Rob Zinkan shares how specializing in higher-ed marketing and communications led them into organization design, why “centralize vs decentralize” and “bust silos” are often unhelpful binaries, and how leaders can improve effectiveness by clarifying purpose, strategy, and ways of working. Key themes include influence without authority, integrating across silos, making trade-offs explicit, engaging people through co-creation (not just buy-in), and treating org design as an ongoing leadership discipline—especially amid hybrid work and AI.

00:00 Intro + Rob’s path into org design via higher education

03:54 Why specialize (industry + function) and where it creates value

06:34 Marketing as an enterprise capability aligned to strategy

10:27 Universities, repeatable org units, and strategy tensions (research vs teaching)

11:59 Centralize vs decentralize; silos and horizontal integration mechanisms

15:30 Business model + operating model realities in universities

18:11 Moving from diagnosis to future-state operating reality; engaging people

20:49 When to apply org design principles (any size team; ongoing discipline)

23:11 One leadership skill: ask better questions (and listen)

24:25 Hybrid/AI shifts focus from org charts to operating models

26:17 Accountability, org charts, and codifying ways of working

30:21 Wrap-up

The Org Design Podcast

https://www.functionly.com/org-design-podcast

https://www.linkedin.com/company/orgdesignpodcast/

Functionly

https://www.functionly.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/functionly/