Colorado Leadership Stories

Susana Cordova: Leading Through Learning

Meet Susana Cordova, [https://www.tffel.com/faculty/dr-susana-cordova/] Colorado’s 18th education commissioner and former Denver Public Schools superintendent, whose lifelong connection to Colorado public schools has informed her approach to leadership, learning, and service. A Denver native and DPS graduate, Susana’s deep Colorado roots continue to guide her dedication to public education across the state. Tune in to hear how her experiences as a teacher, principal, superintendent, and statewide leader continue to influence her work supporting educators, students, and families. Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/colorado-leadership-stories/id1700984153] | Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1svsROYyRGtVIuCjjhcxer]| Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/141f7226-f99c-426e-8d47-1f115d27c484/colorado-leadership-stories]| Pandora [https://www.pandora.com/podcast/colorado-leadership-stories/PC:1001076991] or wherever you get podcasts! Colorado Leadership Stories [https://boettcherfoundation.org/category/podcasts/] is a podcast presented by Boettcher Foundation [https://boettcherfoundation.org/] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/boettcherfdn/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/boettcher-foundation] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/BoettcherFoundation] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Becky Kourlis: A Life Shaped By Place & Purpose

Meet Becky Kourlis, a former Colorado Supreme Court justice, founder of the Institute for the Advancement of the American Legal [https://iaals.du.edu/]System, and Foundation Trustee. From her upbringing in the Governor’s Residence at the Boettcher Mansion to building a life in rural Colorado, Becky's journey reflects the powerful influence of place on perspective and purpose. Tune in to hear how she approaches leadership through listening, collaboration, and commitment to using the law as a tool to strengthen and improve communities. Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/colorado-leadership-stories/id1700984153] | Spotify  [https://open.spotify.com/show/1svsROYyRGtVIuCjjhcxer]| Amazon Music  [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/141f7226-f99c-426e-8d47-1f115d27c484/colorado-leadership-stories]| Pandora [https://www.pandora.com/podcast/colorado-leadership-stories/PC:1001076991] or wherever you get podcasts! Colorado Leadership Stories [https://boettcherfoundation.org/category/podcasts/] is a podcast presented by Boettcher Foundation [https://boettcherfoundation.org/] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/boettcherfdn/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/boettcher-foundation] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/BoettcherFoundation] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Josh Blanchard: Creating Through Place

Meet Josh Blanchard, director of Colorado Creative Industries and former Summit County Commissioner, whose work is rooted in a simple but powerful idea: place matters. From community theater to county leadership to statewide arts advocacy, Josh has spent his career partnering with rural communities to shape vibrant, creative places where people and ideas can thrive. Tune in to hear Josh's story and how he bolsters art as economic development. Learn more about the Colorado Tourism Office: https://oedit.colorado.gov/colorado-tourism-office [https://oedit.colorado.gov/colorado-tourism-office] Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/colorado-leadership-stories/id1700984153] | Spotify  [https://open.spotify.com/show/1svsROYyRGtVIuCjjhcxer]| Amazon Music  [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/141f7226-f99c-426e-8d47-1f115d27c484/colorado-leadership-stories]| Pandora [https://www.pandora.com/podcast/colorado-leadership-stories/PC:1001076991] or wherever you get podcasts! Colorado Leadership Stories [https://boettcherfoundation.org/category/podcasts/] is a podcast presented by Boettcher Foundation [https://boettcherfoundation.org/] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/boettcherfdn/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/boettcher-foundation] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/BoettcherFoundation] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Brock Leach: Leaning Into Passion

In today’s episode, Dr. Brock Leach reflects on a career spanning business, ministry, and nonprofit service. A 1976 Boettcher Scholar, Brock shares how his early years in Colorado shaped a lifelong commitment to service and led him from PepsiCo, where he served as CEO of Frito-Lay, to spiritual leadership, teaching, and social justice work. He offers insights on innovation, purpose, and leadership that helps others grow, including one memorable story about how a simple question sparked an idea that helped Tostitos salsa became a billion-dollar brand. At the center of the conversation is a clear belief: leadership is not about charisma, but about creating the conditions for people to discover what they do well, what they love, and what matters to them, and apply those strengths to something larger than themselves. Watch this episode on our YouTube page. [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLA5kjveZJnCUbFdJFRcPTL9DXlnmg7BW0] Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/colorado-leadership-stories/id1700984153] | Spotify  [https://open.spotify.com/show/1svsROYyRGtVIuCjjhcxer]| Amazon Music  [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/141f7226-f99c-426e-8d47-1f115d27c484/colorado-leadership-stories]| Pandora [https://www.pandora.com/podcast/colorado-leadership-stories/PC:1001076991] or wherever you get podcasts! Colorado Leadership Stories [https://boettcherfoundation.org/category/podcasts/] is a podcast presented by Boettcher Foundation [https://boettcherfoundation.org/] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/boettcherfdn/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/boettcher-foundation] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/BoettcherFoundation]! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].

Dr. Lisa Roy: Assets Over Obstacles

In this episode of Colorado Leadership Stories, Katie Kramer sits down with Dr. Lisa Roy, [https://cdec.colorado.gov/contacts/dr-lisa-roy]executive director of the Colorado Department of Early Childhood, [https://cdec.colorado.gov/]to explore her remarkable leadership journey and the transformative work shaping Colorado’s youngest learners. From her deep family roots in education to her personal experience navigating the high cost of child care as a young mother, Dr. Roy shares how her life experiences fuel her commitment to expanding access, advancing universal preschool, and strengthening early childhood mental health supports statewide. She reflects on launching a new state department, elevating Colorado from 27th to 3rd in national preschool access in just one year, and building bipartisan momentum around family-friendly policy. Grounded in a passion for equity, community voice, and paying it forward, Dr. Roy offers candid insights on leadership, resilience, rural innovation, and why the early years matter most for Colorado’s future. Listen on Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/colorado-leadership-stories/id1700984153] | Spotify  [https://open.spotify.com/show/1svsROYyRGtVIuCjjhcxer]| Amazon Music  [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/141f7226-f99c-426e-8d47-1f115d27c484/colorado-leadership-stories]| Pandora [https://www.pandora.com/podcast/colorado-leadership-stories/PC:1001076991] or wherever you get podcasts! Find more information: This platform is the source for help raising healthy, thriving Colorado kids: raisingcoloradokids.com Colorado Department of Early Childhood: cdec.colorado.gov | 1-800-799-5876 Colorado Leadership Stories [https://boettcherfoundation.org/category/podcasts/] is a podcast presented by Boettcher Foundation [https://boettcherfoundation.org/] Follow us on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/boettcherfdn/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/boettcher-foundation] and Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/BoettcherFoundation] See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy [https://art19.com/privacy] and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info [https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info].