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Sky Blue Builders Founder Mowa Haile will visit Leeds on Sept. 25 to meet with students and join in a fireside chat open to the Leeds community.��

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Meet the 2026 Civic Leader-in-Residence, Mowa Haile, in a fireside chat with Julie Gibson, Sherman R. Miller Executive Director of the Klump Center for Real Estate.��

Friday, Sept. 25, 2026��
12:15–1:45 p.m. | KOBL 352

��Register for the luncheon immediately following the chat
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This year has been one of significant milestones for Mowa Haile, founder of Sky Blue Builders (SBB), a 100% employee-owned general contractor and construction management firm specializing in mission-critical building and infrastructure projects. Among the highlights are receiving the 2026 Martin Luther King Jr. Business Award and helping launch the Center of Equity and Excellence in Aviation at Denver International Airport.

Haile immigrated to the United States from Eritrea with his family in 1981 when he was 9 years old. With support from the Fort Collins community, he went on to earn a track and cross-country scholarship to Colorado State University before founding Sky Blue Builders in 2007. Today, the company has 55 employee-owners and partners on major projects across Colorado, including work for municipalities, public agencies and institutions.

“We’re honored that Mowa accepted the invitation to serve as our 2026 Civic Leader-in-Residence,” said Birdie Reznicek, associate dean for culture and community at Leeds. “His story reflects so many of the qualities we value at Leeds: resilience, entrepreneurial thinking, inclusive leadership and a belief that success is measured not only by what we achieve, but by the opportunities we create for others. He is a major force in Colorado’s business community, yet he’s also remarkably down-to-earth and generous in sharing his experiences with humility and heart,” she said.��

Throughout the day, Haile will share lessons on purpose-driven leadership, employee ownership, public-private partnerships and expanding access to opportunity.��

“Leadership is defined in moments when the outcome is uncertain, when the pressure is immense and the path forward is unclear.”

—Mowa Haile

Ahead of his visit, Haile reflected on the experiences that shaped his career and the impact he hopes to have during his time at Leeds.��

Your experience underscores a belief that business can—and should be—a force for good. How has that philosophy shaped your leadership at Sky Blue Builders and in the community?��

I have always believed that business can do both: make great profits and do great for the community. I benefited greatly from the community when I came to this country as an immigrant. It was our community and church that helped clothe and feed us as we acclimated to our new environment. I made community one of Sky Blue Builder’s three pillars of our mission since day one. “Be Good, Do Great and Inspire” is our mission statement. I often quote Tony Dungy, former coach of the Super Bowl-winning Indianapolis Colts: ‘If all we do is win championships, we have failed.’ That holds true for SBB. If all we do is maximize profits without inspiring our community, we have failed.��

Every employee-owner (EO) at Sky Blue Builders is expected to volunteer a minimum of 8 hours a year, which is considered in their performance evaluations. EOs also expect their employers to have a purpose beyond profits. That has always been part of our DNA. As a company, and as leader in our community, we sponsor 8–10 nonprofits each year, not only with monetary donations, but also by volunteering our time. I am proud to say that SBB was one of 10 companies recognized as a Denver Business Journal 2026 Partner in Philanthropy.��

Throughout your career, you've built a reputation for thoughtful, people-centered leadership. What leadership qualities matter most today, and how can students begin developing those skills now?��

People want to work for companies with a purpose beyond profits. Yes, I learned in grad school that the No. 1 purpose of companies is to make a profit, otherwise they would be out of business. But times have changed, and businesses have proven that they can do both: make profits and inspire the community.��

We are at a tipping point. The divide between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ continues to widen. Before the 1970s, roughly 60% of employees had some type of employee stock ownership or profit sharing (among all companies, both public and private). Researchers estimate that number has dwindled to 18–20%. Data has proven that ESOPs perform better than non-ESOP companies. It’s simple to understand why. When employees have a vested interest in a company, it leads to better production, better profits and less attrition. This is not a secret, as large private equity firms like Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company and BlackRock are acquiring companies and giving employees 10-20% ownership.��

The most important leadership quality for a future leader is generosity.  ��

As Leeds’ Civic Leader-in-Residence, what conversations are you most looking forward to having with students and the broader Leeds community? What do you hope people take away?��

I look forward to spirited conversations about how the curriculum applies to today’s business environment. I hope people take away that employee ownership, in any form, is not just a "feel-good" approach or the right thing to do for the community—it’s also a smart business decision. Part of the reason we see a rising interest in socialism is because business has gotten too greedy over the last four decades, while the federal minimum wage hasn’t kept pace. My hope is that future business leaders make this change, not the government. America must continue to be the land of opportunity and entrepreneurship, which is what makes it great.

A Snapshot of Success: Mowa Haile at a Glance��