What does student success really look like after high school? In this episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, Bridget Burns and Sarah Custer sit down with Melissa Connolly, CEO of OneGoal, to talk about college access, postsecondary success, multiple pathways, student advising, first-generation leadership, and why the old “college or bust” mindset no longer fits the lives of today’s students.

Melissa shares how OneGoal is helping young people prepare for life after high school through stronger advising, real-world pathways, and a student-centered approach that honors each learner’s goals. She also opens up about her own journey from being placed in a truancy program to becoming a first-generation college graduate and national education leader. This conversation is for higher education leaders, K-12 educators, nonprofit leaders, student success professionals, funders, advisors, and anyone working to close equity gaps and help students persist, graduate, and thrive.

If you care about college completion, career pathways, education equity, student engagement, chronic absenteeism, leadership, or building systems that actually work for young people, this conversation offers a practical and deeply human look at what needs to change.

Highlights:

→ Melissa Connolly explains why students need multiple pathways after high school, not a narrow “bachelor’s degree or bust” model, and how OneGoal is helping schools and districts build stronger advising systems.

→ The conversation explores how students define success for themselves, why higher education must listen more closely to student goals, and how career preparation, credentials, associate degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and workforce pathways can work together.

→ Melissa shares her personal story as a first-generation college graduate who began high school in a truancy program, and how one social worker helped her see a future worth fighting for.

→ You’ll also hear Melissa’s leadership philosophy, including how motherhood shaped her values of being kind, being honest, and working hard, and why simple, human-centered leadership can transform organizations.

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This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

Online college has been around for years, but too many students still struggle to finish, transfer, or earn a degree without taking on debt. In this episode of Start the Week With Wisdom, Bridget Burns and Sarah Kuster sit down live at the ASU GSV Summit with Tade Oyerinde, Chancellor of Campus, to talk about a new model for community college, online learning, student success, and higher education innovation.

Tade explains how Campus is inspired by the CUNY ASAP model, which helped improve graduation rates by giving students wraparound support, full-time enrollment, success coaching, and fewer financial barriers. Instead of relying on self-paced online courses, Campus uses live online classes, faculty from top universities, coaching, tutoring, laptops, and transfer pathways to help students move toward a bachelor’s degree with little to no debt. This conversation is for higher education leaders, edtech founders, student success teams, community college advocates, and anyone asking how AI, online college, and flexible credentials are reshaping the future of higher education.

You’ll learn 

→ Why live online learning can create more motivation and accountability for 17-to-27-year-old students

→ How Campus supports working learners and students who may not have followed a traditional college path

→ Why CUNY ASAP remains one of the strongest models for community college completion

→ How AI is changing the way colleges think about degrees, credentials, transfer, and career readiness.

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This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

AI in higher education is moving fast, but the real question is not whether colleges should use AI. The real question is how higher ed leaders can use AI, edtech, and innovation to help students learn well, finish strong, and build better futures.

In this live episode from the ASU GSV Summit, we sit down with Mark Milliron, President and CEO of National University, to explore how colleges can move new ideas from “novel” to normal. Mark shares why higher education must avoid AI hype, focus on real student outcomes, and design learning for today’s actual learners: working adults, parents, military students, veterans, and people balancing school with life.

This conversation is for higher ed leaders, faculty, ed-tech founders, student success teams, policymakers, and anyone asking how AI will change college, online learning, adult education, workforce learning, and student support. You’ll hear a practical, human-centered view of AI adoption, change management, collective intelligence, and the future of higher education.

What you’ll learn: how leaders can evaluate new technology without falling for hype, why AI should be seen as part of collective intelligence, how colleges can better serve nontraditional students, and why higher education needs to help shape the ed-tech products it may one day use.

Highlights:

→ Mark explains how strong higher ed leaders guide institutions from “novel” to normal by scouting new technology, talent, policy, and learning models that can improve student success.

→ The conversation breaks down why AI in higher education should not be driven by fear or hype, but by thoughtful adoption, evidence, policy, practice, and human-centered change management.

→ You’ll hear why the “typical college student” mental model is outdated, and why working adults, military learners, parents, and career changers need flexible learning designed around their real lives.

→ Mark also shares why higher ed, venture capital, philanthropy, K-12, and ed-tech need to align around shared problems, even when each group speaks a different language or has different goals.

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This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

Choosing a college, career, major, or post secondary pathway can feel overwhelming for students and families, especially when young people are asked to make life-shaping decisions before they have had real career exposure. In this episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, Bridget Burns and Sara Custer sit down with Julie Lammers, President and CEO of Britebound , live from the ASU GSV Summit, to talk about why career exploration should start in middle school and high school, not after students arrive on a college campus.

