Snapshots

Garmai Matthew (MBA’25, Chin’20)

Jane Majkiewicz — Tue, 19 May 2026 19:33:56 +0000

Garmai Matthew (MBA’25, Chin’20) Jane Majkiewicz Tue, 05/19/2026 - 13:33

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Garmai Matthew
Majors: Hybrid MBA, Chinese Language and Literature

Garmai Matthew (MBA’25, Chin’20) says people are often surprised by how deeply connected she is to the history of streetwear—not just as a consumer, but as a cultural archivist. Growing up studying the brands that shaped early-2000s streetwear inspired her startup, The Swap, a streetwear rental brand.

“They’re also surprised by how much of my entrepreneurial drive comes from my Liberian heritage—the creativity, the resourcefulness, the community‑centered mindset. It all shows up in how I build,” she said.

Matthew studied Mandarin as an undergraduate and traveled to China through a global seminar, visiting Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Suzhou. The experience deepened her passion for sustainable fashion.

“I studied up-and-coming designers at Hebei Normal University and learned the zero-waste method, where designers use every ounce of fabric in the design process. My first venture, Guwala da Nele, was inspired by that. In 2017, I won a New Venture Challenge grant to travel to Liberia and produce 50 garments with local tailors using the zero-waste method.”

Leeds caught up with Matthew to learn more about her journey since graduating in 2025.

How have you continued to evolve The Swap since earning your MBA, and what’s been the most exciting shift so far?

The biggest evolution has been transforming The Swap from a local streetwear rental concept into a regionally curated, culture‑driven platform. We introduced regional boxes—West Coast Cool, Mile High Hype, and Custom Coast‑2‑Coast—designed to reflect the energy, history and style codes of the communities that shaped streetwear.

We’ve also expanded our network by building relationships with heritage streetwear brands like Baby Phat, FUBU and Karl Kani. Bringing their legacy pieces into a modern rental ecosystem allows us to bridge nostalgia with sustainability and give a new generation access to iconic fashion moments.

Another milestone has been developing Swap‑branded merch with new colorways and a refreshed logo. For the first time, our community can wear the brand beyond the rental experience, and the response has been incredible.

Looking back, what’s one lesson or experience from Leeds that still shapes how you think or work today?

Leeds taught me the power of designing with intention, mentorship and purpose. As the only African American woman in my cohort, and the first Black woman to graduate from the Hybrid MBA program at Leeds, I had to step into my calling and bring something to market that the fashion industry needed and the streetwear culture yearned for.

I am also a newly minted member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, the first African American sorority, founded in 1908 (photo below). I take pride in being the first: pioneering streetwear in a clothing rental model and trailblazing a path for Black women at Leeds who want to elevate their business acumen.

Whether I was building a business model, analyzing a case or presenting a strategy, Leeds pushed me to ask: What problem am I solving, and who am I solving it for? That mindset is embedded in The Swap. Every box, every partnership, every drop is rooted in understanding culture, community and behavior, not just trends.

Enduring Lessons

Garmai Matthew says her Leeds experience continues to guide her vision for The Swap in three ways:

Strategic thinking. I learned how to build systems, not just products.
Sustainability frameworks. Leeds reinforced that circularity isn’t a trend; it’s the future.
Leadership development. The program taught me how to lead with clarity, empathy and data.

What are you excited to build or explore next, and how does your Leeds experience continue to play a role?

I’m excited to scale The Swap into a national streetwear rental ecosystem that champions underrepresented designers, preserves cultural archives, and redefines how people access fashion. Next, we’re expanding our regional boxes, deepening partnerships with vintage and emerging designers, and building a scalable operational model supported by the right investors.

From a mentorship perspective, I founded the Black Women’s Alliance (BWA) at Ģ��Ӱ�� Boulder in 2016 and continue to be involved as graduate chair. This past spring we held several successful events, including a panel that featured African American women leaders from the Denver business community. BWA was a vital support network throughout my undergraduate and graduate experience, helping foster mentorship, professional development and entrepreneurship to help young women in Leeds thrive. This year marks 10 years of its impact.

