Twisting Paradigms IRL

Episode 8: AI Isn't the Problem - Your Culture Is with Dr. Claire Brady

We are joined by Dr. Claire Brady, President and Founder of Glass Half Full Consulting and author of AI with Intention: The Leadership Guide for Higher Education. [https://www.amazon.com/AI-Intention-Leadership-Higher-Education/dp/1662972024]Dr. Claire Brady is a nationally recognized speaker, consultant, and author of AI with Intention: The Leadership Guide for Higher Education. With more than 25 years of experience in student affairs and executive leadership, she partners with colleges and universities to navigate AI adoption with clarity, strategy, and purpose. Through keynotes, workshops, and executive advising, Claire helps leaders move beyond hype to identify practical, mission-aligned applications of AI that enhance student success, improve operations, and strengthen organizational culture. Her work is grounded in the belief that AI should not replace human connection—but create more space for it. The conversation explores the impact of AI in higher education, and the challenges and strategies related to AI adoption and change management. It explores the importance of building trust, dealing with change fatigue, and understanding paradigms and behavior twists in the context of organizational leadership and change. It highlights the integration of AI into student workflows, building trust and transparency with students, the role of AI in student enrollment, scalability and challenges of AI implementation, the human-centric approach to AI in higher education, the impact of AI on student well-being and equity, creating a culture of AI readiness in higher education, and final thoughts and encouragement for AI adoption in education. Takeaways * The importance of building trust in AI adoption and navigating change fatigue * Understanding paradigms and behavior twists in the context of organizational leadership and change - Trust and transparency are essential in integrating AI into student workflows. * AI readiness in higher education is about creating a culture that supports meaningful engagement with AI tools. Chapters * 00:00 The Birth of Paradigm Twist * 05:29 Building Capacity for Change * 10:34 Building Trust in AI Adoption * 15:46 Building Trust in AI Adoption * 21:12 Integrating AI into Student Workflows * 26:24 The Human-Centric Approach to AI in Higher Education * 32:26 Creating a Culture of AI Readiness in Higher Education * 38:05 Final Thoughts and Encouragement Dr. Claire Brady - Glass Half Full Consulting [https://www.drclairebrady.com/] Find out more about Claire and her new book launching this month: AI with Intention [https://www.amazon.com/AI-Intention-Leadership-Higher-Education/dp/1662972024]

Episode 7: Reimagining the Higher Ed Workforce with Dr. Kevin McClure

The conversation explores the concept of a caring university and the incremental changes needed to transform institutional culture. It shares the origin story of this concept, the assessment and improvement of culture, the role of policy and procedure, and the importance of the employee value proposition in addressing institutional challenges. The conversation explores the challenges of workload, organizational capacity for change, and the need to prioritize quality over quantity in higher education. It emphasizes the importance of people-first change, building readiness, and empowering end users in change processes. The discussion also explores the need to update workplace mindsets and policies, embrace small wins, and reconstruct organizational practices to achieve a more caring university environment. Dr. Kevin R. McClure is a Professor of Higher Education and Chair of the Department of Educational Leadership at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. He also serves as Co-Director of the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges.  Dr. McClure is a distinguished scholar of college leadership and organizational change. An award-winning public scholar, he has most recently served as a regular columnist at The Chronicle of Higher Education. Dr. McClure’s best-selling book, The Caring University: Reimagining the Higher Education Workplace after the Great Resignation, was released with Johns Hopkins University Press in 2025. Kevin's recent article: Higher Ed Has A Workload Problem [https://www.chronicle.com/article/higher-ed-has-a-workload-problem] Connect with Kevin on Linked In [https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-mcclure-424145223/] Takeaways from this episode - * Creating a caring university * Incremental change for institutional culture Prioritizing quality over quantity * Emphasizing people-first change Chapters * 00:00 The Caring University * 06:30 Assessing and Improving Culture * 16:47 Employee Value Proposition * 22:17 Doing Fewer Things Better Organizationally * 28:08 Putting People First in Change Initiatives * 34:29 Challenges of Letting Go and Updating Mindsets

Episode 6: Design Thinking in Higher Ed with Dr. Amy Tiberio

Dr. Amy Tiberio discusses the implementation of design thinking in higher education, emphasizing the student-centered approach, diverse perspectives, and the challenges and benefits of the process. The conversation explores the Experiencing Design framework, stages of the process, and its impact on change management and team dynamics. Additionally, the potential impact of design thinking on higher education and the encouragement of a student-centered approach are highlighted. Amy Tiberio, Ed.D., is a higher education leader, writer, and speaker passionate about institutional innovation and the future of education. Through her Substack and LinkedIn newsletter, Embracing Disruption in Higher Education, she explores the intersection of leadership, change management, and equity — translating complex research into ideas practitioners can actually use. Amy has spent over two decades in enrollment management at institutions across New England, including Bentley University, Stonehill College, and, most recently, Roger Williams University, where she serves as Vice President for Enrollment Management and a member of the President's Cabinet. She has presented at national conferences, including EDUCAUSE and the American Association of Colleges and Universities (AAC&U), on topics ranging from AI strategy to equity in admissions to women's leadership. She holds an Executive Doctorate in Higher Education from Boston College, where her research focused on leadership, institutional change, and equity in higher education. Outside of work, Amy is an avid yoga practitioner and believes deeply that personal wellness and great leadership go hand in hand. Takeaways * Design thinking centers the student experience * Design thinking encourages diverse perspectives and engagement * Design thinking requires intentional facilitation and time commitment Chapters * 00:00 Introduction to Design Thinking * 05:00 Experiencing Design Framework * 11:01 Creating an Environment for Creativity * 17:03 Impact on Change Management * 23:09 Building Team Synergy * 28:02 Encouraging Student-Centered Approach FREE RESOURCE [https://drive.google.com/file/d/120vMdn2e5utKtCo4umXy_qX8lqGzhfTv/view?usp=sharing]