Julie explains how Britebound, formerly American Student Assistance, is helping students build a longer runway toward life after high school through work-based learning, career-connected learning, non-degree pathway data, post secondary navigation, and practical tools for families, counselors, and higher education leaders. This conversation matters for anyone working in student success, college access, career readiness, workforce development, K-12 partnerships, or higher education strategy.

You’ll hear:

→ Why asking students “What do you want to be?” can be the wrong question

→ How early internships and hands-on learning help students discover what they like and do not like

→ Why higher education has often become an expensive career exploration tool

→ How new platforms like Go Zing are helping students compare college, credential, and career pathways with better information

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This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

College presidents are facing one of the most difficult leadership moments in modern higher education. After more than 100 interviews with presidents, chancellors, provosts, system heads, and higher ed leaders, Bridget Burns and Doug Lederman unpack what the public, boards, faculty, staff, and policymakers often misunderstand about the college presidency. 

This conversation explores why presidential turnover is rising, why innovation stalls on campuses, and how political pressure, financial instability, media scrutiny, governing boards, athletics, enrollment challenges, and student success expectations are reshaping the role.

If you work in higher education, lead a campus team, serve on a board, advise presidents, cover higher ed, or aspire to become a college president, this episode offers a candid look at what leadership actually requires today. You’ll hear why the job is so hard, what separates mission-driven leaders from career “hoppers,” how institutions can create cultures of innovation, and why student success must become the real north star for higher education transformation.

You’ll learn

Why the college presidency is often misunderstood

How presidential turnover can set campuses back for years

What innovative leaders do differently

Why higher education may finally be ready to put students at the center in a meaningful way.

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This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

Higher education is facing a leadership crisis, and this conversation explains why. 

In this live episode of Weekly Wisdom, Bridget Burns and Donna Lederman break down what makes the college presidency one of the hardest jobs in America, why so many presidents leave after just a few years, and what that instability is doing to colleges, universities, and students. If you work in higher education leadership, student success, university administration, academic affairs, or institutional strategy, this episode will help you better understand the pressures shaping college presidents today. 

From governing boards and faculty politics to media scrutiny, innovation, public trust, and the future of student-centered leadership, this is an honest conversation about what higher ed leaders are really up against and what must change next. If you care about college leadership, higher education innovation, presidential turnover, student outcomes, and the future of universities, this episode gives you a rare inside look at what’s broken and what gives experienced leaders hope.

You’ll Learn:

→ Why the average college president’s tenure is shrinking and how constant turnover can set institutions back for years. 

→ What most people misunderstand about presidential power and why many leaders have far less control than the public assumes. 

→ What separates innovative presidents from ineffective ones, including vision, culture, risk tolerance, and the ability to keep students at the center. 

→ Bridget and Donna also discuss nontraditional leadership pipelines, media relationships, public trust, and why this difficult moment may finally push higher education toward real change.

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This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

What does it really take to lead with purpose, rise through multiple sectors, and keep going when people underestimate you? 

In this inspiring episode of Start the Week With Wisdom, Bridget Burns and Sarah Custer sit down with Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace to talk about leadership, service, resilience, career growth, and the journey behind her new book Made for This. 

From higher education leadership to state government, diplomacy, philanthropy, and national impact, Dr. Burns-Wallace shares the values, lessons, and personal experiences that shaped her path. This conversation is for anyone interested in leadership development, women in leadership, higher education, personal growth, career advancement, overcoming adversity, and building a legacy of service. 

If you’ve ever wondered how to stay grounded while stepping into bigger opportunities, how to turn being underestimated into fuel, or how to lead people with empathy, intention, and courage, this episode is for you. Packed with wisdom on mentorship, purpose-driven leadership, storytelling, career transitions, and the power of sharing your journey, this is a motivating conversation for leaders at every stage.

You’ll Hear:

→ Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace share how her early leadership training came from family, church, community, and a deep belief in service.

→ How writing Made for This began as a leadership book and evolved into a leadership memoir after she realized that her personal story was just as important as the lessons she wanted to teach. 

→ The conversation explores how Dr. Burns-Wallace navigated roles across higher education, the Foreign Service, state government, and philanthropy while staying rooted in access, opportunity, and economic mobility. 

→ Dr. Burns-Wallace also opens up about what it means to be underestimated, how to keep that from becoming internalized, and how great leaders create policies, cultures, and opportunities that prevent others from being limited in the same way. 

