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As Madisen Medina (Mgmt, Fin, SRE’25) prepares to graduate, she steadfastly looks forward to a more sustainable future for all—one that she plans to help usher in through her own practices, ideas, dedication and work life. As she envisions her career path in designing circular, sustainable fashion, she’s confident that her Leeds education and engagement as a Sustainability Scholar with the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility have established a solid foundation from which she can stand out in the job market.

What led you to study at Leeds?
I think my path to Leeds was pretty nontraditional. I was a 2020 high school grad who, when COVID-19 hit, all of a sudden was scrambling for a “Plan B.” I was apprehensive about starting college during COVID, so I took a gap year with AmeriCorps (a yearlong service program). It was during that experience that I found a passion for business and the endless possibilities that exist within it. I specifically wanted to go to Leeds because of its location, reputation, and, most importantly, its Sustainability and Social Responsibility Track. Sustainability is something that doesn’t just impact a few, but everyone. Without a healthy planet, there is no business, no innovation and no life. Because of this, I am endlessly passionate about creating practices for change toward a more sustainable future for all.

What excites you most about Leeds?
I think that Leeds is unique in its approach to business. The school is innovative, entrepreneurial, and strives to steer students toward ethical business practices. I think introducing all business students to each area of emphasis creates more collaborative and empathetic, understanding employees, so I am excited to enter a career with this knowledge.

The Sustainability and Social Responsibility Track is a comprehensive approach to learning about corporate sustainability. I have been so impressed with my professors’ positive outlooks on the industry. Additionally, employers are always surprised that CU offers this track. I always get ‘I didn’t know schools offered that’ and ‘That is an awesome major.’ I think the specificity of this track and the projects I’ve done within classes really set me apart from other candidates.

Lastly, I am very excited about how well-connected Leeds is. There are connections and networking opportunities everywhere, and people in the industry are always willing to help students out or just talk to them. I’m learning all it takes is a ‘Hello!’ and that is really amazing.

What/who were impactful classes and professors?
I really loved my Sustainable Operations class with Teri Walters. She has such a beneficial and positive look on environmental sustainability. Keeping this positivity is the most critical part of moving forward and developing solutions that can save the planet. This is a class that I think anyone curious or passionate about��sustainability, or even operations, would find influential.

"Keeping this [attitude of] positivity is the most critical part of moving forward and developing solutions that can save the planet."

Madisen Medina (Mgmt, Fin’25)

Another class that has been impactful is Leading Diverse Organizations. This class has an empathetic approach to diversity and inclusivity within the workplace, something I am very passionate about. Even though I may have some personal bias, I think that this class should be required for all students, as it would give students the tools to help create inclusive workplaces for all.

What is something you’ve done that you are proud of?��
I am most proud of my gold-level Congressional Award. This honor is one I earned in AmeriCorps for my 1,500+ hours of community service and personal development. In earning this award, I had the opportunity to work for COVID-relief programs in 2020 and 2021, including contact tracing and working in vaccination centers for FEMA, which consisted of front-line public health work and 12-hour days. I am proud that I was able to tirelessly give to communities that were so often forgotten about. I also had the opportunity to branch out into industries I would have never otherwise worked in, like nonprofit construction.

I am proud of myself for being collaborative, learning new skills, and interacting with so many diverse groups. But most importantly, I am proud of the impact I was able to make on individuals who needed it most. I say this all the time, but service is a privilege. I am proud of myself for using my position to help others and create a lifelong passion for doing so.����

What is a skill that you possess that you can’t put on a resume?��
I am super crafty! I always have some sort of art, sewing or knitting project I am working on. I really like to either design things (usually clothes) from scratch and think about their construction or see things and recreate them myself. While I can’t necessarily put this skill on my resume, I still hope to use it in my career when designing a sustainable, circular fashion line.