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Higher education isn’t short on ideas, it’s overwhelmed by pressure.

AI. Budget constraints. Enrollment shifts. Rising expectations.
And for many institutions, no clear path forward.

In this episode, Higher Digital Co-founder and CEO, Wayne Bovier, sits down with Steve Spinelli, President of Babson College, to explore what it really means for higher education to think, and operate, like an entrepreneur in a time of constant disruption.

From embedding entrepreneurship into the student experience from day one to reimagining institutional strategy, Steve shares a bold perspective shaped by decades of building businesses and leading one of the world’s top entrepreneurship institutions.

Steve breaks down:

• Why thought + action is the foundation of real learning, and why students should start building from day one
• How a transdisciplinary approach creates more adaptive, value-driven graduates
• What’s really holding institutions back, from governance to risk aversion, and how to overcome it
• Why AI is a force multiplier for problem-solving, not a threat to entrepreneurship
• How higher ed can scale globally with anyone, anywhere, anytime learning
• The importance of discipline, focus, and avoiding “shiny object” distractions in institutional innovation

This conversation challenges a core assumption: what if higher education didn’t just teach entrepreneurship, but actually operated like it?

If you're leading through change, navigating institutional pressure, or rethinking the future of learning, this episode will resonate.

If this speaks to your work, subscribe to the show and share it with a colleague navigating the same pressure.

#HigherEd #Entrepreneurship #AIinEducation #Transformed #EdTech 

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If everything is a priority, you don’t have a capacity problem, you have a decision problem.

Welcome to Transformed.

In this Launch episode, Higher Digital Co-founder and CEO, Wayne Bovier, introduces the core idea behind the show, and why this conversation matters now more than ever.

Higher education isn’t lacking strategy.

It’s navigating a moment where:

• AI is accelerating change
• Budgets are tightening
• Enrollment is shifting
• Expectations keep rising

And most institutions are trying to respond to all of it at once.

Wayne breaks down:

• Why execution, not strategy, is the real challenge in higher education
• What happens when everything becomes a priority
• The tension leaders face trying to move forward under pressure
• Why leadership today is about clarity, decisions, and momentum
• What Transformed is here to explore—and who it’s for

This podcast is for presidents, provosts, CIOs, and leaders who aren’t just thinking about change, but are responsible for making it happen.

If you’re trying to move your institution forward in a complex, fast-moving environment, this is where the conversation starts.

Subscribe to follow the journey and share with a colleague leading through the same challenges.

#HigherEd #AIinEducation #StrategicExecution #EdTech #Transformed

Subscribe or follow TRANSFORMED wherever you listen, to get the latest episode when it drops and hear directly from leaders and innovators in higher ed tech and digital transformation best practices.

Find and follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/higher-digital-inc 

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Dr. Ian F. McNeely reveals how his book "The University Unfettered" provides a dispassionate, evidence-based examination of how public universities operate, challenging both progressive and conservative narratives about higher education's supposed decline.

• Universities effectively adapt to reduced state funding through competition while maintaining their public mission
• Competition between institutions drives quality and focuses universities on core missions of teaching and research
• Administrative growth primarily supports student success initiatives rather than unnecessary bureaucracy
• Strategic thinking trumps rigid strategic planning in helping universities respond to changing circumstances
• The shift toward applied knowledge and "new instrumentalism" connects theoretical learning to practical applications
• University curriculums are evolving to bridge classroom learning to career preparation through internships and experiential learning
• Political interventions in university operations often backfire, regardless of intentions
• Public universities educate millions of students and conduct more than half the nation's research, yet receive less attention than elite private schools

For higher education leaders navigating today's challenges, focus on three principles: live in truth, do the work, and serve the mission.

Subscribe or follow TRANSFORMED wherever you listen, to get the latest episode when it drops and hear directly from leaders and innovators in higher ed tech and digital transformation best practices.

Find and follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/higher-digital-inc 

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Western Technical College president Roger Stanford shares with host Joe Gottlieb how moving to a seven-week term structure transformed student completion rates and revitalized curriculum through comprehensive instructional design.

• Complete curriculum redesign of over 1,000 courses
• Creation of an empowered steering committee to manage implementation
• Three-year timeline allowing faculty breathing room during pandemic
• Centralized change management reporting directly to the president
• Dedication to maintaining "unconditional positive regard" throughout the process
• Immediate improvements in second-term retention rates
• Faculty discovering reduced cognitive load benefits of teaching fewer courses simultaneously
• Commitment to embedding universal design and culturally relevant curriculum
• Program reviews resulting in more streamlined, focused degree pathways
• Balancing academic freedom with instructional design expertise

"While we expected some faculty resistance or departures, the majority embraced the change and are now prouder than ever of their curriculum and assessment alignment." Listen in for the full story,

References: 

Dr. Roger Stanford

Western Technical College

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Dr. Emily Messer, President of Texas Wesleyan University, sits down with host Joe Gottlieb to explore how collaborative leadership and modern strategies are shaping the future of higher education. Dr. Messer shares her journey as a first-generation college graduate turned university president, and how she is guiding Texas Wesleyan through a pivotal moment of cultural renewal, strategic planning, and community and employer engagement.

