credits

Surviving the Shark Tank

There's what happens on Shark Tank—and what happens after an appearance on Shark Tank. In an episode that aired last March, Chennelle Diong (MBA 2022) pitched her frozen, gluten-free, ready-to-bake biscuits and cinnamon rolls to a group of steely investors. Her savvy netted an investment from Lori Greiner, and an avalanche of orders that felt impossible to dig out from under. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Chennelle explains the ups and downs that came with her national TV success and how she is rediscovering her identity in the startup space. Table of Contents • 1:44 How did you end up on Shark Tank? • 3:17 Countering the "Queen of QVC" • 5:26 The aftermath • 7:57 A vulnerable social media post • 10:32 Fundamentally changing identity • 12:43 Getting back to her roots • 16:31 "The entrepreneurial road is not for everyone" • 17:36 The benefits of an MBA • 20:53 "Nothing takes the place of experience" • 21:59 Show notes and credits

How to Learn (and Lead) with AI

Depending on who you talk to or what you read, you might think you missed the boat on learning how to use AI. But Nick Machol disagrees. On this episode, he shares his must-have tools, whether the future of AI is boom or doom and how humans fit into that equation. Table of Contents • 2:52 Boom, doom, or somewhere in between? • 4:20 The AI tools Machol uses every day • 6:09 Don’t get married to your tools • 7:23 Inside the Devil’s Advocate GPT • 9:40 Crawling, walking and running with AI • 14:45 Truth, trust and the AI content dilemma • 16:23 Why human speed is strategy • 18:32 The MAFO mindset: Mess Around and Find Out • 22:30 Advice and show notes

Teaching in the Age of AI: A Conversation with Professors Aaron Duncan & Michael ...

In this episode of the Entrepreneurship@DU Podcast, host Joshua Ross sits down with DU professors Michael Myers and Aaron Duncan to discuss how artificial intelligence is reshaping higher education. Together, they explore how AI is transforming the way students learn, faculty teach, and universities prepare graduates for an evolving workforce.  The conversation dives into creating psychological safety in the classroom, integrating AI, and the importance of collaboration between students and educators. Myers and Duncan share how they are rethinking assignments, assessment, and engagement to help students build curiosity, adaptability, and critical thinking skills in an AI-driven world.