Across public higher education, there are institutions where the machinery of governance still hums but the spirit that once powered it has stalled. Leadership meetings occur on schedule, strategic plans are cited in slide decks, and community updates are filled with the right vocabulary of innovation and inclusion. Yet within the walls of these colleges—and, […]
Tag: leadership
Holding Steady in Change
In complex times, steady leadership is not optional. It’s what holds teams together, builds trust, and drives meaningful progress when clarity is hardest to find.
As a Leader, Are You Actually Listening?
Before your next conversation, pause and ask yourself: Am I really hearing them — or am I only hearing myself?
The Discipline of Letting Expertise Lead
The higher we rise, the more comfortable we must become with the truth that we are no longer the smartest person in every room—and that is exactly as it should be.
Just a Community College? Not Anymore. The Marketing Shift We Need
Change is hard. Silos are real. But if we don’t bring people along with us — if we don’t share wins, ask questions, and make room for shared ownership — then we’re just making the job harder for ourselves.
It’s Time for Community College Marketers to Break Stuff
When you consistently show results, when you tell the right stories internally and externally, and when you build coalitions of forward-thinking colleagues, you can shift the culture. I’ve seen it happen.
The Arena of Cruelty: Sports Culture Conditions Us for Dehumanization
If we want to remain a society that values more than domination, we must learn to cheer differently. The spectacle is not inherently wrong. But what we demand of it—and how we reflect it—can be reimagined.
Taking Stock: High Vibration in a Low-Frequency World
Somewhere along the way, I stopped expecting applause. I stopped expecting that doing the right thing would be rewarded, that advocating for others would earn loyalty, or that holding people accountable would inspire change. I learned that showing up with clarity, consistency, and compassion can make you a target just as quickly as it makes […]
Stop Chasing Black and White — Win in the Gray
And if you’re waiting for perfect clarity, or the perfect answer, or the perfect timing — you’re waiting for something that doesn’t exist.
Swearing Might Make You a Better Leader
Turns out, swearing isn’t just a meme about smart people — it’s a leadership tactic, too. Used right, it breaks tension, builds trust, and clears the air. Here’s a quick read on lalochezia, and why you might want to embrace the occasional expletive.
Why Do the Troublemakers Get a Free Pass at Work? (While the Rest of Us Get Exhausted.)
First, a truth bomb: people who stir the pot are exhausting to manage. That’s not an excuse—it’s a reality.
Deviant by Design: Reimagining Leadership
In today’s complex, messy environments—especially in higher education and mission-driven sectors—leaders are being asked to do more than “manage.” We’re being asked to shift culture, invite belonging, and solve problems that don’t have a clear path forward. That’s why we need a new kind of leadership. One that is creative, contextual, and deeply human. Enter […]
Authenticity Fatigue, or, I’m Just Tired
For those experiencing the fatigue of being publicly “real” in professionally strategic ways, it may be time to embrace a quieter, less curated form of presence.
Everybody’s a Marketer: Musings of a Community College CMO
Here’s my proposal: let’s play to our strengths. Let’s work together, but maybe let marketing actually do the marketing. Trust me, we’ve got this.
Captain’s Log: Stardate 2024.0405
Leadership isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s about knowing the mission, knowing yourself, and earning your crew’s trust — one decision at a time.
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