→ You’ll also hear a memorable discussion about the music behind each chapter of her book, how songs can capture seasons of life, and why storytelling matters so much in leadership.

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This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

What does it take to lead a university for over two decades, and still love the work?

In this special farewell episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, hosts Bridget Burns and Sarah Custer sit down with President Satish Tripathi of the University at Buffalo as he reflects on a remarkable 22-year legacy of leadership, innovation, and transformation. With retirement on the horizon, President Tripathi shares candid reflections on what’s changed, what he’s proudest of, and what it really takes to lead through complexity, uncertainty, and change.

From moving a medical school to revitalizing a city, to pioneering national research in AI and drug discovery, Tripathi’s tenure is marked by bold vision and patient execution. But beyond the milestones, he shares what shaped his leadership, from growing up in a small Indian village to navigating crises like the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also offers unfiltered advice for aspiring higher ed leaders, and a surprising answer about what he’s looking forward to most after stepping down.

Key Takeaways:

→ Big change requires long-term vision: Transformational projects like relocating UB’s medical school or launching NSF research centers took years, and a relentless commitment to mission.

→ Naivete can be a secret weapon: Not knowing how hard something will be might just be the key to starting it at all.

→ Legacy is defined by others: True leadership means focusing on impact, not recognition.

→ Leadership evolves: Tripathi now leads with more listening, humility, and trust in his team than when he began.

→ Great leadership isn’t about the next job, it’s about doing the current one with excellence.

“If you're always thinking about the next job, you're not doing your current job well. Excellence now is what leads you forward.” – President Satish Tripathi

If this conversation inspired you, share it with a colleague, subscribe for more wisdom-filled episodes, and take a moment to journal: what long-term impact are you building today?

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This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

What does it take to lead a university for over two decades, and still love the work?

In this special farewell episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, hosts Bridget Burns and Sarah Custer sit down with President Satish Tripathi of the University at Buffalo as he reflects on a remarkable 22-year legacy of leadership, innovation, and transformation. With retirement on the horizon, President Tripathi shares candid reflections on what’s changed, what he’s proudest of, and what it really takes to lead through complexity, uncertainty, and change.

From moving a medical school to revitalizing a city, to pioneering national research in AI and drug discovery, Tripathi’s tenure is marked by bold vision and patient execution. But beyond the milestones, he shares what shaped his leadership, from growing up in a small Indian village to navigating crises like the Great Recession and the COVID-19 pandemic. He also offers unfiltered advice for aspiring higher ed leaders, and a surprising answer about what he’s looking forward to most after stepping down.

Key Takeaways:

Big change requires long-term vision: Transformational projects like relocating UB’s medical school or launching NSF research centers took years, and a relentless commitment to mission.

Naivete can be a secret weapon: Not knowing how hard something will be might just be the key to starting it at all.

Legacy is defined by others: True leadership means focusing on impact, not recognition.

Leadership evolves: Tripathi now leads with more listening, humility, and trust in his team than when he began.

Great leadership isn’t about the next job, it’s about doing the current one with excellence.

“If you're always thinking about the next job, you're not doing your current job well. Excellence now is what leads you forward.” – President Satish Tripathi

If this conversation inspired you, share it with a colleague, subscribe for more wisdom-filled episodes, and take a moment to journal: what long-term impact are you building today?

Learn more about the UIA by visiting:

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This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.

What does it take to lead with both strategy and soul?

In this moving and powerful episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, host Bridget Burns sits down with Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet of the University of Colorado Colorado Springs for a conversation that redefines leadership in higher education. With a background in business and strategic planning, Jennifer brings a refreshingly different perspective to the chancellorship, one rooted not just in data and efficiency, but in deep compassion and human resilience.

This episode dives into Jennifer’s unconventional path to leadership, the profound personal and professional experiences that shaped her approach, and the vital role of executive coaching in navigating the complexities of higher ed. Jennifer shares the unimaginable weight of leading through campus tragedies, and how leaning into both vulnerability and resilience has become her compass for serving students, faculty, and community.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why nontraditional paths to leadership can be an asset in higher education.

The role executive coaching has played in Jennifer’s 20-year leadership journey.

How to lead through crisis with humanity, courage, and compassion.

The power of interdisciplinary undergraduate experiences in shaping career success.

Why “more curious than convinced” is a leadership mindset for the future.

"Without courage, the wisdom and experiences we have bear no fruit."

 Subscribe to Start the Week with Wisdom, share this episode with a colleague, or reflect in your journal: What leadership lessons are you learning right now, and how are you growing through them?

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This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.