Sky Blue Builders Founder and CEO Mowa Haile has been named the 2026 Civic Leader-in-Residence at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Leeds School of Business.
On September 25, Mowa will spend the day engaging with students and the Leeds community. He will share lessons from his career and explore topics including purpose-driven leadership, employee ownership, public-private partnerships and expanding access to opportunity.
“If all we do is maximize profits without inspiring our community, we have failed.”Mowa Haile, CEO, Sky Blue Builders
The Civic Leader-in-Residence initiative connects the Leeds community with accomplished leaders who exemplify the school’s vision of elevating business as a force for good. Mowa’s selection reflects a leadership philosophy that has shaped Sky Blue Builders since its founding in 2007 and is expressed through the company’s mission: Be Good. Do Great. Inspire.
“If all we do is maximize profits without inspiring our community, we have failed,” Mowa shared in an interview with Leeds. He also discussed his journey from Eritrea to Colorado, the importance of generosity in leadership and his belief that employee ownership is both a meaningful way to share opportunity and a smart business decision.
During his visit, Mowa will participate in a fireside chat with Julie Gibson, Sherman R. Miller Executive Director of the Klump Center for Real Estate.
Read the full Leeds School of Business interview with Mowa Haile.