A year after completing her MBA, Garmai Matthew is still drawing on lessons from Leeds to advance her clothing rental venture, The Swap.

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Mason Bell (MAcct’26; Fin’25)

Jane Majkiewicz — Fri, 01 May 2026 20:45:54 +0000

Mason Bell (MAcct’26; Fin’25) Jane Majkiewicz Fri, 05/01/2026 - 14:45

Georgia Horan

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Mason Bell
Major: Accounting; Finance
Hometown: San Rafael, California

Mason Bell marked two milestones at Leeds—crossing the stage in 2025 for his undergraduate degree in finance and returning in 2026 to earn his master’s degree in accounting.

For Bell, a passion for numbers goes beyond calculations; it’s about deeply understanding how organizations work and helping them make smarter decisions. “I’ve really enjoyed learning not just how to analyze numbers, but how those numbers connect to strategy and long‑term business success.”

Originally from San Rafael, California, Bell chose to remain at Ģ��Ӱ�� Boulder after completing his bachelor’s degree, drawn by the way Leeds blends financial insight with real‑world application. "Leeds felt like the right place to continue my education because it gave me a strong foundation during my undergraduate experience,” he said. Over time, he began to see how “closely finance and accounting connect in the real world.”

Pursuing a master's in accounting allowed Bell to deepen his technical expertise while building on what he valued most from his undergraduate years: “Leeds' career‑focused approach that prepares students to step directly into a profession.”

Studying both fields has influenced how Bell approaches challenges more broadly. “One skill I have that doesn’t fully show up on a resume is my ability to connect ideas across different areas of business,” he said. “Studying both finance and accounting has taught me to look at problems from more than one perspective.”

An early undergraduate experience ultimately defined his academic and professional path. “One moment that has stayed with me was in my first accounting class, when my professor said that accounting is the language of business.”

That perspective now shapes Bell’s goal of becoming a CPA. He approaches numbers as a universal language, translating complexity into clarity.

The work is never just about calculations, but about helping make informed decisions and understanding the bigger picture.

For Mason Bell, numbers aren’t just calculations—they’re the language of business and the foundation of smart decisions.

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Bryce Kallio (Fin’28)

Jane Majkiewicz — Thu, 23 Apr 2026 23:14:56 +0000

Bryce Kallio (Fin’28) Jane Majkiewicz Thu, 04/23/2026 - 17:14

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Bryce Kallio
Major: Finance
Hometown: Highlands Ranch, Ģ��Ӱ��

Whether he’s running a marathon in under four hours, competing on the pickleball court or leading Ģ��Ӱ�� Boulder’s AI Club, Bryce Kallio (Fin’28) approaches life with discipline, curiosity and an entrepreneurial spirit—qualities he says are deeply supported at Leeds.

Leeds, he believes, encourages students to define success for themselves—“whether you want to change a school organization, travel to a new country for a class, host a campus-wide event or seek advice from alumni.” That freedom is paired with a strong sense of community shaped by diverse ambitions. “There’s no mold that you feel forced to fit into or group you have to be in. Everyone here is pursuing their own version of success, and they respect each other's various interests."

Outside the classroom, Kallio values Ģ��Ӱ�� Boulder’s setting and culture. “Being located between the Flatirons and the Boulder Creek has given me numerous opportunities to enjoy the weather and find moments of clarity and gratitude during stressful times."

As president of the AI Club at Leeds, Kallio is focused on long-lasting impact. “I want to bridge the gap between AI theory and practice by educating students on real-world use cases and then placing them in hands-on engagements outside the classroom. By establishing a peer-to-peer mentorship cycle, I aim to ensure that each cohort trains the next, creating a self-sustaining culture of innovation that keeps our students competitive in an AI-driven business world.”

