Ep. 82: From the Sidelines to the C-Suite: Navigating Your Next Move
In this episode of Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO, host Jaime Hunt sits down with Mike Morris, Partner at the Ward Group, a leading executive search firm specializing in marketing and communications leadership roles. Together, they unpack how higher education marketers can position themselves for VP- and CMO-level roles—and how to build relationships with search firms that actually lead to job offers. This insightful conversation covers what presidents often misunderstand about the CMO role, how to craft a compelling resume, and why emotional intelligence may matter more than your title.Guest Name: Mike Morris, Director, The Ward GroupGuest Bio: Throughout Mike’s time at The Ward Group—a retained executive search firm that specializes functionally in marketing and communications leadership roles—he has focused primarily in the firm’s higher education portfolio. Working with presidents and search committees, from public research universities to liberal arts colleges and beyond, Mike brings a breadth of experience and insight to institutional partners across the country.Previously, Mike spent over a decade in higher education, namely college athletics recruiting. Working at schools such as Boston College, Harvard University, and Dartmouth College, he was heavily involved in the recruitment of prospective football student-athletes. In both college athletics and executive search, success is “all about the people.”Mike’s additional experience at TWG includes recruiting marketing and communications leaders for clients nationwide in categories like healthcare, financial services, and health tech. For him, the natural synergy created by understanding clients’ values beyond the job description and getting to know candidates beyond the resume is the ultimate payoff.
- - - -Connect With Our Host:Jaime Hunthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMCAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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Ep. 81: Stories that Stick: Humanizing Higher Ed’s Impact
In this episode of Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO, host Jaime Hunt sits down with higher ed storyteller and communications strategist Kristin Hanson to unpack the strategic value of proactive storytelling. Together, they explore how colleges and universities can move from passive, transactional content to authentic, intentional narratives that deepen emotional connection, support enrollment and advancement goals, and highlight the real people behind the institution. If you're looking to elevate your storytelling game in higher education marketing, this conversation is your roadmap.Guest Name: Kristin Hanson, freelance writerGuest Bio: Kristin Hanson is an award-winning writer, editor, and communications strategist with 15+ years’ experience working with higher education institutions, independent schools, marketing firms, nonprofits, and businesses of all sizes.
- - - -Connect With Our Host:Jaime Hunthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMCAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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Ep. 80: Proving the Promise: Reframing the Value of College with Maniacal Transparency
Jaime Hunt welcomes Dale Leatherwood, Chief Marketing Officer at Columbia Southern University, to explore one of the most pressing issues in higher ed today: the public’s shifting perception of the value of a college degree. Together, they dig into the real drivers behind skepticism—not the return, but the investment—and unpack how institutions can better align academic offerings, improve cost transparency, and reclaim the narrative around higher ed's true impact.Columbia Southern University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctorate degrees and certificates. Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography and degree field, affect career outcomes. CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth.Guest Name: Dale Leatherwood, Chief Marketing Officer, Columbia Southern UniversityGuest Social: linkedin.com/in/daleleatherwoodGuest Bio: Dale Leatherwood is the Chief Marketing Officer for Columbia Southern University, and is in his 27th year of marketing and executive experience in training and higher education. Prior to joining Columbia Southern University, Dale was the vice president of brand, public relations and communications for American Public Education and was VP of marketing for Rasmussen University before its acquisition by APEI. During his extensive career, Dale has been a marketing executive for both colleges and higher-education focused marketing agencies, and has developed and led two online college campuses. In addition, he has served as a consultant with several universities on marketing and distance-learning initiatives while co-founding an education concierge firm serving working professionals seeking an online degree. Dale earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in marketing from Coker University and an MBA with a marketing concentration from Regis University.
