Jesus Soto (Fin’26)
Faces of Leeds Snapshot
Commencement Reflections
The kind of impact I hope to make early in my career is helping great technology companies access the capital and strategic partnerships they need to scale, even if it starts with doing the behind-the-scenes analytical work that makes those decisions possible.
Looking back, I didn’t expect that building financial models and analyzing complex data would become one of my strengths.
A turning point for me in college happened when I was selected for the Excel Scholars Program, which made it possible for me to attend my dream school. It opened doors I hadn’t imagined and pushed me to make the most of every opportunity at Leeds.Ìý
College opened my eyes to how powerful entrepreneurial communities can be, and now it’s something I aim to prioritize wherever I live and work.
A Post-It note to with a guiding principle: Don’t be discouraged by conventional wisdom; most meaningful opportunities exist because others assume something can’t be done.Ìý
ÌýOne aspect of the Leeds experience that made a real difference for me was the entrepreneurial ecosystem, because it allowed me to build communities like the Boulder Venture Club and connect with founders, investors and operators who shaped how I think about building companies.Ìý