Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO — with Jaime Hunt

As higher ed faces increasing headwinds, hiring a Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) is no longer a luxury—it's a strategic necessity. As demographic shifts, escalating costs, and growing competition put more pressure on institutions, a CRO's role in unifying revenue-generating efforts becomes critical. 

In this episode, Jaime sits down with Steven Rutt, the Chief Revenue Officer for Abilene Christian University, to tackle this topic. This episode includes insights about:

• the ways a CRO can connect the dots between admissions, marketing, online programs, and fundraising;
• how a CRO ensures that  traditionally siloed departments work together toward shared institutional goals;
• how a CRO can foster a culture of strategic thinking around student acquisition, retention, and lifetime value; and
• the ways a CRO enhances financial sustainability and encourages innovation.

Guest Name: Steven Rutt, Chief Revenue Officer, Abilene Christian University

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-rutt-02922832/

Guest Bio: Steven is a higher education executive with over 20 years of experience focused heavily in the online education space.  His breadth of experience spans finance, student finance, business intelligence, analytics and performance marketing.  With almost 14 years at one of the largest online universities, he has implemented significant operational efficiency initiatives as well as managed one of the largest marketing budgets in the industry.  

Since 2019, Steven has been at Abilene Christian University mainly as the Chief Operating Officer of their Online Campus managing the finance, analytics, marketing, and campus operations departments.  Over his first 5 years, he has helped the online campus more than double in size.  As of September 2024, he has also added the role of Chief Revenue Officer over the entire university, focused on aligning marketing and enrollment strategies around an analytical culture and driving net tuition revenue growth.  

Steven resides in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex in Celina, Texas with his wife (Jo) and 3 daughters (Annora, Ginger and Hollister). 

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Talking Tactics and Higher Ed Pulse. 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! 
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.

Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register

Host Jaime Hunt reconnects with Bryce Hoffman live from AMA to explore his remarkable career evolution. From an unexpected layoff to his newly appointed role as Vice President and Chief Marketing Communications Officer at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Bryce shares insights on resilience, professional growth, and building meaningful connections in the higher ed marketing world.

Bryce Hoffman’s journey from career uncertainty to becoming a higher ed CMO is a testament to perseverance and adaptability. In this episode, Bryce reflects on the challenges of navigating setbacks, the value of leveraging your network, and the importance of embracing new opportunities with humility and confidence. His story offers actionable advice for aspiring CMOs and professionals facing similar crossroads.

• Growth Through Setbacks: Career setbacks can be opportunities for immense personal and professional growth.
• Intentional Networking: Building and maintaining strong professional relationships can open doors and provide critical support during transitions.
• Focus on Learning: Embrace new challenges by breaking them into manageable steps and being open to learning from others.
• Authentic Leadership: Be transparent about your strengths and limitations in interviews and on the job to build trust and credibility.
• Navigating the CMO Search: Maintain stamina and composure during rigorous interview processes by preparing thoughtfully and leaning on your network.

Resilience Through Setbacks 
Bryce shares how an unexpected layoff forced him to reevaluate his career and ultimately led to professional growth. He emphasizes the importance of reframing challenges as opportunities, noting, “When you’re at the bottom of a mountain, focus on the next 10 feet instead of the whole climb.”

The Value of Networking 
One of Bryce’s key strategies during his career transition was tapping into his professional network. From past supervisors to peers in the industry, he found support and mentorship that helped him navigate the job search process and prepare for his new role.

Becoming a Higher Ed CMO 
Bryce describes his excitement about joining WPI, a uniquely positioned institution with a strong STEM focus and global learning initiatives. He highlights his strategy for the first 90 days: listening, learning, and collaborating to make thoughtful, context-driven decisions that align with the university’s mission.

Advice for Aspiring CMOs 
For those looking to step into senior leadership roles, Bryce advises diversifying your skillset, taking on challenging projects, and remaining a lifelong learner. He stresses the importance of being authentic during interviews and relying on the expertise of your team once in the role.

Bryce Hoffman’s journey underscores that setbacks are often stepping stones to something greater. His story offers a powerful reminder that resilience, intentional networking, and a commitment to learning can lead to incredible opportunities. Whether you’re an aspiring CMO or navigating your own career pivot, Bryce’s insights provide a roadmap for success.

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Talking Tactics and Higher Ed Pulse. 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! 
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.

Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register

In this thought-provoking episode, Jaime Hunt sits down with Nick Ladany, President of San Francisco Bay University (SFBU), and Jamie Ceman from RW Jones, to explore the creation and launch of SFBU as a true “challenger brand” in higher education. They delve into SFBU’s radical student-centered model and its potential to disrupt the industry’s traditional norms, such as six-year graduation rates and inflated tuition costs. The episode highlights the university's distinctive mission to provide affordable, high-quality education while breaking down barriers to access.

