“To serve in the highest leadership role of any organization is a privilege. To do so at an organization like Rocky Mountain PBS is truly extraordinary,” says Amanda Mountain. Photo courtesy of RMPBS
Amanda Mountain (MPS ’15) has been busy the last two years. Not only did she become a first-time mom, but she has risen to the top of Denver’s nonprofit media world as president and CEO of Rocky Mountain Public Media, the parent company of Rocky Mountain PBS.
If anyone knows how to balance education, work and family, it’s Mountain. She served in leadership at PBS while enrolled at DU, and during her second year at the University, she relocated from Colorado Springs to Denver to take on an increased role as chief membership and marketing officer. In March, she took over as president and CEO, a role that has her overseeing day-to-day operations and leading a capital campaign to build a public media center in downtown Denver.
“To serve in the highest leadership role of any organization is a privilege. To do so at an organization like Rocky Mountain PBS is truly extraordinary,” Mountain says. “We are one of the most trusted brands in the state, and our nearly 80,000 members count on us to help better prepare the children in their lives for school and beyond. [PBS] also provides a window into the world that frequently leads to a better understanding of ourselves and our relationship with others.”
Mountain says studying organizational leadership at DU’s University College helped prepare her for her newest challenge. From building on her strengths in collaboration and negotiation to expanding her leadership abilities, Mountain says she received the tools she needed to succeed.
“My time at DU was central to my career advancement. I learned from others in my program how to seek out and integrate diverse perspectives into my leadership style,” she says. “I added new tools to my professional toolbox that expanded my business vocabulary and problem-solving skills to more effectively take on the challenges of a complex, shifting media environment. To be successful in any career, you must be able to build upon the ideas of others or to sacrifice your ideas for the greater good.”
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