A recent example of this approach is my ongoing partnership with West-MEC in Arizona. Rather than a single speaking engagement, our ongoing collaboration reflects a comprehensive support model. Each fall, I open the academic calendar with an institution-wide keynote that challenges educators to redefine the goal of education and recognize the power of language to make education relevant to all.

Organizational change can be complex and overwhelming. Many leaders recognize the urgency but struggle to translate intention into action. Institutions face enrollment shifts, workforce pressures, technology disruption, and rapidly evolving learner expectations. Change now requires momentum, clarity, and a shared vision. When leaders ask how to advance culture without exhausting their teams, I emphasize a simple truth: transformation depends on applying the right force at the

We live in an economy that rewards skills more than ever before. Every year, we celebrate record numbers of college graduates while employers report record numbers of unfilled job openings. These two realities coexist simultaneously. A diploma alone no longer serves as an automatic ticket to a successful career. Employers seek workers who bring both knowledge and skills. Although the shift to a skills-based education plan may appear challenging, it is entirely achievable.

Starting a career in today’s economy requires more than a diploma or a degree. Every industry now expects a combination of academic knowledge, technical expertise, life skills, and employability skills. The measure of success is no longer just what you know, but how you apply that knowledge, how you adapt, and how well you align your strengths with opportunity.