Key Takeaways

• Challenger Brand Definition: SFBU aims to disrupt the conventional higher education model by prioritizing student needs over institutional legacy.
• Radical Student-Centered Approach: The university is designed to center around students, focusing on practical, industry-relevant curriculum and strong student support systems.
• Cost Efficiency in Higher Ed: SFBU maintains low tuition fees by streamlining expenses, investing in student services over facilities like athletics and rock climbing walls.
• Thought Leadership in Higher Ed: SFBU’s leadership team actively contributes to the national conversation on higher ed reform, promoting transparency, efficiency, and a student-first ethos.
• Focus on Student Success: SFBU challenges the traditional six-year graduation rate, aiming instead for three to four years by emphasizing wraparound student support.

What Is a Challenger Brand in Higher Education? 
A challenger brand breaks away from industry norms to bring new ideas and models to the forefront, and SFBU embodies this by prioritizing students over traditional higher ed values. Unlike universities that focus on faculty prestige or institutional heritage, SFBU was built from scratch with the student as its focal point. SFBU aims to disrupt higher education’s entrenched practices, likening its approach to industry game-changers like Tesla or WhatsApp. By addressing the needs of a diverse student body and adapting to demographic shifts, SFBU is poised to create a more accessible and relevant education model.

How Does SFBU’s Student-Centered Model Work? 
SFBU’s approach begins with a clear mission: graduating 100% of its students in four years, ideally reducing that timeframe to three. To achieve this, the university reengineers the curriculum to make it more relevant to modern industry demands and ensures that faculty are not only content experts but also trained educators. This model includes comprehensive wellness support, unlimited mental health services, and extensive academic support, all with the goal of fostering student success. Every service, program, and interaction at SFBU is designed to provide students with a holistic educational experience, making the institution truly student-centered.

What Role Does Branding Play in SFBU’s Mission? 
SFBU’s brand, summarized in the motto "There’s No Stopping It," captures the university’s disruptive ethos. Developed in collaboration with Jamie Seaman, the brand emphasizes the unstoppable drive of both the students and the university itself to overcome traditional boundaries. This bold brand identity not only resonates internally, with staff and students proudly adopting it, but also serves as a message to the wider community. The branding aims to shift perceptions about higher education, making it clear that SFBU is determined to challenge outdated conventions and provide a streamlined, accessible education.

How Does SFBU Address the National Debate on Higher Ed Value? 
SFBU’s leadership, especially President Nick Ladany, is vocal about rethinking higher ed’s value. He argues for wider access to college and believes that higher education should cater to students from diverse backgrounds, including those with less traditional academic paths. The university rejects the idea that academic rigor should be reserved for select students, instead offering tailored support to ensure all students can succeed. SFBU advocates for transparency, avoiding tactics like tuition freezes paired with hidden fees, and promotes a four-year—or even three-year—graduation standard to maximize the value students receive.

How Does SFBU Keep Tuition Low Without Sacrificing Quality? 
SFBU has maintained an impressive tuition rate of $10,000 per year, with most students receiving scholarships covering up to 80% of costs. This is possible because SFBU prioritizes efficient use of funds, avoiding extravagant expenses like climbing walls and redirecting resources to essential student services. Faculty and staff are well-compensated, creating a supportive and motivated team culture, yet SFBU saves on extraneous amenities that don’t directly contribute to academic or personal success. This cost-effective model is designed to keep education affordable and accessible, focusing on necessary services and student-centered investments.

What Is SFBU Doing to Advance Thought Leadership in Higher Ed?
President Ladany and the SFBU leadership team are committed to leading a national conversation on reforming higher education. They regularly contribute to forums and publications, like Forbes, to discuss issues such as hidden fees, tuition transparency, and the importance of a four-year graduation standard. Modani criticizes the norm of extended graduation timelines and argues for more efficient educational models. Through active participation in industry discourse, SFBU’s leaders aim to set new standards for accountability and transparency, pushing for reforms that prioritize student outcomes over institutional self-interest.

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Talking Tactics and Higher Ed Pulse. 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! 
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.

Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register

Every marketer knows the four Ps–Product, Price, Place and Promotion–but it is the rare higher ed marketing leader who gets to have a voice in anything beyond just Promotion. In this episode, Jaime sits down with Paul McGinnis, vice president for marketing and enrollment at Bethel University, to talk about how he led the charge to completely transform Bethel’s pricing strategy with a tuition reset. 

