“Jeff, what does Day 2 look like?”

 

That’s the first line of Jeff Bezos’ 2016 letter to shareholders, a question from a staff member at an all-hands meeting in which he describes a transformation that organizations can find themselves undertaking without careful and diligent attention. His response:

 

“Day 2 is stasis. Followed by irrelevance. Followed by excruciating, painful decline. Followed by death. And _that_ is why it is _always_ Day 1.”

 

We start our conversation on the podcast today, pivoting off of Bezos’ response and his drive to maintain the agility of _Day 1_ inside Amazon, with a question of our own: Where is higher ed? Is higher ed in Day 1 or Day 2?

 

There is power in exploring this question for ourselves and then finding ways to explore with others.

 

Jeff Bezos’ letter will take you just a few minutes to read, and it sets the stage for a broader discussion that is critical for us in higher ed to help move our institutions forward with courage.

 

**Links & Notes**

 
- [Jeff Bezos’ 2016 Letter to Shareholders — April 12, 2017](https://www.amazon.com/p/feature/z6o9g6sysxur57t)

Fight the Drift to Day 2

Navigating Change is a platform for understanding the complex and uncertain waters of change in higher education. Each week, Howard Teibel, Pete Wright, and guests dissect issues facing institutions and teams in transition and offer solutions for the most troubling process challenges

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We are thrilled to present this episode of the Net Assets Podcast, a partnership between NBOA and Teibel Education Consulting, with NBOA President and CEO Jeff Shields and Teibel Education President Howard Teibel. 
 This episode marks the first in what we hope will become a collection of some of the best and most illuminating interviews dedicated to you, independent school business leaders. As NBOA grows into its new brand identity, we have the great privilege of launching this podcast with a conversation about an institution unafraid of telling the story of what makes them great, a school unburdened by the weight of telling the stories they think the public wants to hear. And who better to share that story than the extraordinary leaders of the Lakefield College School themselves? 
 Lakefield College School is a coeducational boarding and day school in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada, for students in grades 9 through 12. Today, Jeff and Howard are joined by Anne-Marie Kee, Head of School since 2017, and Tim Rutherford, Associate Head of School and Chief Financial Officer since 2014. 
 If you've ever wondered what it takes to be authentic in your mission, elevate faculty, staff, and students, and transform enrollment growth along the way, you need to check out this conversation. 
 This show is made possible thanks to the generous support of Community Brands. 


The Teamwork Behind a Turnaround

This week, Jeff Shields, President and CEO at NBOA, joins Howard Teibel for a conversation on the future of independent schools ahead of the 2024 NBOA Annual Meeting & Business Solutions Showcase. Howard and Jeff speak about issues of integrating telework, the sustainability of post-pandemic innovations, and the critical importance of community and collaboration in sparking transformative ideas. “Your next best idea is not going to come from walking down the hallway at your own school,” he says, “It will come from being among more than a thousand people in an international community who have walked in your shoes,” he continues, stressing the invaluable benefits of shared experiences and collective wisdom that can be found at the NBOA Annual Meeting. Jeff offers a sneak peek into what attendees can anticipate at the 2024 NBOA Annual Meeting & Business Solutions Showcase, taking place February 25 – 28 in Atlanta, Georgia. The event promises to be a hub for independent school leaders to converge, share their experiences, and learn from the collective wisdom of the community. Links & NotesLearn More about the NBOA Annual MeetingNBOA Keynote Speaker LineupNBOA Deep Dive Sessions

NBOA CEO Jeff Shields on Navigating Independent School Challenges and the 2024 NBOA Annual Meeting

As we continue our gradual emergence from a certain hibernation over the last three years, the opportunity to engage with our colleagues is more critical than ever. Brad Bacca, President of Western Colorado University and the Western Association of College and University Business Officers, sits down this week with Howard Teibel as they turn their attention to the upcoming WACUBO Annual Conference coming April 30 to May 3 in Phoenix, Arizona.  This year's theme is Rising to the Challenge - A call to intentionally engage in what we've learned and face our challenges with renewed resilience. You can join Howard at the conference in his pre-conference workshop on producing innovative and creative thinking in the business office. To learn more about this conference or register for the event, visit WACUBO.org.
(00:00) - Welcome to Navigating Change
(01:50) - Introducing Brad Bacca
(03:48) - The Value of Coming Together
(05:07) - The Keynotes
(10:00) - The President's View
(11:48) - Rising Challenge of Divided Government
(13:12) - The General Session
(16:05) - Pre-Conference Workshops
(17:01) - Business Partners
(18:56) - WACUBO After Dark


WACUBO 2023 Annual Conference: Rising to the Challenge with WACUBO President Brad Baca

NBOA President and CEO, Jeff Shields, joins Howard Teibel for a conversation on indepenent school business, finance, and operations, all in preparation for the association's 25 Anniversary Celebration in Los Angeles, February 19-22.

NBOA: 25 Years! A Conversation with President and CEO Jeff Shields

This February, the preeminent meeting for independent school business operations professionals returns in person! This week, NBOA CEO Jeff Shields joins Howard Teibel to talk about the year past and the importance of reengaging your business officer community as we rebuild together.

Fight the Drift to Day 2

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