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Turning Ideas into Action in the EMBA Innovation Challenge

One of the signature programs of the Leeds Executive MBA Program is the EMBA Innovation Challenge—a hands-on experience in which students develop innovative solutions for real-world clients and pitch their ideas to a panel of judges.

Winners of the EMBA Innovation Challenge

Erin Johnson (EMBA’26), one of the members of the winning team for the spring 2025 EMBA Innovation Challenge, was thrilled to see the team’s work come to life this fall at , the Boulder business they partnered with for the project.

The team proposed “The Red Room,” a red light therapy service that co-owners Laurel Doxsey and Lisa Lynde eagerly implemented.

“When we partnered with the local Boulder salon to create a new revenue stream, I had no idea we were building something truly special,” shared , saying the red light therapy room is “generating real revenue and delighting customers.”

Using existing space at the salon, the winning team proposed offering red light therapy, a non-invasive skincare treatment using red and near-infrared wavelengths.

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"What I'm most excited about is the relationships built along the way with the owners. Their willingness to open their doors, share their challenges and trust our vision was humbling."

Erin Johnson (EMBA’26)

Johnson reflected, “What I'm most excited about is the relationships built along the way with owners Lisa and Laurel. Their willingness to open their doors, share their challenges and trust our vision was humbling. Seeing the genuine excitement in their eyes when The Red Room launched reminded me why I love what we're doing,” she said.

A timely partnership

The Red Room at SideDoor Salon

“After the pandemic, it was a pretty rough time for us,” said Lynde. As the salon underwent a management transition, a partner introduced them to the EMBA Innovation Challenge.

“We were up for the challenge—to have the opportunity for graduate students to help us figure out a better business plan, or to see where they could help us grow,” she added.

The —Johnson, Anna Coragliotti, Ashley Wang, Cherie Jarvis and Martha Siegmund—all EMBA students graduating in spring 2026—met with the owners multiple times to understand the business and its challenges. Lynde especially appreciated the in-person meetings.

“They really listened and asked questions about our business,” she said. In her 41 years in the salon business, Lynde was delighted to see that the team came up with a novel way to use the existing space. It aligned perfectly with their mission to offer relaxing experiences to clients.

Strategy meets innovation

Emily Ryan (EMBA’23), a judge at the challenge, knows firsthand how impactful the experience is. As a former participant, she appreciated how the challenge was embedded within the semester’s coursework.

“During the term you’re taking the innovation project, you're also doing coursework focused on HR and people strategy. You're also taking a financial course focused on projecting, profitability and building out financial models. Having the trio work in tandem adds depth to the presentation,” Ryan said.

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“You’re not just innovating for the market—you’re thinking about staffing, specialization, equipment needs, and how to project and recoup investments."

Emily Ryan (EMBA’23)

She emphasized that students gain exposure beyond their usual work silos. “You’re not just innovating for the market—you’re thinking about staffing, specialization, equipment needs, and how to project and recoup investments,” she said. “We learned statistics, economics, accounting, finance, and marketing. The Innovation Challenge pulls it all together—intentionally—around finance, HR and innovation," she added.

There’s another benefit: “It’s super fun.”

Fresh thinking for businesses

“When you’re enmeshed in your day-to-day, it’s hard to think outside the box,” Ryan said. “Having an external party with no prior insight into the business brings fresh perspectives.”

Johnson echoed that sentiment: “This is what the Executive MBA education is about—building bridges between academic excellence and real-world impact, creating a network of innovators who lift each other up, and strengthening our local business community in the process.”