Beck Sydow utilized their degree in Contemplative Psychotherapy to re-enter and rise in the business world
Beck Sydow’s (they/them) degree in Contemplative Psychotherapy (‘06) prepared them to re-enter the business world with what some might see as an unconventional perspective. Today, Sydow is the CEO of StickerGiant—a company with 130 employees voted “One of the Best Places to Work in 2018” by Denver Business Journal and again in 2022 by Built in Colorado.
Sydow is one of the few CEOs who identifies as gender non-binary, and they say they utilize their training in Contemplative Psychotherapy all the time to meet the demands of being a leader in the fast-paced world of business.
Sydow first heard about Naropa through a tourism book they picked up on a business trip in Denver 20 some years ago. They decided to visit campus and were amazed to discover a university like Naropa existed, yet they returned to Virginia and eventually obtained their first master’s degree from George Washington University.
Years later, when Sydow got their first home computer, the first website they typed into it was naropa.edu. They had not thought about Naropa in ages—yet, when confronted with the question, “What do I want to search?” The answer that came to mind was Naropa.
Sydow shares how their dyslexia always drew them to non-traditional education and speaks to the uniqueness of a Naropa education. They valued the connection with their cohort and experiences in the Maitri rooms—and they laugh about how Naropa can be challenging to explain to someone who has never experienced it. Thankfully, Sydow found someone who understands to share their life with.
The path of entrepreneurship/intrapreneurship involves a considerable measure of dealing with the unknown and uncertain.... I think that’s what a Naropa education and training is all about—learning to be in discomfort and remembering how to stay centered.
Less than 24 hours after Sydow (then Smith) initially moved to Boulder, they met Lisa Sydow—also a graduate of the Contemplative Psychotherapy program—at the dog park, and they have been together ever since.
Sydow says their training at Naropa “focused around being of therapeutic benefit,” but “therapeutic benefit is not the only thing the training benefits.” After graduating, Sydow opened a private psychotherapy and coaching practice then felt drawn to re-enter the business world.
They say their experience at Naropa prepared them “in a way nothing else really could have” to be of benefit leading a local fast growing organization with the support of a contemplative framework and practices.
They describe themself as not “ your classic entrepreneur,” but rather an “intrapreneur” who works with entrepreneurs to help scale their ideas into growth models.
“The path of entrepreneurship/intrapreneurship involves a considerable measure of dealing with the unknown and uncertain. Your feet are dangling a little bit and you don’t know if your great idea is actually going to take off. I think that’s what a Naropa education and training is all about—learning to be in discomfort and remembering how to stay centered.”
Five years from now, Syndow aspires to “retire” then continue helping business leaders of the future handle the rapidly changing world of business through advising, coaching, and consulting.