 Takeaways for this episode include insights into:

• why Bethel felt it was important to move toward tuition transparency
• why marketing led the charge – and how they tackled this massive undertaking
• how they communicated the change both internally and externally
• how a tuition reset could help struggling colleges make important changes that impact their trajectory
• why Jaime and Paul think that tuition transparency is an issue every higher ed leader needs to be considering

Guest Name: Paul McGinnis

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-mcginnis-20ba46b/

Guest Bio: Paul McGinnis is the vice president of marketing and enrollment at Bethel University. With more than 25 years of ascending leadership experience in industries as diverse as finance, higher education, and technology—including at a Fortune 250 company—McGinnis specializes in harnessing the power of teams to move organizations forward.  
McGinnis has a proven track record of successful change management, designing business models for sustained growth, and unlocking the potential in leaders at all levels. His ability to create high-performing teams, coupled with strategic and relational expertise, has helped him lead organizations to sustainable success and missional advancement. 
McGinnis is passionate about developing purposeful Christian leaders and providing more than an education for students at Bethel University by fusing transformative academics and a vibrant, Christ-guided community.

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Talking Tactics and Higher Ed Pulse. 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! 
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.

Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register

Jaime’s nearly a decade as a higher ed CMO and vice president likely wouldn’t have been possible if she hadn’t earned a master’s degree in integrated marketing communications from West Virginia University in 2011. For more the last 15 years, Jaime has used the program as an example of best practices in action for marketing an online graduate program 

In this episode, Jaime sits down with Chad Mezera, Assistant Dean of Online Programs for the College of Creative Arts and Media at West Virginia University, to talk about the program, how it is marketed, and the future of online learning.

Takeaways for this episode include:

• Insight into how WVU uses an integrated marketing communications approach to marketing an online graduate program.
• Advice on leveraging content marketing to grow interest in the program
• Insight into the ways a master’s degree can help grow your career
• Guidance on leveraging alumni to tell your program’s story

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-mezera-152bab2/

Guest Bio: Chad Mezera is the Assistant Dean of Online Programs for the College of Creative Arts and Media at West Virginia University (WVU). In this role, he oversees all online courses offered by the college and leads the online programs support team.

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Talking Tactics and Higher Ed Pulse. 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! 
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.

Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register

There are some marketers you just don’t want to have to compete with. Grant Heston at Virginia Commonwealth University is one of them. In this wide-ranging episode, Jaime sits down with Grant to talk about AI, collaboration, creativity, brand building, and more. Takeaways from this episode include:

• How to build consensus around the use of AI in marketing and communications
• Ideas around ways to enhance collaboration on your team
• Tips for building team culture with a distributed workforce
• Advice on building a brand that is truly distinctive in the marketing place – and how to leverage AI to help
• How to build an internal brand that leads to greater support and resources for your team

Guest Name: Grant Heston

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grantjheston/  

Guest Bio: Grant Heston is vice president for Enterprise Marketing and Communications for Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health. After arriving in 2021, he built the first integrated branding, communications and marketing division that serves both the university and health system. 
Grant previously spent more than 12 years in several roles — including vice president for Communications and Marketing and Chief of Staff to the President — at the University of Central Florida, one of the largest and most diverse research universities in the country.  
Grant has an undergraduate degree in Journalism from the University of Florida and an MBA from the University of Central Florida. He has written professional and personal stories that have been published by The Washington Post, Sports Illustrated, The Chronicle of Higher Education and more.

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Talking Tactics and Higher Ed Pulse. 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! 
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.

Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register

Marketing is an investment, not an expense. But too many universities don’t treat it as such. Instead, marketers find themselves with a budget that is not adequate for accomplishing goals and expectations. In this episode, Jaime sits down with Kristin Nichols, a seasoned higher education leader and consultant, to discuss this challenge – and what marketing leaders can do to solve it. 

Takeaways from this episode include:

• Insight into the long-term consequences of an inadequately funded marketing office
• Effective ways marketing leaders can advocate for larger budgets
• Tips for creatively stretching existing dollars
• Ideas around building a culture that supports marketing as an investment and not an expense

Guest Name: Kristin Nichols

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicholskristin/

Guest Bio: Kristin Nichols is a higher education marketing professional with a wealth of experience spanning over twenty years. Throughout her career, she has worked at several top-tier institutions in the Northeast region. Kristin's skills in market research, brand development, digital strategies, and enrollment marketing have made a lasting impact on the industry. Currently residing in suburban Boston with her husband Chris and their two young children, Kristin devotedly balances a dedication to both her career and family. As a strategist and leader, she continues to shape the landscape of higher education marketing by contributing to the growth and success of the institutions she guides.

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Talking Tactics and Higher Ed Pulse. 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! 
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.

Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register

In this episode, Jaime sits down with Kim Hallman to talk about the role placing faculty experts can play in an integrated marketing communications strategy. By strategically integrating faculty experts into an overall marketing communications strategy, universities can leverage their knowledge and reputation to enhance the institution’s image, attract and retain students, and potentially impact rankings. Takeaways from this episode include:

• Advice on how to choose faculty members for strategic expert pitching – and how to train them to make the most of their interview opportunities
• Insight into ways colleges and universities can use earned media as part of a broad marketing strategy
• Guidance on how to craft a pitch that sells an expert
• Insight into trending topics – including the forthcoming election
• Strategies for leveraging faculty expertise through short form video

Guest Name: Kim Hallman

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlyhallman/

Guest Bio: Now in season 10 at 160over90, Kim leads the agency’s institutional marketing practice, helping colleges and universities, research institutes, health enterprises, and cause-based organizations raise awareness and raise funds to support a core impact mission. A former journalist turned publicist now all-around communications strategist, she first penned bylines in The Post-Standard in upstate New York, then worked as an editorial assistant for the National Campaign for the Arts in London, before landing on the marketing scene 18+ years ago. Originally focused in retail and hospitality PR, Kim quickly found that education category work fulfills her deep desire for lifelong learning. She holds a BA in English from Bucknell University and a master’s degree in Print Journalism from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. These days, when Kim’s not working, she’s soaking up all the firsts of new motherhood (and still trying to make some time for sleep).

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Talking Tactics and Higher Ed Pulse. 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! 
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.

Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register

In this compelling episode of "Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO," Jaime talks with Joe Picini, who opens up about his personal journey of navigating a sudden layoff and the critical role his professional network played in finding new opportunities. 

Takeaways from this episode include:

• Advice for building a network that can help you land on your feet after an unexpected career setback – or when your just ready to make a change
• Insight into how a great professional network can help you overcome imposter syndrome
• Strategies for connecting with colleagues, mentors, and LinkedIn connections when you need professional support
• Tips for protecting your mental health when dealing with life’s curveballs

Listen to Joe’s inspiring story and gather actionable insights on how to leverage your network, stay resilient, and navigate the challenges of a job search. Whether you're facing job uncertainty or looking to strengthen your professional connections, this episode offers valuable lessons for all.

Guest Name: Joe Picini

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-picini-02496429/

Guest Bio: Joe Picini has over a decade of experience in higher ed marketing and enrollment strategy. He started his career at NYU as an admissions counselor before transitioning to NYU’s enrollment marketing team. He’s worked at a digital marketing agency as a strategist, a Director of Enrollment Marketing at an art school in Brooklyn, and currently serves as the Director of Recruitment Marketing at New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT) supporting their online portfolio. Throughout his career he’s had the chance to work with all student types (from precollege through masters programs) and all degree formats.

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Talking Tactics and Higher Ed Pulse. 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! 
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.

Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register

In this episode, Jaime and Day Kibilds, VP for Strategy at Ologie, explore Ologie’s study on the parents of Gen Alpha, exploring the implications for higher education marketers and institutions. This episode examines the defining traits of Gen Alpha, the pivotal role of technology in their lives, and the profound impact of their parents on their educational choices.

Key takeaways for this episode include:

• A look into the demographic and psychographics of Gen Alpha and their parents – and why that’s significant for higher ed marketers today.
• Insight into Gen Alpha’s parents, their influence on their children, and how their approaches to parenting and education differ from previous generations.
• An understanding of how Gen Alpha parents perceive the value of higher education and the factors influencing their attitudes towards affordability and necessity.
• Tips for reaching Gen Alpha’s parents – both from a channel perspective and a messaging perspective.

Tune in to this episode for a comprehensive look at Gen Alpha and the evolving dynamics of higher education marketing. Whether you’re an educator, marketer, or parent, this discussion will provide valuable insights into engaging the newest generation of learners and their influential parents.

Ologie’s Parents of Gen Alpha Study: https://ologie.com/gen-alpha-parents/

To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website, or search for Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO in your favorite podcast player.

Guest Name: Dayana Kibilds, VP of Strategy for Ologie

Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dayanakibilds/

Guest Bio: Dayana is VP of strategy at Ologie, an employee-owned marketing and branding agency built for education. Prior to Ologie, Day led enrollment and digital innovation work at Penn State, Cornell and Western (Canada). She regularly speaks about enrollment marketing, email strategy, productivity and stakeholder management at conferences worldwide. Day is the host of Enrollify's Talking Tactics podcast, and is co-authoring a book about email to be released in August 2024. As a lifelong immigrant who has lived in six different countries, equity and diversity are really important to her. She sees content as a tool for equity, and part of her motivation to work in higher ed is to help students access the educational institutions they deserve to be a part of.

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Connect With Our Host:
Jaime Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/
https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMC

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Talking Tactics and Higher Ed Pulse. 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! 
The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.

Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register