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CU Real Estate Forum Offers First Look at Sundance Film Festival in Boulder

Kelsey Cipolla — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 14:43:58 +0000

CU Real Estate Forum Offers First Look at Sundance Film Festival in Boulder Kelsey Cipolla Fri, 03/13/2026 - 08:43

Kelsey Cipolla • Photos by Nathan Thompson

Ebs Burnough, chair of the Sundance Institute’s Board of Trustees, and Paula DuPré Pesmen, managing director of Sundance Film Festival Relocation, joined John Tayer, president and CEO of the Boulder Chamber, for a conversation on the festival's impact on Colorado.

Boulder stepped into the spotlight, getting an early preview of the 2027 Sundance Film Festival during the 2026 CU Real Estate Forum.

The forum, hosted by the Leeds School of Business Michael A. Klump Center for Real Estate on March 5, featured a fireside chat with Ebs Burnough, chair of the Sundance Institute’s Board of Trustees, and Paula DuPré Pesmen, managing director of Sundance Film Festival Relocation.

An economic and cultural shift

In a discussion moderated by John Tayer, president and CEO of the Boulder Chamber, the panel detailed the festival’s 2027 move and its projected impact on the local economy. Burnough estimated the festival had a state economic impact of $156 to $195 million in recent years.

“I have no doubt that it should be equal, if not more, especially as we grow the audience base,” Burnough said, citing Boulder’s size and ease of access compared to Park City, Utah.

Addressing 400 commercial real estate professionals and Leeds students, Burnough said the city should expect a surge in seasonal staff when the festival runs from Jan. 21-31, 2027. Organizers also project that as many as 80,000 visitors will flock to Boulder.

Burnough emphasized that while workforce, transportation and lodging needs and development will evolve, the move involves more than just a 10-day event. The Sundance Institute—the nonprofit that provides year-round support for storytellers—will also be showing up throughout Colorado.

“We have to figure out what long-term sustainability and synergy between the city, state, business and the institute are,” Burnough said.

One of the ways Boulder’s business community can immediately get involved is through activations—brands and companies hosting events in local spaces during the festival. The Boulder Chamber launched the Sundance Film Festival Partner Hub, a site connecting organizations seeking space with available commercial properties across the city.

There are also opportunities for Colorado residents to enjoy the festival. DuPré Pesmen noted that in Utah, nearly 70% of attendees were state residents. She expects a similar trend in Colorado, where she’s lived for more than 30 years.

Chad Yoshinobu, principal and design director for Gensler, and Angela Loder, director and principal Researcher of Greening the City Consulting, discussed the neuroscience and design behind successful office spaces in the panel, "Why Place Matters: Rethinking the Role of the Office," moderated by Andrew Blaustein, executive managing director of Newmark.

“It is a treasure, and I know that our community will really embrace that and help this organization grow and thrive,” she said.

Industry and AI

The forum also explored trending topics such as rethinking the role of the office and how AI can solve real estate problems. Themes overlapped in surprising ways.

Panelist Chad Yoshinobu, principal and design director for Gensler, noted that as workplaces are designed with AI and automation in mind, “It’s going to get a little weird.”

Angela Loder, director and principal Researcher of Greening the City Consulting, said as AI takes on more mundane tasks, relationships and human creativity—and the spaces that facilitate them—become even more important.

“I think it’s so interesting that we started this session with Sundance, because movies and art remind us of what it means to be human,” Loder said.

Boulder stepped into the spotlight, getting an early preview of the 2027 Sundance Film Festival during the 2026 CU Real Estate Forum.

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Why Walkable Neighborhoods Aren’t Just About Distance

Kelsey Cipolla — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 19:08:43 +0000

Why Walkable Neighborhoods Aren’t Just About Distance Kelsey Cipolla Wed, 03/11/2026 - 13:08

New research finds that the experience of a walk plays a major role in whether people leave their cars behind.

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Tax Rules Are Changing: What to Know Before Filing in 2026

Kelsey Cipolla — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 16:57:06 +0000

Tax Rules Are Changing: What to Know Before Filing in 2026 Kelsey Cipolla Tue, 03/03/2026 - 09:57

Leeds tax expert Nicole Lazzeri explains how the new law changes deductions, credits and other tax rules.

