Mary owes her inspiration to join Impact Denver to the company she works for.
She was excited that DaVita invests its resources to the betterment of Denver and Colorado – not to mention its employees – through its involvement with the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and its family organizations, such as the Leadership Foundation and B:CIVIC. “Denver has been my home, and my family’s home, for generations. But I wanted to discover it through a professional lens and meet more of my peers,” Mary Van Jacobs, an Impact Denver Fall 2021 alum, said. “Impact Denver seemed like a great vehicle for that exploration, and I was excited it connected with DaVita’s mission and values.”
Five months after completing the program, she still holds a closeness with a seemingly unexpected ally – the team at the Leadership Foundation. She encourages anyone who is considering Impact Denver – but is held back by reservations – to share those reservations with the team. She stressed how they genuinely care about benefiting participants, asking for feedback during and after each session and sharing the ways in which they acted on the feedback. “Jenna, Satya and everyone at the Foundation were welcoming, respectful and kind. They are committed to continuous improvement, and they adapted the program in several ways to meet our cohort’s needs,” Mary noted. Thanks to the program, the resources and with the Leadership Foundation team behind her, Mary now feels confidently equipped with the tools she needs to exceed in her career.
For Mary, it’s hard to pick just one fond memory from Impact Denver. But, to this day, there is one particular exercise that made a lasting impression. Her small group took turns sharing characteristics they admired about one another then suggested an “alter ego” who possessed personality traits they thought one could learn from. “My table lifted me up with compliments about my friendliness openness, and warmth,” Mary said. “Then they shared that Anna Wintour, Editor and Chief of Vogue, had some characteristics that may benefit me. [They] encouraged me to withhold some of my friendliness and be a bit more calculated in communicating my thoughts. I still think of that advice when I need to advocate for myself or offer feedback to others.”
Within this six-month program, participants are placed in a small group that focuses on a different project that benefits the metro Denver region. Collaborating on the project is a way for classmates to bond with each other while uplifting the community around them. Mary and her small group’s project served El Sistema Colorado, a free after-school string orchestra and music education program that serves children ages 3 to 18. “They asked us to show the risks and benefits of ending their fiscal sponsorship with the Colorado Nonprofit Development Center,” Mary explained. Mary’s group compiled data and insight to help the board of directors determine its final decision.
Mary continues to feel grateful for her Impact Denver experience for how it’s impacted her community as much as herself.