Episode 5: The Team That Loves Mondays with Andrew Biernat

Andrew Biernat is a strategic business consultant, keynote speaker, and author of the book The Team That Loves Mondays. In this episode, we explore how motivation is an intrinsic, collaborative process rather than something imposed from the outside. We discuss practical strategies for fostering lasting engagement, addressing systemic barriers, and creating cultures that inspire energy and high performance, especially in challenging times. The following are highlights from our discussion - * The misconception that motivation is something you do to others * The critical role of intrinsic motivators: autonomy, belonging, and competence * How assessment tools can empower self-awareness and drive motivation * The importance of ongoing conversations and embedding motivation into team culture * Strategies for sustaining change amid organizational shifts and crises * Practical tips for leaders to create space, set boundaries, and build resilience * The power of pre-planning for hard moments and disruptions * The paradigm shift: influencing motivation collaboratively rather than controlling it * Key language cues to retire, like "I can't" and "I'm busy," to foster growth * The significance of consistency and intentional reflection for long-term impact The Team That Loves Mondays can be found on Amazon. [https://us.amazon.com/Team-That-Loves-Mondays-Extraordinary/dp/B0GNYV7MG2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2IF6D4PC4G1FX&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.56DMm2wz7yB4EQ_SEqIiauRSMoat3a8BK0fTKsf8RiFIyqhW2ZzsL09zpCed4ZkxZes_u4910llC3ta6r4Ady7N-_Ex9lluHtG_r1hTQ4u3XJnpdHTZUJgzsehhF6a0yN7-n7cyZkbC9xd5QM3LdBHXS4XY5fyMuCsYOH3zyFKTyB9H8BqS6UTcr-2jgDCih9YykFHMX-Gm96gxAq6AB6GXfwutAktD9OYc14iV6WWI.Zp6H3k9e90uJRY-yhteSNNDPWYp9e0AdTYOGzEmq6dw&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+team+that+loves+mondays&qid=1774367258&s=digital-text&sprefix=team+that+loves+mond%2Cdigital-text%2C185&sr=1-1-catcorr]

Episode 4: Resilience in Challenging Times with Dr. Melinda Stoops

The conversation explores the concept of resilience as a continuous practice, emphasizing the importance of self-care, recognizing strengths, and building connections. It explores the understanding of resilience, the cultivation of resilience in challenging times, and the building of a resilient culture within organizations. The conversation explores the themes of resilience, change management, and self-care in the context of organizational and personal development. It delves into the concept of the circle of control, the challenges of resilience in the face of unexpected change, and the importance of creating space for self-care and self-awareness. The discussion also touches on cultural change and resilience, the significance of starting small and building momentum, and the use of breathing as a tool for relaxation and focus. Takeaways * Resilience as a continuous practice * Resilience involves self-care, recognizing strengths, and building connections Circle of control * Resilience and change * Creating space for self-care and self-awareness * Cultural change and resilience * Starting small and building momentum * Breathing as a tool for relaxation and focus Chapters * 00:00 Building a Resilient Culture * 18:23 Circle of Control and Influence * 25:29 Starting Small and Building Momentum * 27:00 - The power of consistency and small wins over time * 30:00 - Practical tools: breathing, control circles, and modeling behaviors * 31:50 - Final thoughts on fostering resilience in yourself and others Resources & Links: * The Resilience Factor: 7 Keys to Finding Your Inner Strength and Overcoming Life's Hurdles [https://www.amazon.com/Resilience-Factor-Finding-Strength-Overcoming/dp/0767911911/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.H6d0hq3lwUJbLo-d78PbOp2-OYbRE3R6q5OR_NMA-WG9AvuqOav4XcIRNFbOdLOKdGlkQdCiTot67DowLRtx9rudaWzI77fiwfKpt9WeaeuIf5A4mOFHW3PV6cAg0V1l2D0u3nKFaAspavbAMOZ0y5x8ss68YRDqao_feKvLg1kpZwF0361c_EisO8oXeWhGzPJscO2TqJUzc5CGvuD-e9_-k1yZF2u3ycsJNs8fBnk.3QPETls9K4C6o7ChRx893MbkX9OM4CrpsrotJ9OJXtE&dib_tag=se&keywords=resilience+factor&qid=1772737241&sr=8-1] by Karen Reivich & Andrew Shatte * StrengthsFinder [https://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/home.aspx] by Gallup * The Resilient Paradigm Guide (you will need to download and save your own copy to access the guide). [https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/1304158/176443452559459730/share] Connect with Dr. Melinda Stoops: * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindastoops] * Twitter [https://twitter.com/melindastoops]