Leadership & Learning w/Dr. JBT

Failing Fast, Putting People First, and Unlocking Hidden Strengths with Alby Salsa

In this episode of Leadership and Learning, I sit down with Alby Salsa, Founder and CEO of Raven Eye, and a thought leader in higher education enrollment and student success.

Alby brings more than 20 years of experience guiding institutions in building enrollment teams, designing large-scale student coaching programs, and strengthening retention. His leadership journey has included roles as Regional Vice President at InsideTrack, Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Operations at Brandman University, and Senior Director of Enrollment and Retention at Blackboard. Today, through Raven Eye and his podcast Going the Distance, he continues to shape best practices that impact learners nationwide.

Our conversation explores:

• Failing Fast: Why speed and learning matter more than perfection.

• People First Leadership: Start with your people.

• Overcoming Self-Doubt: How to unlock what's already within you.

• The Row Team Analogy: What rowing teaches us about team placement, alignment, and the difference between winning and losing.

Whether you're leading a team, navigating higher education, or simply seeking ways to bring out the best in people, Alby's insights will challenge and inspire you.

🔗 Listen now and join the conversation on how we can lead with care, confidence, and strategy.

In this episode of Leadership and Learning with Dr. JBT, I sit down with Tyler Maskiewicz, a leader who thrives in a matrix structure where influence, collaboration, and vision are essential. Unlike traditional vertical leadership, Tyler leads horizontally, working across teams and functions to align people toward shared goals.

Tyler shares how he:

• Builds rapport and trust to gain momentum when he doesn't hold direct authority.

• Uses stakeholder mapping and a deep understanding of his audience to move projects forward.

• Casts a compelling vision of what's possible to inspire others to invest time and energy.

• Approaches conversations with intentionality, knowing that when he shows up, he's often asking people to take on more work.

This conversation is a masterclass in the power of influence over authority. Tyler reminds us that in complex organizations, leadership isn't about titles; it's about relationships, strategy, and the ability to move people toward a shared future.

Tune in to learn practical ways to strengthen your influence, especially if you lead across functions, roles, and priorities.

Episode 16: Spokesperson, Disseminator, Liaison

Communication is one of the most vital skills for any leader, yet one of the most challenging. In this episode, Dr. JBT explores three essential dimensions of leadership communication: downward, upward, and across.

• Disseminator (Downward): As a leader, your team depends on you to share information that helps them succeed. Think of yourself as a lighthouse keeper - shining light on what's ahead so your team can navigate with clarity and confidence. Without that light, confusion and frustration set in.

• Spokesperson (Upward): Your team needs you to be their microphone - amplifying their accomplishments, advocating for resources, and voicing their challenges so decision-makers hear them. If you don't speak up for your team, who will?

• Liaison (Across): No team operates in isolation. Organizations are interconnected systems, much like the digestive system of the body. Each part must work together or the whole suffers. Leaders must communicate across functions, share insights, and align strategies to prevent breakdowns and inefficiencies.

Through powerful analogies and real-life examples, Dr. JBT shows why these three roles are non-negotiable for effective leadership.

Key Takeaways:

• Be a lighthouse: Shine clarity and build trust through consistent dissemination.

• Be a microphone: Amplify your team's voice to secure recognition and resources.

• Be a system-thinker: Act as a liaison to strengthen interdependence across teams.

Leadership is about more than managing tasks; it's about stewarding communication to empower people and strengthen the whole organization.

In this episode of Leadership and Learning, Dr. JBT gets personal and shares her own massive fear of heights, and what it taught her about leadership.

Leadership isn't about avoiding discomfort; it's about moving forward even when fear is present. Whether it's making tough decisions, stepping into new responsibilities, or leading change, we all face moments that feel daunting.

Dr. JBT explores how leaning on colleagues, mentors, and other experienced leaders can provide the support and confidence we need to keep climbing (sometimes literally!). Facing fear doesn't make it disappear, but it does strengthen resilience, courage, and confidence in our leadership.

• Leadership often means doing the uncomfortable thing anyway.

• Fear is a normal part of growth—what matters is how we respond.

• Relying on peers and mentors can transform fear into confidence.

• Facing fears builds stronger, more resilient leaders.

Tune in and reflect: What fears are holding you back, and how might stepping into them grow your leadership?

In this second conversation with leadership scholar and practitioner Dr. Scott, we dive into the power of Stay Interviews, and why embracing the reality that your team members may not always be with you is not only okay, but healthy. Dr. Scott shares how great leaders see their role as helping people prepare for their next step, even if that journey takes them beyond your organization.

We explore what it means to be a 21st century leader, one who invests in others, actively seeks out mentors, and understands that leadership is about multiplying impact through people. Whether you're leading a small team or an entire organization, this episode will inspire you to approach leadership with an open hand, a growth mindset, and a commitment to the long-term success of those you serve.