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CU Real Estate Forum March 5 to Feature Sundance Institute Board Chair

Kelsey Cipolla — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:58:38 +0000

CU Real Estate Forum March 5 to Feature Sundance Institute Board Chair Kelsey Cipolla Wed, 02/18/2026 - 11:58

Ahead of a fireside chat at the 91��ý Real Estate Forum, Sundance Institute Board Chair Ebs Burnough discusses how the Sundance Film Festival’s move to Boulder will have ripple effects in business, development and real estate.

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‘Cash is Queen’: A Fireside Chat with Natalie Levy and Dean Vijay Khatri

Jane Majkiewicz — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 16:06:09 +0000

‘Cash is Queen’: A Fireside Chat with Natalie Levy and Dean Vijay Khatri Jane Majkiewicz Wed, 02/18/2026 - 09:06

Grace Garfoot

Author and entrepreneur Natalie Levy and Dean Vijay Khatri recently explored how leading with values can transform investing into a tool for empowerment.

On Feb. 12, Leeds Tandean Rustandy Endowed Dean Vijay Khatri sat down with author and investor Natalie Levy to discuss her book, Cash is Queen: A Conscious Journey in Angel Investing. The event, hosted by the New Venture Challenge in partnership with the Deming Center and the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative, quickly expanded beyond investing. Levy and Khatri explored values, boundaries, feminine energy and broader life lessons.

Khatri shared how his mother and grandmother shaped his relationship to money, making Levy’s stories about women in finance especially meaningful to him.

“I’m very grateful to be in this conversation with you,” he said. “There were parts of the book that made me audibly gasp, and I’m excited to share them with you.”

Energy as a guiding principle

Levy wrote her book after leaving Wall Street, shifting from a high-pressure career as a derivatives trader toward a life more aligned with her values. A central theme of her work is the idea that money, time and opportunity are all forms of energy. Acknowledging that transformed how she lives and invests.

“When investing, you have to ask yourself: What is the energy behind the business? Who are the people? What are they going to bring into the world?” she said.

She emphasized the importance of tapping into feminine energy, something she struggled to do in “the boys’ club” on Wall Street. Her title phrase “cash is queen” is a play on the more common version “cash is king."

This awareness led her to create She’s Independent, a women-first investment group centered on financial empowerment through investing and education.

“I’ve grown so much more in this feminine space. When you’re just in one energy space, to me that was sickness. If you just focus on one thing, are you alive?”

Experiencing loss of family members to suicide also propelled her to dig deeper into energy, grief and a purpose-driven life. “If you sit in that pain, with that darkness, it allows you to unlearn the projections and expectations of the world and figure out who you are.”

Your Values, Your Power

Author and investment firm founder Natalie Levy shared guiding principles for shaping a life of true wealth.

Set and maintain your boundaries.
Define your values and let them guide you.
Make time to rest.
Trust your intuition. It gets stronger the more you use it.
Don’t support companies whose values don’t align with yours.
Know that wealth is found in your health, community and how show up—not just money.
You have agency in your decisions and actions. Use it.

Investing in conscious capital

Levy’s trajectory moved her into “conscious capital,” which she defines as investing in companies that reflect the values you want to see in the world. But investing, she noted, is only one form of influence. Caring about ownership and personal connections is also important.

“What I will say as a woman: When you go through tough things, the opportunity is limitless. Having different people at the ownership table changes so much. The boardroom matters. Ownership matters.”

Levy noted that women control about 85% of consumer spending—something not to ignore. Women can use that power to either support or withhold support from companies.

Setting boundaries based on your values has a greater influence than you might realize, she emphasized. “If you don’t agree with what companies stand for, don’t shop there,” she said.

Author Natalie Levy and Dean Vijay Khatri recently explored how leading with values can transform investing into a tool for empowerment.

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Students Design ‘Warehouse of the Future’ at Leeds Sustainability Case Competition

Kelsey Cipolla — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:54:26 +0000

Students Design ‘Warehouse of the Future’ at Leeds Sustainability Case Competition Kelsey Cipolla Tue, 02/10/2026 - 13:54

Grace Garfoot , Photos by Nathan Thompson

Graduate students put their problem-solving skills to the test at this year's Leeds Sustainability Case Competition.

