VOE Season 5 Articles

Running a brewery used to be a simple proposition: make great beer, open the doors and let the taps do the talking. But Anne Abrahamson says that model is outdated. As the director of operations at Cerebral Brewing, one of Denver’s most recognizable breweries, Abrahamson helps oversee the business behind the beer. Since joining Cerebral in 2019, she’s helped the company grow from one crowded taproom off Colfax to three locations across the Denver area, with a fourth on the way. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, she shares what it takes to run a modern craft brewery, why hospitality has become central to the beer business, and why Cerebral is focused on evolution over expansion.

Table of Contents • 1:21 Growing from one taproom to three • 3:18 Why Colorado craft beer is bucking the trend • 5:44 Balancing art, science and spreadsheets • 7:55 Leaning into non-alcoholic beer • 9:42 Making sustainability work for the business • 11:27 Falling into craft beer in Japan • 13:52 Solving problems behind the scenes • 14:49 Building culture across multiple locations • 19:11 Why breweries have to innovate • 19:48 Choosing evolution over expansion • 22:42 Show notes and credits

When it comes to the in-stadium experience for the New England Patriots, Abbey Thistle is the quarterback. She calls the plays and puts people in a spot to succeed. But with rising ticket and concession costs, coupled with elevated fan expectations, it can be hard to get people off the couch and into the stadium. As the Senior Director of Fan Engagement and Development for the Patriots, Thistle has seen it all over the last decade. She’s helped host countless playoff games, won a Super Bowl or three, and worked to find ways to keep fans entertained at Gillette Stadium. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, she shares a behind the scenes look at what it takes to produce an NFL game, how she’s innovating on fan engagement in an era of at-home streaming, and what advice she has for people looking to break into the sports and entertainment industry.

Table of Contents • 1:14 The “quarterback” of the game day experience • 1:38 Mastering multitasking in real time • 3:03 Why the script goes out the window • 4:38 Everything fans don’t see behind the scenes • 7:08 The challenge of creating stadium atmosphere • 10:33 What Super Bowl week really looks like • 13:04 Lessons from the Savannah Bananas • 16:19 Finding a career in sports (starting at DU) • 21:04 When promotions go off the rails • 24:10 Show notes and credits

When it comes to building a career, titles and promotions only tell part of the story. The real impact often happens behind the scenes, in the way organizations develop people and align strategy. That is where Marisa Midyet thrives. She is a strategic HR leader who has led large-scale initiatives at global organizations like Johnson & Johnson and Apple, and now brings that experience to growing companies through her consulting firm, Rose Talent Co. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Marisa shares how HR can drive business success, why performance reviews often fall short and how to get them right, and what the future of work looks like in an era shaped by AI, flexibility and purpose.

Table of Contents • 0:04 “It’s time for your performance review” • 1:14 Why HR strategy must align with business strategy • 2:07 What HR actually does (and why it matters) • 3:35 The decision to pursue an MBA • 5:17 Taking a risk on a J&J internship • 7:18 Leading through COVID and constant change • 11:32 Performance reviews: simplicity over complexity • 13:17 Starting a business and redefining success • 16:01 How AI is changing HR • 17:58 The future of remote and hybrid work • 21:24 “Don’t chase titles” • 22:38 Show notes and credits

Professional pickleball and professional banking aren’t all that different, if you ask Chad Shane. The CEO of Canvas Credit Union builds culture like a coach would: leveraging a team’s strengths and weaknesses, stressing collaboration, and finding the balance between cutting-edge technology and good old-fashioned hard work. Amid the rise in artificial intelligence, Shane is proud of the way Canvas has stuck to its values, prioritizing customer experience, a tight-knit staff and a close relationship with the broader community. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, he reflects on his rise to the top position at Canvas, the skills he’s had to develop and the approach he’s taken to implement change.

Dioramas just don’t cut it anymore for museums that want to keep new generations of kids interested in their collections. Instead, George Saunders has steered the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in a direction that has kept the 125-year-old institution relevant, in an age when almost anything in the world can be seen on a computer screen.On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Saunders explains how his industry has changed—and how he’s developed the mindset to make it happen.

Table of Contents:
1:14 Life-changing executive coaching • 2:32 Creating the “10-year plan” • 3:14 “It’s not just about making money” • 4:22 Developing a strong moral compass • 5:25 What people don’t realize about museums • 7:07 Surviving COVID-19 • 9:56 Today’s challenges for museums • 15:42 The career “identity crisis” • 18:10 Developing an innovative workforce • 19:41 What if you were an executive coach? • 21:35 Rebuilding community • 13:08 Show notes and credits

When it comes to running a sports franchise, wins and losses only tell part of the story. The business side has its own scoreboard, and that is where Jen Millet thrives. She’s a seasoned sports executive and now the president of the newest National Women’s Soccer League team, Denver Summit FC. Jen arrives in Denver fresh off helping launch another NWSL franchise, Bay FC, and after leading marketing for the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. Her next challenge? Bringing professional women’s sports back to the Mile High City for the first time in nearly three decades. On this episode of Voices of Experience podcast, Jen shares her goals for Summit FC both on and off the pitch, her vision for the club’s inaugural match at Mile High Stadium and what she sees on the horizon for women’s professional sports in Denver.

Table of Contents • 1:11 Building a franchise from scratch • 3:54 Why community drives early momentum • 5:31 The decision to play at Mile High Stadium • 6:37 What’s next for women’s sports in Denver • 8:53 Don’t underestimate your audience • 10:50 How Jen defines success off the pitch • 14:25 Turning season tickets into real membership • 18:29 Leading through wins, losses, and chaos • 24:10 Supporting working parents at work • 27:05 Show notes and credits

There’s what happens on Shark Tank—and what happens after an appearance on Shark Tank. In an episode that aired last March, Chennelle Diong (MBA 2022) pitched her frozen, gluten-free, ready-to-bake biscuits and cinnamon rolls to a group of steely investors. Her savvy netted an investment from Lori Greiner, and an avalanche of orders that felt impossible to dig out from under. On this episode of the Voices of Experience podcast, Chennelle explains the ups and downs that came with her national TV success and how she is rediscovering her identity in the startup space.

Table of Contents • 1:44 How did you end up on Shark Tank? • 3:17 Countering the “Queen of QVC” • 5:26 The aftermath • 7:57 A vulnerable social media post • 10:32 Fundamentally changing identity • 12:43 Getting back to her roots • 16:31 “The entrepreneurial road is not for everyone” • 17:36 The benefits of an MBA • 20:53 “Nothing takes the place of experience” • 21:59 Show notes and credits