Anne Bleeker’s degree from UCCS shows its value daily. Since earning her MBA in 2002, she has applied that foundation to the decisions she makes, the risks she takes, and the business she has built over more than fifteen years.
Originally from the Netherlands, Anne began her career in hospitality, studying at Hotelschool The Hague. She first entered the workforce in Belgium, but both Anne and her then-fiancé, Floor, knew they wanted to further their studies.
The pair applied for a scholarship, each with the goal of earning a master’s degree in business administration.
“We were looking for an Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business accredited university that could do a dual online and on campus experience for us for our MBA,” Anne said. “And UCCS came out on top of that research for us.”
Anne said the university’s flexibility stood out. The program allowed Anne and Floor to begin the program via distance learning while continuing to work in Belgium. Later, they spent several months studying on campus in Colorado Springs. Anne said they worked on campus, explored the region and immersed themselves in a culture that was new to them. They biked through the city, visited national parks and attended a variety of local sporting events from college hockey to an Army–Air Force football game. They had the chance to return to Colorado Springs and the UCCS campus a few years ago and revisited some of their favorite spots in town.
“The distinct four seasons in Colorado are just something else, and I’ll never forget that,” Anne said.
But the people impacted her even more than the scenery.
At a time when international students were less common in the program, Anne remembers being met with openness and curiosity. Classroom conversations drew from a wide range of experiences including military backgrounds, corporate careers and multinational perspectives. That diversity shaped how she learned.
“You do learn from each other as much as you do from the content,” she said.
Anne and Floor completed their degrees in Dubai, where they have continued to live and work. Now married, the couple has one daughter, who is currently studying musical theater in New York.
Anne has built a career in hospitality communications, having served as a director of corporate communications for a major hotel group. Later, she joined a family office to prepare one of its core businesses for an IPO, leading both internal and external communications strategy during a volatile economic period.
The turning point came unexpectedly.
When the IPO was put on hold, Anne recommended restructuring the communications function, an idea that effectively eliminated her own role. Instead of ending her career there, it became the start of something new.
“They said, ‘Why don’t you start a business and we’ll outsource to you?’” she explained.
That is exactly what she did.
Today, Anne runs a strategic communications consultancy based in Dubai, advising hospitality and technology clients across the Middle East, Europe and the United States. Now in its sixteenth year, her firm supports organizations navigating growth, change and global markets.
She said her work reflects the perspective she gained as an international student. That includes an ability to move between cultures, understand different business norms and communicate across them.
“You learn a lot about doing business in different environments,” she said. “That’s been really important in my career.”
Anne remains actively connected to UCCS, following campus updates and volunteering to review scholarship applications. She said the experience felt especially meaningful as her daughter was applying for universities at the same time.
“Everyone’s background is different; everyone’s ambition is different,” she said. “It’s encouraging to see what people are working toward.”
Anne also recently decided to make a gift to support the Chancellor’s Leadership Class during the university’s annual giving day, Carry the Light.
“When the giving campaign came up, I really wanted to use the opportunity to give back,” she said. “I specifically chose the Chancellor’s Leadership Class because in hiring people, I often see that those additional skills gained outside of rigorous academic programs are so important for success later on in life.”
Anne said she has seen firsthand how leadership skills, community involvement and initiative can distinguish candidates as much as academic performance.
Looking back, she credits her UCCS education with giving her the tools to support both her early corporate career and her transition into entrepreneurship.
“Earning an MBA has been instrumental,” she said. “Of course, it’s something you can put next to your name, but it’s really about the experiences and skills you build along the way.”
For students considering a similar path, especially those coming from outside the United States, her advice isn’t complicated.
“Step out of your comfort zone,” she said. “You gain so much more when you study in a different culture.”