Lessons in Leadership
Bauer Alumna, CEO Natara Branch Connects with Students at Leadership Night
C. T. Bauer College of Business undergraduate students spent the night networking and gaining professional insight recently at the annual Bauer Leadership Night.
This fall’s keynote speaker was Bauer College alumna and Houston Exponential CEO Natara Branch, who detailed her journey from accounting student to an NFL vice president and her current role, where she leads the city's primary ecosystem developer.
“Speaking at Leadership Night for the third year in a row has been an incredible honor and privilege that I have treasured each year,” Branch said.
"I'm so proud to be a Bauer alumna and even more proud of the next generation of leaders that our university continues to shape.”
Natara Branch
Houston Exponential CEO
As Branch described her own experiences and qualities of leadership, Program Manager for Leadership Initiatives Becca Davis said it’s valuable for Bauer students to learn from successful alumni who were once in their shoes.
“One thing that is evident at Bauer are the big goals and ambitions that our students have,” Davis said. “It’s valuable for them to see someone who was here not long ago, who did experience a wild journey of ups and downs, steadily climb the ladder. That's inspiring and can create even bigger ambitions for our students.”
Marketing junior Mario Garza researched Branch before the event and looked forward to learning about self-advocacy and taking initiative. Garza is a participant in the Ted Bauer Leadership Certificate Program (TBLCP) and the Emerging Leaders Academic Success Program for Transfers and said he enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with other involved students.
“Events like this are the backbone of Bauer,” Garza said. “I genuinely believe that because it serves as a meeting ground for everyone to get together and not only laugh but also learn.”
This year was the first time that supply chain management and finance junior Mahdiya Bhiwandiwala attended the premier leadership event. Bhiwandiwala, who is also a TBLCP student, was glad to connect with her peers and expand her network.
“I was excited to hear our guest speaker talk about her experience and then compare it with what we learn in TBLCP about different leadership styles,” she said. “Leadership is different for everyone, and our guest speaker comes with a lot of experience, so it was great to hear her insights on how she perceives leadership.”
Bauer Leadership Night is part of the undergraduate programming put on by the HUB for Student Success. Students can learn more about the HUB’s initiatives and resources here.
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