With 17 years of insider experience, I specialize in enhancing university operations and strategic planning through innovative, data-driven solutions. Receive succinct, powerful insights on using analytics and artificial intelligence to streamline operations, increase ROI, and make informed strategic decisions. Ideal for C-suite aiming to do more with less and navigate the complexities of modern higher education.
What a Women with Autism Taught Me About Human Behavior
Hi there Reader,
I hope you're having a great week...
Life Lessons from the Spectrum
I had an incredible conversation with Milanie Grae, whose managed to channel her neurodivergence and fascination with brain science into a writing superpower.
Unsolicited Career Advice
Last week, a friend contacted me asking for some Career advice.
After 10+ years working for the same University, she was passed over for the Senior role in her department...
Feeling overlooked but not surprised given the dynamics at her workplace, she found herself at a crossroads.
When I inquired about her Plan B, she confessed she didn't have one.
This is not uncommon, but it is a reminder of the importance of building and accruing career leverage.
My advice for anyone seeking more autonomy:
- Build publicly
- Stack unique skills
- Create an online Personal Brand
In a world of rapid change and uncertainty, relying solely on traditional career paths is... risky.
As my friend discovered, years of dedication don't necessarily translate into promotions or recognition. I
- Invest in yourself
- Acquire specific skills
- Make your unique mark
Chat GPT Prompt of the Week
"Transform these meeting notes into a potential solution that solves these pain points: ..."
Twitter Course Freebie
(note: you'll be redirected to the first video lesson and enrolled in an email sequence).
Talk soon, my friend!
-Mike O’Connor
Hi, I'm Mike!
With 17 years of insider experience, I specialize in enhancing university operations and strategic planning through innovative, data-driven solutions. Receive succinct, powerful insights on using analytics and artificial intelligence to streamline operations, increase ROI, and make informed strategic decisions. Ideal for C-suite aiming to do more with less and navigate the complexities of modern higher education.
Hi there Reader, The headlines don’t tell the full story—but the data and experts do. This week, we dive into political risks facing your campus narrative, why predictive AI may be your secret weapon, and what enrollment shifts by race mean for your institutional future. Candid Conversation with Nick Anderson (ACE)Higher Ed's Trust Crisis Isn’t a Marketing Problem. It's a Local ROI Problem. Nick Anderson, senior leader at the American Council on Education and longtime Washington Post...
Hi there Reader, This week’s newsletter is a bit of a special edition... More AI volatility, new market signals for campus real estate, and the latest Harvard vs. Trump legal drama. As always: fast takes, second-order insights, and resources to help you navigate Higher Ed’s next moves. 👇 Onward: AI in Flux: New Video Tools, GPT-5 Timeline, Meta’s Talent Wars The AI arms race keeps accelerating: Midjourney launched its first AI video model (V1), turning images into 5-sec clips—extensible to 21...
Hi Reader, This Week’s Big Ideas: Why Small Wins > Big Visions, Türkiye’s EdTech Pivot, and the Senate’s Higher Ed Shakeup 1. Want to Thrive in the Age of AI? Think Small. Based on: Derek Sivers’ “Round” Philosophy + Kevin Kelly’s “1000 True Fans” The future won’t reward scale for scale’s sake. “To surf above the tsunami, I suggest one human-scale win at a time.” In a higher ed world that obsesses over growth, rankings, and transformation, we might need to go the other way: Build resonance...