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TRANSFORMED

TRANSFORMED

Hosted by Higher Digital

TechnologyEducationInterviews guests
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Episodes

119

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Hosted by Higher Digital, TRANSFORM ED is a podcast that sheds new light on the resurgence of higher education. In each episode, Higher Digital President and Chief Technology Officer, Joe Gottlieb, interviews guests to explore the new Whys, the new Whats, and the new Hows of higher ed. Strategy and tactics; planning and execution; people, process, and technology – it’s all on the menu, because that’s what’s required to truly transform. Interested in learning more? Reach out to the team at Higher Digital .

Listen to episodes

60 recent
August 16, 202629 min

Breaking the Silos: Why Higher Ed Needs to Stop "Higher-Ed-ing" Itself

Questions? Feedback? Send us a text! Higher education is facing pressure from every direction. AI is reshaping work. Enrollment patterns are changing. Students are questioning the value of a degree. Institutions are being asked to move faster while operating within systems that were designed for stability. But according to Dr. Russell Lowery-Hart, President of Austin Community College, technology isn't the biggest challenge. Bureaucracy is. In this episode of Transformed , Higher Digital Co-founder and CEO Wayne Bovier sits down with Russell to discuss leadership, culture, institutional transformation, and why higher education's greatest opportunity may come from becoming more human, not less. Drawing from his experience as a faculty member, college president, and transformational leader, Russell shares why he believes institutions need to stop "higher-ed-ing" themselves—his phrase for the tendency to solve problems by adding more policies, processes, silos, and layers of complexity. This conversation centers on a simple idea: institutions function best when they are built around the people they serve. Russell breaks down: Why bureaucracy often protects institutions instead of serving students How higher education makes simple problems unnecessarily complicated Why institutions should design systems around students rather than organizational charts How AI creates an opportunity to strengthen human relationships instead of replacing them Why leadership is about creating conditions for success, not controlling outcomes How Austin Community College used student voices to reshape institutional priorities Why empowering frontline employees leads to more meaningful change What authenticity, trust, and servant leadership look like in practice Why uncertainty creates the conditions for transformation rather than preventing it Throughout the conversation, one theme remained consistent: higher education cannot solve tomorrow's challenges by becoming more bureaucratic. Institutions that listen carefully, remove unnecessary barriers, empower their people, and remain relentlessly focused on students will be the ones best positioned to thrive. If you're a president, provost, CIO, faculty leader, or someone thinking deeply about the future of higher education, this conversation will challenge some long-standing assumptions about leadership, culture, and change. Subscribe to Transformed for more conversations exploring how higher education leaders are navigating complexity, technology, and institutional transformation. Subscribe or follow TRANSFORM ED 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

August 2, 202620 min

Beyond the AI Hype: Why Technology Projects Stall in Higher Ed

Questions? Feedback? Send us a text! Most technology projects in higher education don't fail because of the technology. They fail because institutions struggle to sustain the change required to make them successful. The software gets purchased. The implementation begins. Teams work hard. But somewhere between launch and long-term adoption, priorities shift, leadership changes, or attention moves to the next initiative before the original work delivers its full value. In this episode of Transformed , Higher Digital Co-founder and CEO Wayne Bovier sits down with Julia Arreguy , Chief Technology Officer at the California Community Colleges Technology Center , to explore why organizational change—not technology—is often the determining factor in institutional success. Working across the largest higher education system in the nation, supporting 115 colleges and more than two million students, Julia brings a unique perspective on technology leadership, institutional transformation, AI, and the realities of driving change at scale. This conversation centers on a simple but important idea: Technology challenges are difficult. Organizational challenges are what determine whether the work succeeds. Julia shares insights on: Why organizational alignment is often harder than the technology itself How leadership consistency influences long-term project success Why many institutions abandon initiatives before realizing their intended outcomes How AI is creating new urgency across higher education Why intentional adoption matters more than chasing the latest technology trend Whether institutional structures are prepared for accelerating change The leadership behaviors that build trust during periods of uncertainty Why supporting internal change-makers can accelerate transformation What new CIOs and technology leaders should understand before introducing major change Why higher education's people remain its greatest source of optimism Throughout the conversation, Julia offers a practical reminder that transformation isn't about launching more initiatives. It's about staying committed long enough to achieve the outcomes those initiatives were meant to deliver. This episode challenges a common assumption: Technology is rarely the biggest obstacle. The harder work is maintaining alignment, sustaining momentum, and helping people navigate change when the pressure continues to rise. If you're leading technology, operations, strategy, or institutional transformation, this conversation offers valuable insight into what it actually takes to move change forward—and keep it moving. Subscribe to Transformed for more conversations with higher education leaders navigating complexity, technology, and the future of the institution. Subscribe or follow TRANSFORM ED 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

July 19, 202632 min

Operating Through the Pressure: Why Execution Breaks in Higher Ed (and How CIOs Fix It)

