Liz Eckstein

University of Denver, Daniels College of Business

“Strategic thinker, values-driven leader, and creative problem-solver with heart powered by purpose, puns, and coffee.”

Age: 55

Hometown: Oak Park, IL

Fun fact about yourself: I am an avid crafter in many mediums: sewing, pottery, collage and more. My creative pursuits fuel me, give me balance and even enhance the analytical side of my brain.

Undergraduate School and Degree: Johns Hopkins University, B.A. Philosophy, Women’s Studies minor

Where are you currently working? Boulder County Farmers Markets, Director of Finance and Operations

What achievement are you most proud of in your professional career? I’m most proud of leading a major overhaul of my organization’s fee structure, which drives 60% of our revenue. For nearly 40 years, the system was opaque, prone to inaccuracies, and inefficient. Leveraging regression modeling skills from my MBA coursework, I created a transparent, data-driven structure that improved accuracy, saved significant staff time, and enhanced the customer experience. This transformation allows us to focus more on our mission and better serve our community.

Why did you choose this school’s online MBA program? I wanted a program that aligned with my values of supporting local and the Daniels ethics-based program was a perfect fit.

What was your favorite part of being in an online MBA program? Sweating (virtually) alongside my fellow classmates. There were tears, laughter, and head-scratching – but we made it through!

How did your online experience compare with your in-the-classroom experience as an undergraduate student? The experience was quite a bit better! It could be the nature of grad school compared to undergrad, but I loved the smaller classes (as opposed to large 300 student lecture halls) and thought there was much more engagement. The emphasis on group work was amazing. It allowed you to work with a more diverse set of people from different backgrounds enhancing both collaboration and my global perspective.

What is your best piece of advice to an applicant for thriving in an online MBA program? Prioritize your time and energy so you can truly focus on learning and make sure to reach out to professors and classmates for help and community.

How has your online education helped you in your current job? The program has given me many practical financial and technological tools to help my organization grow and evolve. More importantly, it transformed my leadership style-from focusing on deliverables to empowering teams and achieving greater impact together.

Did you earn a promotion while in the program or immediately after graduation? I started the program as a full-time student. A few months in, I got a job offer for my current role. I think being in the program definitely gave me an edge.

Why did you pursue an online MBA program instead of a full-time residential or executive MBA program? I was looking for flexibility in a program. I knew I would be back working full-time while in the program and loved that I could work early, late, or on weekends depending on my work week. I really loved the async videos that I continue to look back on for refreshers.

What is one way that your business school has integrated AI into your programming? What insights did you gain from using AI? Some classes utilized AI to synthesize large amounts of information. I learned to ask the right questions to get meaningful results and that human judgment in interpreting those results is essential. We can use AI to do mundane or time-consuming tasks, which can leave more time creative and higher strategic thinking.

Number of Hours Per Week Spent on an Online MBA: 10-15 hours per class.

What is your ultimate long-term professional goal? My goal is to serve as a fractional CFO helping nonprofits build sustainable financial systems. With over 15 years in the sector, I see a critical need for strategic guidance to move organizations beyond their net-zero mindset and help them maximize their mission impact.