EdUp PCO

It’s YOUR time to #EdUpPCO

In this episode,

YOUR guest is Caroline Williams, Executive Director of Oxford Saïd Online at the Saïd Business School of the University of Oxford.

YOUR host is Amrit Ahluwalia⁠⁠.

During the episode, Caroline suggests some key directions for leaders pursuing an ambitious vision at their institution:

> Move from providing information to developing judgment. As information becomes abundant through AI, search, social media and other sources, the value of education increasingly lies in helping learners interrogate information, assess credibility, connect perspectives and exercise good judgment.

> Design for continuous, contextual learning. Executive education is shifting beyond one-time interventions toward learning that sits closer to the flow of work, while learners increasingly expect experiences that connect directly to their own organization, geography and challenges.

> Build strategy backwards from a clear vision. Caroline starts with clarity about the destination and timeframe, then works backwards through the technology, investment, capabilities, ownership, dependencies, milestones and indicators required to get there.

> Pressure-test today’s choices against multiple futures. Rather than assuming one version of the future, Caroline uses scenario thinking to ask which strategic options will remain robust across several possible futures—and watches for strategic drift as the environment changes.

> Treat stakeholder support as evidence, not just politics. Ambitious ideas need to be sense-checked with academics, leaders and other stakeholders. Caroline’s view is especially compelling: if authentic support isn’t emerging, that may be a signal to rethink and improve the idea rather than simply sell it harder.

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Thank you for listening to the EdUp PCO podcast! Make sure to subscribe and follow, and don’t forget to leave a rating!

It’s YOUR time to #EdUpPCO

In this episode,

YOUR guest is Krissy Collins, Dean of the Division of Continuing Education at UC Irvine.

YOUR host is Amrit Ahluwalia⁠⁠.

Some key questions we tackle:

🎯 How strategy can give teams the clarity to decide which opportunities to pursue—and which to turn down

🧱 Why foundational priorities like strong processes, quality programming and learner focus can create the conditions for future innovation

👥 Why a strategic plan has to be useful to the people actually doing the work

⚡ How clarity can push decision-making deeper into an organization instead of forcing every decision upward

🔄 How to remain responsive to change without allowing outside forces to constantly redefine your direction

Listen in to #EdUp!

Thank you for listening to the EdUp PCO podcast! Make sure to subscribe and follow, and don’t forget to leave a rating!

It’s YOUR time to #EdUpPCO

In this episode,

YOUR guest is Robert Wagner, President of Idaho State University

YOUR host is Amrit Ahluwalia⁠⁠.

Some key questions we tackle:

🧭 Why mission, vision and institutional principles should provide the stable foundation for strategy

🔄 Why action strategies need to evolve as conditions around the institution change

🏛️ How institutional history can help leaders build confidence around change rather than fear of it

🤝 Why transparency and collaboration matter when strategy leads to difficult decisions

🎯 How leaders can turn broad strategic ambitions into practical priorities for the year ahead

Listen in to #EdUp!

Thank you for listening to the EdUp PCO podcast! Make sure to subscribe and follow, and don’t forget to leave a rating!

It’s YOUR time to #EdUpPCO

In this episode,

YOUR guest is Sheila LeBlanc, Associate Vice President for Continuing Education at the University of Calgary.

YOUR host is Amrit Ahluwalia⁠⁠.

Some key questions we tackle:

⚡ Why responsiveness is one of PCO’s most important strategic capabilities

🧭 How to maintain a clear long-term vision while adapting short-term priorities

🔗 The importance of finding opportunities to connect PCO goals to broader institutional strategy

🏆 Why small wins matter—and why leaders need to amplify them to build institutional momentum

💪 The role of prioritization and tenacity when change simply can’t happen all at once

Listen in to #EdUp!

Thank you for listening to the EdUp PCO podcast! Make sure to subscribe and follow, and don’t forget to leave a rating!

It’s YOUR time to #EdUpPCO

In this episode,

YOUR guest is Luke Dowden, Vice Chancellor for Digital Learning and Transformation at Alamo Colleges District.

YOUR host is Amrit Ahluwalia⁠⁠.

Some key ideas we tackle:

> Why bringing critics into the process can actually strengthen the work

> The importance of using data to build understanding and create shared urgency

> Why leaders can’t assume colleagues understand the learners or communities they serve

> How to keep making bets on innovation (even when financial constraints mean you have less room to fail)

> Why sustained change often depends less on a single breakthrough idea and more on the ability to keep people engaged over time

On September 25 I hosted a webinar focused on how innovative colleges & polytechs are pursuing change while navigating strategic, operational and legislative barriers. The webinar panelists are Neil Fassina (President, Okanagan College) and Susan Cluett (VP-Academic, Fanshawe College).

