Bridget Burns, CEO of the University Innovation Alliance, and Doug Lederman, Editor and Co-Founder of Inside Higher Ed, speak with Dr. Lisa Vollendorf, President of SUNY Empire State, on the Weekly Wisdom Podcast. President Vollendorf talks about what has shaped her as a leader, reversing higher ed’s tendency toward elitism, how leaders and institutions can grow through traumatic events, and the value of being present and making the best possible impact. Topics include:


• How educational status is a proven marker for longevity in the U.S.

• The problem with students losing credits when transferring between institutions

• Surviving both a regional wildfire and the stress of pursuing a harassment case
• Identifying and following your north star
• Two books supporting effective leadership

On this episode of the Weekly Wisdom Podcast, Bridget Burns, CEO of the University Innovation Alliance, and Doug Lederman, Editor and Co-Founder of Inside Higher Ed, discuss how higher ed leaders can best share their own positive, success-oriented approaches with other institutions. Together, they explore pitching scalable ideas from a place of commonality, respecting the time and interest of leaders at other institutions, owning and remediating mistakes, and speaking with a collective voice. Topics include:


• Framing a value proposition that doesn’t sound like a sales pitch
• 
Finding the right audience and understanding how the idea may be received
• 
Honesty, authenticity, and confidentiality

• The perils and advantages of transparency

Bridget Burns, CEO of the University Innovation Alliance, and Doug Lederman, Editor and Co-Founder of Inside Higher Ed, speak with Dr. Garnett Stokes, University of New Mexico President, on the Weekly Wisdom Podcast. President Stokes talks about the mindset of accepting new leadership challenges, the responsibilities of institutional leaders as employers, required skills for effective leadership, and navigating the small world of higher ed. Topics include:



• President Stokes’ readiness for new leadership opportunities
• How to avoid thinking of management responsibilities as “the dark side”

• Walking the fine line of authenticity

• Building a successful leadership career on honesty and integrity