BU Virtual Connects

BU Virtual Connects - Lifelong Learning breeds a new focus – Lifetime Learning

In this episode, Nelson Baker, Ph.D. and interim inaugural dean at the College of Lifetime Learning at Georgia Institute for Technology, talks about what it takes to think differently, innovate and adapt in a changing higher education landscape. By his own admission, he does a lot of listening across various constituent groups, and he likes to ask the “what if” questions.  Tune in to learn more about the work Georgia Tech is doing – both as one of the early pioneers for online-at-scale degrees and now a college of lifetime learning. In his own words: “The life span of a college degree no longer equals the life span of work.”

BU Virtual Connects - Inspiring and Empowering Change: What It Takes to Cultivate Leadership and Resiliency in Uncertain Times

In this episode, Meredith Rosenberg, Co-Founder and Partner at NU Advisory Partners, spends a lot of time working with senior academic and industry leaders – whether that is relative to recruitment, strategic consultation and advisory services, or launching education technology startups. She has a really unique lens when it comes to empowering leaders and assessing talent, and helping organizations and institutions thrive and pivot in times of change. Her own approach to leadership is to manage the predictable and leave space to rise to the unpredictable, and most importantly to live your authentic self and be clear about what matters. In her own words:  “The leaders that I love in the university setting are the ones who think about what is possible, who are aspirational, who think about what is the future, and how do we build that. Those leaders are really the most exciting. They are entrepreneurial. They are innovative. They are creative. They think about what should be done.”

BU Virtual Connects - Global Skills & Education – What It Means to Be Prepared for the Future of Work

In this episode, Kamran Malik, a former partner at EY, and now a Senior Client Partner at Kornferry based in Dubai, as well as a Managing Partner at a social ventures firm, brings a really unique global and workforce perspective relative to deepening the value and partnership between academia and industry. He believes the conversations are shifting from – what skills do I need to how do I ensure a productive workforce? He has a passion for education – and yet also believes that industry and technology are at a pace that will require higher education to think differently and “in the flow of work.”  While some of his contentions may be considered bold or controversial by many in higher education, it’s a provocative reminder that there are opportunities for universities to help society embrace these changes and be ready for the future. In his own words: “I do think there is a big shift in how people learn – it’s now learning in the flow of life.”

BU Virtual Connects - From BU Alum to Stanford University – One Leader’s Journey to Extend Life Transforming Education Beyond Silicon Valley

In this episode, Carissa Little, associate dean for global and online education at Stanford University, began her education journey as an undergraduate at Boston University, and now is a leading voice and collaborator in driving new models and innovative approaches in online education. She talks about what it takes to successfully stand up online units – from course development and marketing to technology. She also contends that the acceleration of technology in teaching and learning will continue to drive change, and she takes pride in thinking carefully about the power of human connection and collaboration. In her own words: “My goal is to have impact on as many people as possible for whatever scale I can muster.” I would love to see higher ed band together more in this time and in this space to partner on that mission. We can do much more together than we can do separately.”

BU Virtual Connects - The Power of Innovative Partnerships – Creating Pathways to Sustainable Success

In this episode, Karen Markel, a longtime educator and academic leader currently at the College of Business at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, is drawing upon her years of experience in higher education, business and human resources management to drive transformation and to create opportunities for dialogue and exchange across a community of educators.  P3 EDU, which she and her business partner James Sparkman launched a few years ago, is now a vital forum for higher education leaders to learn from one another, and to effectively drive more impact for all.  Throughout her years in academia, she has witnessed the lack of basic business skills in higher education leaders, often experts in their disciplines, but often missing the training or experience in strategic planning, managing budgets, or how to be an effective leader. In her own words: “I think we need to take this moment and say this is an opportunity for us to reshape and rethink what we do.”