- - - -Connect With Our Host:Jaime Hunthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMCAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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Ep. 79: {First Name} is Not Personalization: Leveraging aI to Improve the Student Lifecycle
In this episode of Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO, host Jaime Hunt sits down with Collegis Education’s Dan Antonson to unpack how artificial intelligence is transforming the entire student lifecycle—from initial inquiry to post-graduation. The conversation dives deep into how AI is enabling smarter personalization, unlocking insights from previously untapped data, and helping institutions move beyond guesswork to strategic student support. Whether you’re grappling with summer melt or thinking about AI ethics in higher ed, this one’s worth a listen.Guest Name: Dan Antonson, Associate Vice President of Analytics & Technology Solutions, Collegis EducationGuest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danantonson/Guest Bio: Dan Antonson helps higher education institutions leverage technology and analytics to tackle some of higher education's biggest challenges across the student lifecycle. Whether it is to grow and optimize enrollment or create a better learning experience, Dan has hands-on experience with higher education data and systems to drive meaningful use-cases that create real tangible impact. Dan has more than 15 years of experience in digital analytics, marketing attribution and measurement, and he has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. When he is not scribbling data and analytics systems on whiteboards, you’ll find him trying to stay upright on his mountain bike or tinkering with his home automation system (his robot lawn mower is his favorite gadget at the moment).
- - - -Connect With Our Host:Jaime Hunthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMCAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
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Ep. 78: ‘Same Old’ Isn’t a Strategy: Breaking Out of Higher Ed’s Creative Rut
In this energizing episode of Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO, host Jaime Hunt chats with Daniel Andreani, Creative Director at Do Not Disturb, about the critical need for creative reinvention in higher education marketing. From dissecting branding stagnation to exploring the evolving role of AI in creativity, this conversation dives deep into how institutions can—and must—break free from outdated visuals and messaging to truly connect with today’s students. If you're feeling stuck in the same old admissions campaign loop, this one’s for you.Guest Name: Daniel Andreani, Chief Creative Officer, Do Not DisturbGuest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielandreani/Guest Bio: Daniel Andreani is a creative leader and brand strategist who thrives on building stellar teams and creating work that truly resonates. As founder of Do Not Disturb (donotdisturb.love), he brings a human-centric approach to campaigns that audiences actively seek out. His philosophy remains simple yet powerful: respect your audience through quality storytelling and flawless execution, an approach that consistently delivers measurable business results and ROI for his clients.Beyond crafting award-winning work for the beverage industry, consumer packaged goods, QSR, automotive and higher education clients, Dan embraces life's adventures, conquering marathons, cycling Centuries and GranFondos, mountain biking, playing hockey and battling through zombie apocalypses video games with his son. Full-on ADD and proud of it, so if he asks for your name twice, just roll with it.
- - - -Connect With Our Host:Jaime Hunthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jaimehunt/https://twitter.com/JaimeHuntIMCAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.Attend the 2025 Engage Summit! The Engage Summit is the premier conference for forward-thinking leaders and practitioners dedicated to exploring the transformative power of AI in education. Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025! Early bird registration ends February 1st -- https://engage.element451.com/register
About Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO — with Jaime Hunt
Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is like a conference in a podcast, offering a blend of professional wisdom, innovative ideas, and personal anecdotes. Whether you're a higher ed marketer, a faculty member curious about the behind-the-scenes of university branding, or just someone with an interest in the intersection of education and marketing, the podcast is your gateway to the lesser-known narratives of higher education.
In each episode, host Jaime Hunt engages in candid and insightful conversations with leading minds in the field, exploring not just the nuts and bolts of marketing, but also the diverse and often unexpected challenges and stories that define higher education marketing.
Our guests, a mix of seasoned CMOs, innovative thinkers, and key influencers in the higher ed sector, don't just share their professional triumphs; they open up about their personal journeys and share their candid insights.. The podcast goes beyond the conventional, bringing to light the real stories behind campus campaigns, the evolving nature of student engagement, and the creative challenges in this unique field.
With a host renowned for establishing a warm and engaging rapport, each episode feels less like an interview and more like a conversation between old friends. The discussions are not only thoughtful and informative but sprinkled with moments of humor and fun, capturing the essence of what it's like to navigate the complex world of higher education marketing. Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO is hosted by Jaime Hunt and is a proud member of the Enrollify Podcast Network.
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