Following the Why: How Kate Minnihan Turned Her Leeds Experience into a Passion and Career
Finding Her Path at Leeds
Kate Minnihan鈥檚 connection to CU Boulder runs deep. A Colorado native, she graduated from Leeds in 2018 with a degree in management in Leeds with a minor in leadership studies.
But her journey to that point wasn鈥檛 straightforward.
Originally accepted to CU as an engineering student, Kate quickly realized her true interests lay elsewhere. She felt that business was applicable to everything, so her switching majors became a decision that opened doors she didn鈥檛 yet know she wanted to walk through.
At Leeds, Kate immersed herself in opportunities that challenged her to think critically about her path.听
鈥淚t was really neat to get to look back on that and feel like I was able to see an opportunity to make something better and say yes to it.鈥
The Design Your Leeds course encouraged her to explore not just what she wanted to do, but why she wanted to do it. That question would guide her in life and her career. Through the Leeds Scholars Program, Kate traveled to Buenos Aires as a freshman, broadening her worldview and sparking a lifelong passion for travel and cultural exploration.
Outside the classroom, she made her mark by creating programs that would outlast her time at CU. As part of the President鈥檚 Leadership Class, Kate saw a gap in peer mentorship opportunities and decided to do something about it. She pitched a program to connect underclassmen with upperclassmen - called PLC^2 (inspired by the Peer2Peer program) - built it from the ground up and supported the growth throughout the years. Years later, that program still exists, and has expanded to include alumni. Looking back, Kate sees that experience as one of her first steps into entrepreneurship: identifying a need, building a solution, and bringing people together to make it happen.
Discovering a Passion for Coaching
While Kate didn鈥檛 initially picture herself as a coach or entrepreneur, programs through CU guided her towards that passion. Classes like , taught by at the time, helped her realize her values, while programs like the Professional Mentorship Program introduced her to a mentor - - who would change her trajectory. This mentor, who was a professional coach herself, opened Kate鈥檚 eyes to the world of coaching and the power of helping others navigate life鈥檚 big transitions.听
Kate didn鈥檛 just learn from these programs, she applied their lessons. As a student leader and active participant in CU鈥檚 mentorship ecosystem, she became passionate about supporting others through pivotal moments. These experiences taught her that coaching wasn鈥檛 just about building resumes or preparing for interviews - although she helped plenty of students with that. It was about helping people connect their actions to their values, and empowering them to take intentional steps toward their goals.
Her passion for people development continued after graduation. Kate spent over six years in the Leeds Career Development Office, where she helped students bridge the gap between college and their first jobs. She even stepped into the classroom as a 23-year-old instructor, teaching an internship accelerator course and guiding students through real-world consulting projects. These roles fine tuned her coaching skills and helped her understand the unique challenges students face as they transition into their careers.
Building a Business and Giving Back
What began as casually helping friends with resumes soon grew into something much bigger. Encouraged by those around her who saw her talent, Kate launched her own coaching LLC in 2021. At first, her focus was on career coaching, helping clients navigate job searches, interviews, and early-career decisions. But as she grew her practice, she realized her real impact came from going deeper, which was helping people understand their motivations and making values-driven choices about their lives.
Kate鈥檚 business has since evolved into a multifaceted venture. She became certified by the International Coaching Federation and started using tools like the Enneagram, which is a personality framework to help individuals and teams better understand themselves and each other. Her work has expanded beyond one-on-one coaching to include workshops, team training, and even the creation of physical products. Her business reflects all of the things she's passionate about, which is life coaching and understanding the psychology behind the way people respond to things and make decisions.
Yet even as she built her business, Kate never stopped giving back to CU. She continued working at Leeds in a remote capacity, helping students prepare for their careers while growing her entrepreneurial endeavors on the side. Most recently, she joined the Leeds Gold Board, a role that allows her to support the school in a new way as a young alum.听
鈥淓ven though I don鈥檛 work there anymore it feels special to still be part of the Leeds community.鈥
Redefining Success and Inspiring Others
Today, Kate lives in San Diego with her husband, running her coaching business and continuing to explore how she can create meaningful impact. She admits she鈥檚 at a crossroads, exploring new ways to grow her work while also learning the power of slowing down and saying no to opportunities that don鈥檛 align with her purpose.听
For Kate, entrepreneurship isn鈥檛 just about starting a business, it鈥檚 about creation. It鈥檚 about seeing an opportunity and having the courage to act on it, even when the path ahead isn鈥檛 perfectly clear.
鈥淚 feel like what I spoke to so much about entrepreneurship is around creation鈥 using your unique gifts and talents.鈥
To current students and aspiring entrepreneurs, Kate encourages you to take advantage of the opportunities in front of you, lean into curiosity, and say yes, while not underestimating the value of asking "why?".
Kate鈥檚 story is a reminder that success doesn鈥檛 come from following a perfectly planned path. It comes from saying yes to opportunities, pursuing what matters most, and building something meaningful along the way.