To access the recording, click here: https://academica.corsizio.com/event/6a5a8cf96905bd52ffce7ffc

Thank you for listening to the EdUp PCO podcast! Make sure to subscribe and follow, and don’t forget to leave a rating!

It’s YOUR time to #EdUpPCO

In this episode,

YOUR guest is Mary Butler, President and CEO of New Brunswick Community College.

YOUR host is Amrit Ahluwalia⁠⁠.

Some key questions we tackle:

> How does clarity of vision feed institutional strategy, operations and culture?

> Why must innovation be treated as a core competency rather than an add-on?

> How should colleges understand and pursue their missions given the challenging circumstances of today’s postsecondary environment?

I will be hosting a webinar on September 25 focused on how innovative colleges & polytechs are pursuing change while navigating strategic, operational and legislative barriers. The webinar panelists are Neil Fassina (President, Okanagan College) and Susan Cluett (VP-Academic, Fanshawe College). To register, click here: https://academica.corsizio.com/event/6a5a8cf96905bd52ffce7ffc

Thank you for listening to the EdUp PCO podcast! Make sure to subscribe and follow, and don’t forget to leave a rating!

It’s YOUR time to #EdUpPCO

In this episode,

YOUR guest is Mohammad Salhia, Senior Director of Continuing Education at McMaster University

YOUR host is Amrit Ahluwalia⁠⁠.

Some key topics we tackle:

●     How innovation is driven in the continuing medical and executive education arenas

●     Why continuing medical education sits so effectively at the intersection of academia and industry

●     What makes the PCO space unique, and what it can adopt from other sectors

I will be hosting a webinar on September 25 focused on how innovative colleges & polytechs are pursuing change while navigating strategic, operational and legislative barriers. Thewebinar panelists are Neil Fassina (President, Okanagan College) and Susan Cluett (VP-Academic, Fanshawe College). To register, click here: https://academica.corsizio.com/event/6a5a8cf96905bd52ffce7ffc

Thank you for listening to the EdUp PCO podcast! Make sure to subscribe and follow, and don’t forget to leave a rating!

It’s YOUR time to #EdUpPCO

In this episode,

YOUR guest is Angie Kamath, Dean of the School of Professional Studies at New York University.

YOUR host is Amrit Ahluwalia⁠⁠.

Some key questions we tackle:

●     Why should leaders endeavour to be transparent about their passion and personal vision?

●     How can leaders translate that vision into strategic andoperational direction-setting?

●      What are the limiting factors that PCO leaders typically need to navigate when establishing an innovative vision and direction?

I will be hosting a webinar on September 25 focused on how innovative colleges & polytechs are pursuing change while navigating strategic, operational and legislative barriers. Thewebinar panelists are Neil Fassina (President, Okanagan College) and Susan Cluett (VP-Academic, Fanshawe College). To register, click here: https://academica.corsizio.com/event/6a5a8cf96905bd52ffce7ffc

Thank you for listening to the EdUp PCO podcast! Make sure to subscribe and follow, and don’t forget to leave a rating!

It’s YOUR time to #EdUpPCO

In this episode:

YOUR guest is Michelle Aarons, Executive Director of Programs and Partnerships at the York University Schoolof Continuing Studies and 2025-26 President of CAUCE.

YOUR host is Amrit Ahluwalia⁠⁠.

Some key questions we tackle:

●     What role do PCO units play in addressing Canada’s labour skills gap?

●     What roadblocks do PCO units generally face in trying todevelop, launch and market career-relevant programming?

●     What are the biggest misconceptions folks in industry and across the academy have about professional, continuing & online education?

I will be hosting a webinar on September 25 focused on how innovative colleges & polytechs are pursuing change while navigating strategic, operational and legislative barriers. Thewebinar panelists are Neil Fassina (President, Okanagan College) and Susan Cluett (VP-Academic, Fanshawe College). To register, click here: https://academica.corsizio.com/event/6a5a8cf96905bd52ffce7ffc

Thank you for listening to the EdUp PCO podcast! Make sure to subscribe and follow, and don’t forget to leave a rating!

It’s YOUR time to #EdUpPCO

In this episode,

YOUR guest is Frank Cappadocia, Dean of Professional & Continuous Learning at Humber College.

YOUR host is Amrit Ahluwalia⁠⁠.

Some key questions we tackle:

> What are some aspects of the work that happens inprofessional, continuing and online education in the college sector that fly under the radar?

> What role can PCO units play in supporting labourproductivity improvement in Canada, especially when it comes to addressing skills gaps?

> How can PCO leaders work to position their work asmore of a strategic asset to their home institutions?

Download this white paper to learn more about how PCO divisions can be positioned as a strategic asset for the whole institution.

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Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠

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