UCLA Anderson School of Management's Sustain Chain Solutions won first place, receiving $10,000.

Thirty-one teams from across the country converged at the Leeds School of Business on Jan. 31 to envision the "Warehouse of the Future."

Hosted by the Center for Ethics and Social Responsibility (CESR), the annual Leeds Sustainability Case Competition challenged graduate students to pitch sustainable business solutions to industry sponsor Iron Mountain.

Students were tasked with helping the digital and physical asset management company design sustainable, physical spaces to house information in an evolving technological landscape, taking into consideration legal, regulatory and reporting requirements.

The event provided a platform for teams from 91��ý, UCLA, University of California Berkeley, Duke University and other leading institutions to test their skills in a realistic business environment. Participants were tasked with designing sustainable warehouse concepts, which ranged from file digitization and embedded carbon in construction to using mycelium for insulation.

The winners of this year’s Leeds Sustainability Case Competition were:

First place: Sustain Chain Solutions, UCLA Anderson School of Management

Second place: Project Evergreen, University of Rochester Simon Business School

Third place: Lean Clean Consulting Machine, University of Rochester Simon Business School

Finalists: Savvy Sustainable Strategists, University of California, San Diego Rady School of Management; and Warehouse Grounds Group, University of Washington Foster School of Business

Beyond the competition

While the competition is a test of strategy, it also emphasizes the private sector's role in addressing global environmental challenges.

“The private sector is fundamental if we’re going to be meaningfully addressing climate change or biodiversity loss or any of the huge environmental issues that we are facing today,” said Alex Hamman, a Master's of the Environment student who competed on one of 91��ý’s teams. “We need to know how to dialogue with people who don't share the same educational background as us and still be able to find common ground.” 

In addition to pitching their ideas, students had the opportunity to network with peers, faculty and competition partners, including Janus Henderson Investors.

“We think it’s great to see what the next generation thinks about, cares about and to make sure that they’re coming in with this mindset of ‘business isn’t just about profits,’” said Demesha Hill, head of diversity and community relations at Janus Henderson Investors and president of the Janus Henderson Foundation. “You can make profits and you can also protect the environment. You can make profits and you can do it in a way that’s right for humanity.”

Kristi Ryujin, associate dean for graduate programs, noted that the competition aligns with the university's broader mission. "This case competition is just one example of the many hands-on experiences that CESR offers to students throughout the year to advance our business school’s vision of elevating business as a force for good in a rapidly changing world," Ryujin said.

"Here at 91��ý, sustainability is the number one priority for our chancellor, and it is a key priority here at Leeds."

Graduate students put their problem-solving skills to the test at this year's Leeds Sustainability Case Competition.

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After the Boom: Colorado Craft Beer Enters Its Next Chapter

Kelsey Cipolla — Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:47:31 +0000

After the Boom: Colorado Craft Beer Enters Its Next Chapter Kelsey Cipolla Tue, 02/10/2026 - 13:47

Colorado's craft beer scene is heading into a new phase. As growth slows, breweries focus on taprooms, community and authenticity.

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Can a Chatbot Make You Feel Less Lonely?

Kelsey Cipolla — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 23:16:20 +0000

Can a Chatbot Make You Feel Less Lonely? Kelsey Cipolla Mon, 02/09/2026 - 16:16

Information systems expert Jason Thatcher explores how emotionally intelligent chatbots could support users and why it’s important to design them with clear boundaries.

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91��ý Partners With Denver International Airport on New Travel Index

Kelsey Cipolla — Wed, 04 Feb 2026 21:08:52 +0000

91��ý Partners With Denver International Airport on New Travel Index Kelsey Cipolla Wed, 02/04/2026 - 14:08

Leeds' Business Research Division is partnering with Denver International Airport (DEN) to launch a new quarterly survey focused on how travelers across the region expect to fly in the months ahead.

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Why We Love Watching the Super Bowl Live

Kelsey Cipolla — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 22:31:29 +0000

Why We Love Watching the Super Bowl Live Kelsey Cipolla Tue, 02/03/2026 - 15:31

New research from Leeds Alix Barasch explains why real-time viewing creates a powerful sense of presence and connection.

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