UCO College of Business Announces Leadership Program, 2BLeaders, Class VIII

Broncho Business Leaders, also known as 2BLeaders, a leadership development program for exceptional College of Business students at the University of Central Oklahoma, welcomed 15 new students this fall as part of the 2BLeaders Class VIII.

“2BLeaders is an experiential learning program designed for students to learn as they work on real-life projects,” said Holly Osburn, Ph.D., associate professor, chairperson of the Department of Management and co-director of 2BLeaders. “It is exciting to see such growth from our students. It is truly transformational.”

“The professional development of the program is invaluable,” said, Jimmy Lai, J.D., a 2BLeaders Class II alumnus and current founder and CEO of KichiCoin ($KICH). “2BL gave us the opportunity to build connections and foster leadership skills necessary to ‘survive’ in the real world.”

The program empowers students to become positive change agents in their organizations and communities.

“I am very excited to be back in the 2BLeaders program this year!” said Aaron Cox, 2BLeaders Classes VII and VIII. “I learned so much about myself and my community last year, and I’m looking forward to continuing my self-awareness journey and how I can make positive changes in my community and organizations throughout my life.”

The College of Business is excited to launch a new, expanded version of the program’s original design this year. The new design asks students to commit to two years of membership and provides them expanded opportunities such as faculty mentors, a study abroad tour, internships and additional real-world learning projects, while still pairing students with mentors who are local business leaders.

“It is one of my high pleasures to work with our UCO students who participate in the Broncho Business Leaders Program,” said Jim Denton, CPA, a 2BLeaders mentor and partner emeritus and wealth management advisor from Arledge & Associates, P.C. in Edmond, Oklahoma.

“I look forward to watching them progress from college students to career-minded individuals in the course of a few months. I am so proud of each of my past protégés and their amazing accomplishments!”

Applications for the program open each spring, with the new cohort of 2BLeaders starting each fall. Admission to the program is highly selective. To be considered, students must be a declared College of Business major, be enrolled full-time, have a 3.0 cumulative GPA and have completed at least 60 hours. Membership encompasses two full academic years.

“I have big goals and dreams for this program,” said Priscila Guillen, 2BL Classes VII and VIII. “I love my college and community so much! 2BL provides me with the opportunity to give back and simultaneously grow in my leadership.”

Class VIII of 2BLeaders includes Prashannata Bajracharya, a junior economics major from Kathmandu, Nepal; Mattison Bullard, a junior professional selling major from Edmond, Oklahoma; Omar Camacho Enriquez a junior accounting major from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Leah Chopan a junior international business major from Yukon, Oklahoma; Aaron Cox, a senior finance and insurance and risk management double major from Edmond, Oklahoma; Victor Gallardo, a junior finance major and real estate minor from New Orleans, Louisiana; Damaris Guerra Castañeda, a junior management information systems major from El Reno, Oklahoma; Priscila Guillen, a senior economics and finance concurrent major and political science minor from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Jose Jacobo, a senior economics major and statistics minor from Cuamio, Mexico; An Le, a senior accounting major and Asian studies minor from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Destiny Perez, a junior human resource management major and public health minor from Moore, Oklahoma; Mason Rasmussen, a junior finance and insurance and risk management double major from Tulsa, Oklahoma; Rylee Treloar, a junior accounting major from Depew, Oklahoma; Kade Turner, a senior management major from Midwest City, Oklahoma; and, Aaron Wallace, a junior management major from Harrah, Oklahoma.

For more information about 2BLeaders, contact Osburn at 405-974-2443 or hosburn1@uco.edu.