Questions? Feedback? Send us a text! Higher education doesn’t have an ideas problem. It has an execution problem. AI is accelerating everything. Budgets are tighter. Enrollment is shifting. Expectations keep rising. And across institutions, everything is a priority at once. In this episode of Transformed, Higher Digital Co-founder and CEO Wayne Bovier sits down with Dr. Kellie Campbell , CIO at the University of Vermont, to unpack why progress stalls—even when strategy is clear. This conversation focuses on a simple but uncomfortable reality: most institutions aren’t struggling to define direction—they’re struggling to move in it. Kellie brings experience across academic IT, system leadership, and enterprise transformation, and a grounded view of what it actually takes to operate inside a modern university. She breaks down: Why IT must be treated as part of institutional strategy, not separate from it How embedding strategy across academic and operational units works in practice Why structure is just as important as people and tools Why culture and shared accountability drive real execution How PMOs can connect planning directly to delivery Why letting go of work is now a requirement, not a choice This conversation challenges a core assumption: institutions don’t struggle because they don’t know what to do—they struggle because the system carrying the work isn’t built for how fast everything is moving. If you’re a CIO, president, provost, or system leader trying to align teams and actually deliver in a high-pressure environment, this episode will feel familiar—and practical. If this resonates with your work, subscribe to the show and share it with a colleague navigating the same pressure. #HigherEd #CIOLeadership #DigitalTransformation #AIinEducation #Transformed #HigherDigital #ITLeadership Subscribe or follow TRANSFORM ED 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

July 5, 202627 min

AI Isn’t Where You Think It Is: What Institutions Are Getting Wrong

Questions? Feedback? Send us a text! Most of the conversation around AI in higher education is focused on the classroom. But that’s not where the real impact is happening. In this episode of Transformed , Higher Digital Co-founder and CEO Wayne Bovier sits down with Damian Clarke , VP of Technology at Alabama State University , to unpack where AI is actually creating value—and why so many institutions are looking in the wrong place. With experience spanning CIO and Chief Data Officer roles, Damian brings a practical, inside-the-system view of how universities operate—and where things quietly break down. This conversation centers on a simple shift: AI isn’t just a tool for teaching. It’s an operational force that exposes how institutions really function. Damian walks through: Why AI is driving the most value in operations—not academics How siloed structures limit progress—even with the right tools in place Why most prioritization models are reactive—and what that breaks over time What it actually takes to move from experimentation to execution Why small, targeted use cases outperform large-scale AI rollouts How data alignment becomes the foundation for anything to work What it means for CIOs to translate complexity into decisions leaders can act on This episode reframes the conversation: the challenge isn’t adopting AI—it’s understanding where it fits, and whether the institution is structured to support it. If you're working inside higher education and trying to make sense of where AI actually matters, this conversation will sharpen how you think about it. Subscribe to Transformed for more conversations on how institutions are navigating real change—not just talking about it. #HigherEd #AIinEducation #CIOLeadership #DigitalTransformation #Transformed #HigherDigital #ITLeadership Subscribe or follow TRANSFORM ED 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

June 21, 202636 min

Operating Through Competing Priorities: Why Execution Breaks in Higher Ed

Questions? Feedback? Send us a text! In higher education, nothing moves in isolation anymore. Every initiative is connected. Every unit has urgency. And every decision competes with something else that also matters. In this episode, Higher Digital Co-founder and CEO Wayne Bovier sits down with Ed Hudson , Vice Chancellor of IT and CIO at the University of Kansas, to unpack what it actually takes to execute when everything is competing for attention at the same time. With a career spanning the Marine Corps, law enforcement, cybersecurity, and higher education IT leadership, Ed brings a grounded, operational view of how institutions actually function under pressure. Ed breaks down: Why uncertainty—not resistance—is what truly slows progress in higher education How execution breaks down when every initiative is treated as top priority How CIOs manage prioritization without breaking trust across the institution How frameworks like ADKAR reveal where transformation actually stalls What it takes to act as the connector across competing institutional demands Why saying “not now” is one of the most important leadership functions in IT today How institutional progress depends on sequencing, not simultaneity This conversation challenges a core assumption: higher education doesn’t struggle because it lacks direction—it struggles because execution is constantly forced to happen in a system where everything is urgent. If you're a CIO, president, provost, or institutional leader navigating competing priorities in real time, this episode will feel familiar. If this resonates with your work, subscribe to the show and share it with a colleague navigating the same pressure. #HigherEd #CIOLeadership #DigitalTransformation #AIinEducation #Transformed #HigherDigital #ITLeadershipL Subscribe or follow TRANSFORM ED 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

June 7, 202636 min

Think Like an Entrepreneur or Fall Behind: Rethinking Higher Ed in the Age of AI

Questions? Feedback? Send us a text! 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 Subscribe or follow TRANSFORM ED 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

May 31, 20265 min

The Hidden Cost of Making Everything a Priority

Questions? Feedback? Send us a text! 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 TRANSFORM ED 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

September 24, 2025Episode 1111 hr 18 min

Public Higher Education in an Age of Disruption

Questions? Feedback? Send us a text! 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 TRANSFORM ED 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

September 10, 2025Episode 11033 min

Pivoting Off the Strategic Plan to Adopt a 7-week Course Structure

Questions? Feedback? Send us a text! 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 Subscribe or follow TRANSFORM ED 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

August 28, 2025Episode 10923 min

Establishing Core Values and Revitalized Culture to Drive an Institutional Pivot ​

Questions? Feedback? Send us a text! 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 Subscribe or follow TRANSFORM ED 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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