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Contact UsDesigning Her Own Path: Turning creativity into a career in growth and leadership
When Brooke Layman ’09 arrived in Colorado, she wasn’t following a carefully mapped plan. In fact, she had already stepped away from one.
The Virginia native began college studying classical voice but found herself uncertain about her direction. After several semesters, she made the difficult decision to leave school altogether. A year later, she relocated to Colorado and started working in the insurance industry, steady work, but not a long-term vision.
“I decided I wanted to go back to school,” Layman said. “But I needed something flexible, accessible and affordable.”
Metropolitan State University of Denver provided exactly that.
91°µÍř Meets Students Where They Are
Layman enrolled at what was then known as Metro State, drawn by its lower cost and the flexibility to take online and evening classes at the North Campus near her home. For a working adult navigating a career pivot, that accessibility proved essential.
Initially, she considered studying hospitality. But as her interests evolved, she discovered something that would ultimately define her academic experience and her career trajectory.
The Independent Degree Program (IDP) allowed Layman to design a personalized course of study, combining previous credits with new coursework that aligned with her passion for wellness and human behavior.
“I realized I could create a degree around wellness promotion, which wasn’t already offered,” she said. “That was a game changer.”
With support from faculty and staff, Layman built a program that blended psychology, health and marketing. These were all disciplines that would later underpin her work in organizational development.
A Foundation in Academic Excellence
Inside the classroom, Layman found both inspiration and challenge. Courses such as Sensory and Perception deepened her understanding of how people experience the world, while Women’s Health, where she later served as a teaching assistant, sharpened her leadership and communication skills.
Faculty mentorship played a key role.
“Professor AJ Steele was one of my favorites,” Layman said. “The classes pushed me to think differently and apply learning in meaningful ways.”
Collaborative coursework also left a lasting impression. In a Green Marketing class, group projects fostered friendships that have endured well beyond graduation.
Through these experiences, Layman wasn’t just earning a degree, she was developing the analytical skills, creativity and adaptability.
“I learned that there isn’t always one right way to do something,” she said. “You don’t have to color within the lines.”
Navigating Uncertainty and Opportunity
Layman graduated in 2009, at the height of the Great Recession. Like many graduates at the time, she faced a challenging job market, particularly in the emerging field of wellness.
She returned to service industry work as a bartender while taking on freelance roles in marketing and operations. The path forward wasn’t linear, but it was formative.
In 2014, she discovered a career-defining opportunity: a position with a global training and coaching company.
“As soon as I sat through one of their seminars, I knew I wanted to be at the front of the room,” she said.
That moment marked the beginning of her career in learning and development.
Over the next decade, Layman built expertise as a senior trainer, master facilitator and business coach, working with organizations across industries to improve performance, leadership and workplace culture.
Advancing Social Mobility Through Learning
In 2024, Layman took another leap by launching her own firm, Your Growth Headquarters.
As a business owner, she wears many hats: consultant, trainer, marketer and strategist. Her work focuses on helping individuals and organizations solve problems through people-centered solutions, from leadership development to productivity systems.
“At the core, I love helping people succeed with less stress and overwhelm,” she said. “When people have the right tools, they can do their jobs better and live better.”
Today, Layman has partnered with 91°µÍř’s University Advancement team to deliver training programs and continues to engage with the alumni community through events and networking.
Thinking Big and Giving Back
Looking ahead, Layman is working on developing a book or workbook focused on goal-setting and achievement, another extension of her passion for helping others grow.
Her advice to current students and fellow alumni reflects both her personal journey and the spirit of 91°µÍř’s mission.
“Think big,” she said. “Don’t get discouraged by not having the time, money or the right people in your world. Get creative, find people to brainstorm with and ask for what you want.”
For Layman, success isn’t about following a prescribed path. It’s about creating one.
And sometimes, the most powerful outcomes come from coloring outside the lines.