Key Takeaways:

• How Stay Interviews can strengthen trust and retention

• Why it's okay (and even rewarding) when people grow beyond your organization

• What defines a successful 21st century leader

• The importance of both mentoring others and finding mentors for yourself

Episode 13: Building a Leadership Philosophy & Earning Trust – with Dr. Scott

In this episode of Leadership and Learning with Dr. JBT, I'm joined by Dr. Scott, a respected leadership practitioner and scholar, for an inspiring conversation about what it really takes to lead with authenticity and integrity.

We explore:

• Why every leader needs a personal leadership philosophy, and how to build one that aligns with your values and vision.

• Practical ways to earn trust in the workplace and sustain it over time.

• How trust and clarity in leadership philosophy create healthier, more engaged teams.

Whether you're an emerging leader or a seasoned executive, this episode will help you clarify your own leadership approach and strengthen the trust that fuels your team's success.

As leaders, we're constantly making decisions, but are we making them the right way? In this episode, Dr. JBT introduces a practical framework for making smarter, more inclusive decisions using the Vroom-Jago-Yetten decision-making model.

You'll learn how to assess when to decide on your own, when to consult a few trusted voices, and when to fully engage or even delegate to your team. From quick top-down calls to full team ownership, this continuum-based approach can help you lead with intention while balancing time, expertise, and buy-in.

In this episode, we explore:

• The 5 approaches for decision-making and when to use each

• 3 key questions to guide your decision-making process:

  1. Who holds the information or expertise?

  2. Is buy-in essential for implementation?

  3. Is this decision time-sensitive?

• How to manage conflicting priorities (time vs. buy-in, expertise vs. authority)

Whether you're a seasoned executive or an emerging leader, this episode will help you pause, assess, and choose the best decision-making approach for your context.

#Leadership #DecisionMaking #InclusiveLeadership #TeamEngagement #LeadershipAndLearning #DrJBT

In this episode, Dr. JBT explores a leadership essential: transparency. While transparency builds trust and respect, sharing information without the right context can create confusion, frustration, and even resistance.

Through two real-life examples, one that caused misalignment and another that led to team buy-in, Dr. JBT breaks down the importance of timing, communication method, and stakeholder involvement when sharing decisions.

Key takeaways:

• Why when and how you share information matters as much as what you share

• How to prevent misinterpretation by involving your team early

• The power of 1x1s, strategic timing, and feedback loops in the decision-making process

• Practical questions to ask before sharing updates with your team

If you've ever struggled with how much to say, when to say it, or how to say it, this episode is for you.

In this episode of Leadership and Learning, I talk about the value of stepping away from daily routines to invest in your team. Whether it's a two-day retreat or a two-hour off-site, intentional time together can strengthen relationships, spark growth, and create space for strategy.

I share how I structure our annual leadership retreat around three goals: education, team building, and strategic planning. From using books to prompt reflection, to incorporating fun activities and honest dialogue, these moments help transform individuals into a stronger team. Even small efforts can go a long way if they're done with purpose.

If you're planning your own team retreat—or even just brainstorming how to build connection and strategy into your meetings—I'd love to hear what you're trying or help you think through it. Feel free to reach out at [email protected].

I've included a list of past books we've used at our retreats—great options if you're looking to inspire your team.

Retreat Reading List:

• Inclusify by Stephanie K. Johnson, Ph.D.

• Multipliers by Liz Wiseman

• The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling

• Think Again by Adam Grant

• The Prepared Leader by Erika H. James and Lynn Perry Wooten

• The Leadership Challenge by James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner

In this episode of Leadership and Learning, I'm talking about something I'm deeply passionate about—inspiring your team.

Inspiration is one of those leadership buzzwords that's often talked about but rarely broken down into something practical. So I take a step back and ask: When was the last time you were inspired by a leader? What did they do? What did they say? I walk you through how reflecting on your own experiences—good and bad—can help you build your own approach to inspiring others.

I share the story of a past leader who shaped the way I lead today, and how her storytelling still motivates me decades later. I also get personal about my own efforts to become a more effective storyteller—how I've studied, practiced, and refined the craft to better connect with my team.

Then, I bring you into a real-life example of how we brought inspiration to life in my department: through a fall road trip theme. It included vision-setting, shared goals, a wall of wins, ice cream (yes, really), and—most importantly—ownership and creativity from team leaders who made the vision meaningful for their own people.

The truth is, numeric goals alone don't inspire—but vision, storytelling, celebration, and personal connection do.

So here's my challenge for you: reflect on what inspires you—and then go try it with your team. Start today. Don't wait for the perfect moment or the perfect words. Put in the time. Be intentional. And yes, have some fun along the way.

Want to share what's worked for you? Reach out anytime at [email protected]