Listeners will gain insight into how institutions can move beyond a “COVID hangover” by rebuilding trust, explicitly defining core values, and leveraging technology and workforce partnerships to ensure strong student outcomes. From inclusive planning sessions to innovative student success initiatives supported by Title III funding, Dr. Messer highlights how thoughtful decision-making and modern tools are preparing students, and the university, for long-term success in one of the nation’s fastest-growing cities.

Warm, candid, and forward-looking, this conversation offers inspiration for higher ed leaders navigating change and reimagining how culture, strategy, and technology can align to create real transformation.

References:

Emily Messer, Ed.D.

Texas Wesleyan University

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Mary Papazian, Senior Fellow at the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges and former president of San José State University, joins our host, Joe Gottlieb, to explore how institutional leaders and boards can navigate today’s perfect storm of change in higher education. 

From AI’s transformative impact to shifting student expectations, political pressures, and evolving financial models, Mary shares how transparent communication, co-leadership, and agile strategic planning can help institutions remain resilient and mission-focused. Listeners will gain insight into fostering board–leadership partnerships, embracing modern technology as a driver for change, and making thoughtful decisions that keep colleges and universities vibrant and relevant in a rapidly changing world. 

References: 

Mary Papazian

Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB)

Subscribe or follow TRANSFORMED wherever you listen, to get the latest episode when it drops and hear directly from leaders and innovators in higher ed tech and digital transformation best practices.

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In this episode, our host, Joe Gottlieb, speaks with Dr. Pamela Steinke, Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at the University of South Carolina Upstate, about the power of investing in faculty to lead meaningful institutional change. Dr. Steinke shares how USC Upstate has navigated enrollment shifts and regional workforce demands by reimagining academic program review, strengthening collaboration across campus, and empowering faculty to step into leadership and administrative roles.

🎧 Listeners will learn how:

• Transparent academic program review can drive improvement without resorting to cuts
• Faculty leadership and mentorship can reshape institutional culture
• Strategic investments in professional development support both transformation and morale
• Modern advising structures and technology use can create capacity for deeper faculty-student engagement
• Institutions can stay mission-driven while adapting to workforce needs and demographic shifts

References: 

Pamela Steinke 

University of South Carolina Upstate

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In this episode of TRANSFORMED, Joe speaks with Jeffrey Morin, President of the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD), about how a patient, community-centered approach can drive significant institutional transformation. Drawing parallels between higher ed and perennial gardening, Jeff shares how MIAD has cultivated enrollment growth, boosted student retention, and modernized campus operations—all while remaining fiscally disciplined and true to its values.

Listeners will hear how deliberate change management, inclusive curricular reform, and smart, transparent use of technology and data helped MIAD double in size without losing its soul. This conversation offers a thoughtful, human take on how small institutions can grow with purpose and agility in an era of increasing skepticism toward higher ed’s value.

References: 

Jeffrey Morin

MIAD

Subscribe or follow TRANSFORMED wherever you listen, to get the latest episode when it drops and hear directly from leaders and innovators in higher ed tech and digital transformation best practices.

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In this episode of TRANSFORMED, Joe sits down with Dr. Andrea Talentino, President of Augustana College, to explore how she is leading a bold, community-driven approach to strategic planning. With deep roots in teaching, coaching, and student development, Dr. Talentino brings a unique blend of vision and practicality to her leadership.

Listeners will gain insight into how Augustana is embracing creativity, shared governance, and agility to shape a strategic plan grounded in mission and focused on student outcomes. From informal listening sessions and living-room salons to design teams and evolving metrics, Dr. Talentino shares an honest, inspiring view of what it takes to align an entire campus around meaningful transformation.

References: 

Andrea Talentino

Augustana College

Engage with host, Joe Gottlieb, at [email protected] at any time! 

Subscribe or follow TRANSFORMED wherever you listen, to get the latest episode when it drops and hear directly from leaders and innovators in higher ed tech and digital transformation best practices.

Find and follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/higher-digital-inc 

Questions? Feedback? Send us a text!

In this episode, Joe Gottlieb speaks with Sean Moriarty, Chief Technology Officer at State University of New York, Oswego, about how a coach-style leadership model grounded in trust, consistency, and human connection has shaped his approach to technology in higher ed. Sean shares how his dual reporting relationship to both the Provost and CFO enables broad, strategic alignment across campus priorities, and how his team’s investment in management training and innovation grants continues to pay dividends—especially through the pandemic and into the AI era.

Listeners will gain insight into the power of building a “coalition of the willing,” fostering early adopters, and grounding digital strategy in user-centric design. Sean’s story illustrates how personal leadership philosophies, institutional mission, and regional transformation can converge to create resilient and adaptive digital ecosystems.

Our host, Joe Gottlieb, President and CTO of Higher Digital, brings decades of experience in higher ed technology leadership to each episode.

References: 

Sean Moriarty

State University of New York, Oswego

Subscribe or follow TRANSFORMED wherever you listen, to get the latest episode when it drops and hear directly from leaders and innovators in higher ed tech and digital transformation best practices.

Find and follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/higher-digital-inc