His marathon training reinforced the mindset he brings to leadership. A quote that kept him motivated during his training continues to resonate: “Confidence does not come from shouting affirmations in the mirror, but by having a stack of undeniable proof that you are who you say you are. Outwork your self-doubt.”

Looking ahead, Kallio remains intentionally open-ended. "As a 20-year-old, I definitely have aspirations that continue to evolve and change every month or even every week.”

As he envisions his future self, the big picture highlights rewarding work in consulting and innovation while prioritizing travel, family, leadership and mentorship, leveraging his experience to help as many people as possible.

I want to be a lifelong learner, solve hard problems for those who cannot themselves, feel deeply fulfilled in the impact and legacy that I leave, and not take any of it so seriously.

From leading Ģ��Ӱ�� Boulder’s AI Club to chasing marathon finish lines, Bryce Kallio balances discipline and ambition with a reminder not to take it all too seriously.

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Sahil Bhandari (Fin, Mktg’26)

Jane Majkiewicz — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 20:39:55 +0000

Sahil Bhandari (Fin, Mktg’26) Jane Majkiewicz Wed, 04/15/2026 - 14:39

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Commencement Reflections

Because the people I met here pushed me to think bigger than I ever would have on my own, I'm especially excited about the direction of my career. 

One thing I learned about myself during college is that sitting with discomfort would become one of my strengths. I can be put in situations where I don't have the answer and can still figure it out anyway.

A Post-It note with my next three goals:

Change my community
Change the culture
Change the world

If future me sent a postcard from five years ahead, it would probably say: I'm busy doing exactly what I told myself I would, and it's harder and better than I expected.

A moment during college that really stayed with me was when I studied abroad in Milan, surrounded by students from different countries, all working through the same problems I was. Something about that moment made the world feel both bigger and more within reach at the same time.

One aspect of the Leeds experience that made a real difference for me was being around genuinely ambitious people who weren't cutthroat, because it taught me that drive and generosity aren't mutually exclusive.

One important lesson that Sahil Bhandari says he will take with him after graduation is knowing that drive and generosity don't have to be mutually exclusive.

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Alex Corren (MRelEst’26)

Jane Majkiewicz — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:52:34 +0000

Alex Corren (MRelEst’26) Jane Majkiewicz Wed, 04/15/2026 - 13:52

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Commencement Reflections

The kind of impact I hope to make early in my career is accelerating AI adoption in real estate, even if it starts small.

Looking back, I didn't expect that bridging AI and real estate would become one of my strengths. I came in as a real estate student who happened to know how to build software with AI, and that combination turned out to matter more than I anticipated.

College opened my eyes to how much commercial real estate shapes the built environment, and now it's something I aim to prioritize in my life.

Your Post-it note with a life's guiding principle: Relentless forward motion.

One aspect of the Leeds experience that made a real difference for me was the network, because the relationships I built here will outlast the degree.

A turning point for me in college happened when I stopped apologizing for my unconventional background and started leading with it, and it changed my perspective.

Unexpected turns in his master’s program helped Alex Corren unlock his background’s potential and see the intersection of AI and real estate.

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Sydnee Nguyen (Mktg, BusAna’26, Communications Minor)

Jane Majkiewicz — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:29:52 +0000

Sydnee Nguyen (Mktg, BusAna’26, Communications Minor) Jane Majkiewicz Wed, 04/15/2026 - 13:29

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Commencement Reflections

Because I've learned how to manage an accelerated academic path while working part-time and staying disciplined, I'm especially excited about the direction of my career.

A moment during college that really stayed with me was when I took Product Strategy and realized how unconventional ideas can turn into real opportunities, which shifted how I think about innovation and problem-solving.

If future me sent a postcard from five years ahead, it would probably say: I'm busy building a career that uses what I've learned at Leeds to solve real-world problems while continuing to grow and take on new challenges head-on.

A Post-It with three goals:

Build a strong foundation early in my career.
Apply my analytical and marketing skills in a full-time role.
Strengthen my ability to turn data into real-world impact.

