Learn, Grow, and Evolve with BEN at Denver Startup Week

Building a successful organization requires more than just good ideas and hard work. It takes strong, dynamic leadership to take your vision into reality and guide your organization through every stage of growth. 

As your business grows and evolves, leading with transparency and a commitment to continuous improvement becomes essential for building a strong, resilient, motivated team, a necessity to drive your organization forward.  

In just a few weeks, as part of the much anticipated Denver Startup Week,  we are excited to be hosting two enlightening panel-style sessions where our entrepreneurs and advisors will be sharing their expertise on these crucial aspects of leadership. 

These panels are designed to equip Colorado’s entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge they need to build, motivate, and lead their teams through the complexities that today’s modern businesses face, while maintaining authenticity and appropriate vulnerability with their teams. 

Throughout these sessions, our entrepreneurs and advisors will pull back the curtain and give a glimpse into their own business journeys and the challenges they’ve overcome. Whether you’re a seasoned leader or someone who’s just starting their first business, you’ll leave with actionable insights and the inspiration to be the best leader you can be. 

Here’s an in-depth look at the panel discussions we are hosting.

Evolving as a Leader

Panel Date/Time: Wednesday, September 18th at 12:00pm
Location: Jake Jabs Center at CU Denver
Track: Grow

Description: Join the Bridge Entrepreneurs Network and Denver Economic Development and Opportunity for an illuminating panel focused on the transformative power of mentorship in leadership. Hear from both BEN Advisors and Denver ScaleUp Network Entrepreneurs as they share strategies to nurture and develop the next generation of leaders within your organizations. Learn about the crucial role of continuous learning and personal development in staying ahead and evolving as a leader.

Meet the Panelists:

• Lisa Pedersen - Lisa is one of our most engaged BEN Advisors and has guest-facilitated DenSUN sessions two years in a row.  She specializes in leadership coaching and organizational development and is committed to helping clients align with their core values, encouraging them to dig deep and take purposeful action. Lisa's approach empowers leaders to maximize their impact on their work, relationships, and the world.

• Cedric Lipsey - Cedric was in our 2023 Denver ScaleUp Network Cohort, and we were impressed with his ability to embrace feedback and enhance his leadership skills. He has attended every BEN event he’s been invited to, showcasing his enthusiasm and engagement within the network. He has a strong background in sales and financial strategy. As the Founder and CEO of Clusivi, Cedric leverages his expertise and energy to forge enterprise-level partnerships that deliver profitable, win-win outcomes. His passion for entrepreneurship is matched by his commitment to driving social progress. 

• Kristin Taylor - Kristin is a dynamic force within our 2024 Spring Denver ScaleUp Network Cohort. As the Co-Founder of Mom Juice, a company experiencing significant growth, Kristin’s journey has been one of transformation and success. She created Mom Juice to celebrate the everyday victories of women and mothers. With a big, fun personality, Kristin excels in public speaking and thinking on her feet. Her leadership is rooted in authenticity, fostering environments where women can connect and support each other.

• Scott Walker (Moderator) - Scott is a creative problem solver who enjoys helping ambitious organizations tackle complex challenges. He has fifteen years of executive leadership experience scaling up two very different, world-class organizations. The first was Accuvant (now Optiv), an information security provider he co-founded and helped grow to over 500 employees and $500 million in revenue. Accuvant peaked at #220 on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest growing companies and has since become the world’s largest cyber solutions provider. The second was DSST Public schools, a regional charter school network that during his tenure as COO doubled in size to serve over 6,000 students and won the 2018 Broad Prize honoring the best large charter school network in the US.

Register to attend ‘Evolving as a Leader’ here.

Embracing Vulnerability and Transparency 

Panel Date/Time: September 19th at 9:00am

Location: Jake Jabs Center at CU Denver

Track: Grow

Description: In the high-speed world of entrepreneurship, authentic leadership is your secret weapon. Join Bridge Entrepreneurs Network Advisors and top Colorado entrepreneurs as they delve into how authenticity, vulnerability, and transparency can transform your leadership style. Discover how these qualities can build trust, inspire your team, and create a thriving work culture. Don’t miss this chance to elevate your leadership game!

Meet the Panelists:

• Joel Morrow - Joel is a rockstar in our Denver ScaleUp Network Spring Cohort. He is a four-time Inc. 5000 CEO as well as the CEO of Prana Pets, a leading pet health and wellness company. We’ve been impressed by his openness to feedback, resilience during difficult times and his ability to lead with authenticity and poise.

• Adam Oliver - Adam is seven months into BEN’s Signature Program and is a highly engaged member of the BEN community. Currently, he is offering his services to a Denver ScaleUp Network entrepreneur and is a strong advocate for transparency in both his workplace and within the small group of BEN Advisors he collaborates with. Adam also participates in a bi-weekly BEN Den led by Scott Walker.

• Kendra Prospero - Kendra is the CEO and Founder of Turning the Corner HR and has served as a BEN Advisor for seven years. She possesses a unique ability to help companies create safe environments that foster transparency and vulnerability, leading to creative, motivated, and highly collaborative teams. Kendra understands the economic impact of having misaligned and uninspired employees on a company. She brings an incredible level of compassion and honesty to every conversation and is widely recognized in the Denver community as a top female leader.

• Chapelle Ryon - Chapelle started the Signature Program in November 2023 and also joined a BEN Den with Scott Walker. Her journey has required an incredible amount of vulnerability and transparency, which ultimately strengthened her position at WorkBright. She remains a strong advocate for workplace transparency and sincere leadership.

• Greg Greenwood (Moderator) - Greg is a veteran Coloradan entrepreneur, who has founded companies in various sectors, including technology, manufacturing, distribution, motorsports, retail, services and non-profit. Most notably, in 1999, he founded comCables, a network infrastructure manufacturer and low voltage distributor, which he sold in 2013 to the Audax Group. He is the former CEO of BEN Colorado and the founder and former interim CEO of Colorado Thought Leaders Forum. Greg currently serves as CEO of nonprofit organization Wish for Wheels.

Register to attend ‘Embracing Vulnerability and Transparency’ here.

We hope to see you at one (or both) of these insight-packed sessions! 

Denver Startup Week is a free annual celebration of Denver’s bustling entrepreneurial ecosystem. It’s a days-long event featuring workshops, panels, discussions, and more to help Denver’s entrepreneurs learn, grow, and scale. This year’s event will feature four functional tracks for entrepreneurs to choose from or mix and match the sessions they’d like to attend. We’ll see you there!