In early February, Denver entrepreneurs, philanthropists and business leaders convened at the Fillmore Auditorium to recognize the 2020 class of 40 Under 40 recipients. Some of the city’s fastest-growing companies were on hand, with honorees from Guild Education, Flowhub, Geospiza, to name a few.
While the ceremony kicked off with remarks from Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who joked that when he was honored with the award twenty years prior “the only people in the audience were the recipients,” attention soon turned to the new class to share their secret talents and words of wisdom for future winners.
It should come as no surprise to those in the Colorado business community—where “work hard and play hard” is more than just an expression—that common themes included aligning your career with your passions and seeking balance in everyday life.
More from the honorees:
“Try to live a balanced life. It’s easy to get caught in the competitiveness/”rat race” idea that having a successful career pushes people to. It is extremely important for everyone’s mental health to incorporate enough time to exercise, travel, visit with family, volunteer, etc.”
– Nella Foschi, VP of Finance, Extraction Oil & Gas
“Work shouldn’t feel like “work.” Find what you love, lean in and become the best at it.”
– Jon Buerge, Chief Development Officer, Urban Villages
“Focus on creating alignment in your life first, and a sense of purpose and results will naturally follow. Spending a bit more time upfront to determine what you’re committed to will save you time in the long run and make the journey more enjoyable.”
– Jeremy Duhon, Found & Curator, TedxMileHigh
“Chart your own course based on your values, your passion and your skills — and make it happen!”
– Justin Croft, VP of Development, Zeppelin Development
“Your family and your career are important, but it is also important to take care of yourself. Challenge yourself to find something you do every day that is just for you. For me some days that is playing tennis, reading a book with zero academic merit or finding time to work out.”
– Britt Urband, Managing Director, JP Morgan Private Bank
The full list of Denver Business Journal 40 Under 40 honorees can be found here.