One thing I learned about myself during college is that I am capable of more than I initially thought, especially when I stay disciplined and intentional with my time, and it continues to shape how I show up in the world.

One aspect of the Leeds experience that made a real difference for me was the emphasis on applying our learning, because it pushed my mindset beyond the classroom and helped me develop skills I can use in real-world situations.

Sydnee Nguyen is no stranger to hard work: She is graduating in three years, all while learning that unconventional ideas can turn into real opportunities.

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Grace Trujillo (Fin, Acct’26)

Jane Majkiewicz — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 20:35:26 +0000

Grace Trujillo (Fin, Acct’26) Jane Majkiewicz Thu, 04/09/2026 - 14:35

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Commencement Reflections

The kind of impact I hope to make in my career is being someone people can rely on to follow through, put in the work, and take pride in doing things well. Even if my contributions start small, I want to consistently show up, add value, and earn trust through my effort and accountability.

Looking back, I didn't expect that being so numbers-focused would become one of my strengths. Over time, I realized I genuinely enjoy working through problems, analyzing details and finding clarity in data, which has helped me grow both academically and professionally.

College opened my eyes to how important it is to stay adaptable and keep learning, whether that is gaining insight across different areas or learning how to leverage new technology like AI. It showed me that hard work is essential, but combining that with curiosity and adaptability is really what sets you apart, and that's something I plan to carry with me in my career.

Post-It note with a guiding principle: Always show up, be the hardest worker in the room, and be a good person while doing it.

One aspect of the Leeds experience that made a real difference for me was the environment and all the super smart people around me, because it pushed me to hold myself to a higher standard. Being surrounded by motivated and driven individuals challenged me to work harder, stay disciplined, and recognize the importance of supporting others and building meaningful relationships.

A turning point for me in college happened when I realized that success isn't about having everything come naturally or perfectly. It's about showing up every day, being the hardest worker in the room, and being willing to learn as you grow. That shift in mindset helped me become more confident, more resilient, and more willing to take on challenges.

As an incoming finance associate at Kurtz Fargo LLP, Grace Trujillo's time at Leeds has shown her that while hard work is essential, curiosity and adaptability lead to success.

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Bibo Alabrah (MBA’27)

Jane Majkiewicz — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:43:29 +0000

Bibo Alabrah (MBA’27) Jane Majkiewicz Thu, 04/09/2026 - 12:43

Georgia Horan

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Name: Bibo Alabrah
Major: Master of Business Administration
Hometown: Denver (originally from Nigeria)
Additional Role at Leeds: Co-President of the AI in Business Club

Bibo Alabrah came into the Leeds MBA program with experience spanning petroleum engineering, geoscience, software development, and healthcare analytics. While confident in his technical foundation, he pursued an MBA to strengthen his strategic thinking—particularly as he worked to refine and grow his own company.

What's your favorite thing about Leeds?

The people. The MBA cohort is genuinely diverse. You have someone currently working at a startup, someone actively serving in the military, people from different countries, and a real range of majors and professional backgrounds. The collaboration is what makes it work. Team projects here are not the kind where one person carries the load. Everyone brings something different to the table, and you learn as much from your classmates as you do from the coursework.

What’s one thing you want to accomplish this year?

I want to land my first client for my company, Prexisio, under its new positioning. For the last three years, Prexisio has been a generalist firm, trying to serve everyone. The MBA has helped me see the industry where this work fits best, and I have spent this year repositioning the company around healthcare operational intelligence for multi-site specialty surgical practices, converting a sharper, better-aimed version of the business into its first real engagement.

Where do you see yourself in the future?

In five years, I want Prexisio to be the firm that mid-market surgical practices call when they realize their data is costing them money they cannot even see. In 10 years, I want to have built something that outlasts me. And in 20 years, I want to be in a position to invest in and advise other founders who are building from nontraditional starting points, as I did.

I have been building things since I was 14. The long game has always been about creating something undeniable—not waiting for permission.

