Strategic Sourcing Analyst, Stack Infrastructure
Business wasn鈥檛 Rob La Trobe鈥檚 first career choice鈥攏or his second. After a long journey, he found himself at CU Boulder, leading to a career path that he loves. In June 2024, La Trobe landed his 鈥渄ream job,鈥� working as a strategic sourcing analyst.
Originally from Chicago, La Trobe was a first-generation graduate of Purdue University in 2015, getting a degree in premed with plans to go to grad school. After deciding that he didn鈥檛 want to commit to medicine, he joined the military and worked in intel until 2020. He was in operations and sales positions until he came to CU Boulder.
鈥淚 had the opportunity to make my own path rather than have one carved out for me,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 ended up at CU Boulder once I saw I needed to sharpen my tools in order to be 鈥榙angerous鈥� when it came to business acumen.鈥�
Pursuing a Dream
La Trobe wasn鈥檛 sure what to expect coming into Leeds. He hadn鈥檛 studied business before, but he knew this career path was his passion, and he was willing to work hard to create the experience he wanted.
鈥淚 wanted to prove to myself that I could be incredibly successful,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 held on to that dream and that goal. It took some iterations, failing in a lot of things that didn鈥檛 work out for me. But that's part of it鈥攁nd that鈥檚 the fun part.鈥� It helped that he felt surrounded by people who wanted him to do well, with a supportive culture that fostered connection. 鈥淚t was a recipe for success.鈥�
鈥淚t took some iterations, failing in a lot of things that didn鈥檛 work out for me. But that's part of it鈥攁nd that鈥檚 the fun part.鈥�
Rob La Trobe (MBA, MSupCha鈥�24)
A Delicate Balancing Act
Even with the stress of studying for two master鈥檚 degrees, La Trobe wanted to get involved in causes that he cares about. He joined Leeds鈥� Net Impact Club, which focuses on sustainability in business, and the MBA Veteran's Club, where he worked to inform veteran students of their benefits and connect them to different departments at CU. He served as the president of both organizations, all while balancing his school work and personal life.
鈥淚 felt like I was spinning a million plates, and fumbling quite a few of them,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t doesn't feel like you're doing anything right when you鈥檙e spread so thin. But you don鈥檛 have to spin the plates forever. It's OK for some of them to fall鈥攚here they should be. Everything happens for a reason.鈥�
Those reasons were abundantly clear when upon graduation听La Trobe was named听the MS Supply Chain Management Outstanding Student and he landed听his current job. It has听felt like the perfect fit. He especially enjoys being inspired by two bosses who encourage him to fail forward and experiment.
Gratitude and Giving Back
Reflecting upon his time at Leeds, La Trobe said听he鈥檚 proud of and grateful for CU Boulder. 鈥淚 can't thank the school enough.鈥� He's eager to keep giving back. 鈥淚 feel like it鈥檚 hard to be successful. I'd love to help where I can,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 privileged to be here. I'm grateful for the position I'm in now.鈥