In the episode In The Club powered by Club Colors, we delve into the critical need for enhancing staff experience in higher education, especially in the post-pandemic landscape with our guest, Kelsey Finn, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Compass Group. We discuss the importance of staff feeling connected to their purpose, as it directly impacts student services. The episode also highlights real-life examples from various universities and explores the challenges and strategies of leadership in higher education, with a focus on supporting and retaining staff. Additionally, we feature a conversation with a trailblazing leader who shares insights on being a woman in leadership, empowering others, and the importance of asking questions. This insightful discussion offers valuable advice for young professionals aspiring to take on leadership roles.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Emphasize the importance of staff experience in enhancing student experience.
• Highlight the need for higher education institutions to focus on employee engagement and appreciation.
• Discuss the challenges of rapid leadership changes in academic institutions.
• Address the disparity in the way questions are asked and assumptions made of women leaders compared to men.
• Encourage delegation and empowerment of team members to foster ownership and readiness for leadership roles.
• Recommend asking a lot of questions and staying curious as a way to grow professionally.
• Importance of relationships and networking within the higher education community.

QUOTES

• "Happy staff, happy students."
• "We all want to belong to something."
• "Being the first at anything is really really hard."
• "You can't truly understand it if you haven't done it."
• "If you get a seat at the table, pull your chair right up, be at the table, be engaged."
• "Everyone has the question, who's actually willing to ask the question and be that person?"

Connect and learn more about Kelsey Finn.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelseyharmonfinn/

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