What’s a pride point for you?

In 2015, my master’s thesis in petroleum geoscience won the best graduate paper in Africa through the Society of Petroleum Engineers. That award fully funded my first trip to the United States to present at the SPE conference in Houston. A year later, I was invited as a guest speaker at the University of Kansas, addressing master’s and PhD students. I did not come from a family with any connections to that— I just did the work, and the work opened doors. That shapes how I approach everything.

What’s a skill you have that you wouldn't put on a resume?

Most of my best ideas do not come from sitting at a desk. I process by walking. If I am stuck on a strategy problem or a hard conversation, I go and walk, and somehow the pieces rearrange themselves.

I was looking for a program where I could build while I learned, not just absorb theory and wait until after graduation to apply it. Leeds has given me that. I have been able to run my company, test frameworks from class in real time, and have professors who actually engage with what I am doing outside the classroom.

Bibo Alabrah says one of Leeds’ many benefits is being in Boulder, where mountains and open space push all of us to think beyond narrow frames.

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Taylor Reynolds (Mktg’26)

Jane Majkiewicz — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 21:58:33 +0000

Taylor Reynolds (Mktg’26) Jane Majkiewicz Wed, 04/08/2026 - 15:58

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Commencement Reflections

The kind of impact I hope to make early in my career is being a sponge, soaking up all the data and knowledge from the experienced doctors and sales representatives I’ll be working alongside, while bringing a new perspective to break the status quo for the patients, even if it starts small.

Looking back, I didn’t expect that my ability to build trust with people quickly, from my time in BEWiT and the Sales Club, to working as a nanny, would become one of my strengths for establishing meaningful and lasting professional relationships

A turning point for me in college happened when I traveled abroad to Madrid for a semester. Building new friendships and learning to navigate a new country strengthened my adaptability and time-management skills, which I know will translate to my career, and it changed my perspective.

College opened my eyes to how much you have to be a self-advocate and a go-getter, and now it’s something I aim to prioritize in my life. Whether it was networking for my job or leading school projects, I learned that you have to be the one to make it happen.

One aspect of the Leeds experience that made a real difference for me was always going the extra mile from office hours and career fairs to waiting for interviews when the sign-ups were full. It taught me that if you work hard, stay persistent and still have fun along the way, you can create your own opportunities anywhere.

A guiding life principle is to listen to understand, don't just listen to answer. Building trust starts with listening to others rather than waiting for your turn to speak. It’s the best way to find common ground and create partnerships that actually last.

As Taylor Reynolds steps into her new role in GE Healthcare’s Commercial Leadership Program, she brings in key skills from Leeds, including a global mindset, strong relationship building, effective time management and deep listening.

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Niraja Chapagain (BusAna, Mgmt’26)

Jane Majkiewicz — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 20:08:30 +0000

Niraja Chapagain (BusAna, Mgmt’26) Jane Majkiewicz Wed, 04/08/2026 - 14:08

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Commencement Reflections

Looking back, I didn’t expect that my natural curiosity and drive to continuously learn would become one of my strengths.

A turning point for me in college happened when I fully recognized my potential and the unique value I bring, and it changed my perspective.

College opened my eyes to the importance of building and expressing your personal brand, and now it’s something I aim to prioritize in my life.

Post-It note with a guiding life principle: Stay relentlessly curious, the smallest spark can take you somewhere unexpected.

One aspect of the Leeds experience that made a real difference for me was the sense of community, because you’re constantly surrounded by people willing to invest in your growth.

The kind of impact I hope to make early in my career is questioning the status quo and offering a perspective that sparks new ways of thinking, even if it starts small.

Niraja Chapagain heads toward graduation fueled by the community at Leeds that she knows will remain invested in her growth, and an abiding curiosity that will spark her next steps.

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Snapshots

Garmai Matthew (MBA’25, Chin’20)

Faces of Leeds Snapshot

Enduring Lessons

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