3 Critical Shifts Every Leader Must Make ASAP
This spring I sat down with some of the most trusted voices in higher education advancement. We didn’t talk theory. We talked about what’s real — leading teams through mergers, weathering change fatigue and building cultures people actually want to stay in.
Across those conversations, a clear pattern appeared. The leaders making the biggest difference aren’t always the most experienced or most decorated. They lean into three very human qualities: people, purpose and presence.
Not as values on a wall but as practices in motion.
Karl Miller Lugo, Vice President of Advancement and Alumni Engagement at the University of Texas at San Antonio, began a major merger with a listening tour instead of a plan. “I didn’t show up with a solution. I asked questions. That helped people trust the process.”
Heidi Woodbury, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at the University of Utah, knew how imperative it was to have her leadership team as cohesive as possible with major change on the horizon. Before an institutional realignment, she doubled down on executive-team cohesion, creating a shared foundation of trust that allowed her leaders to model vulnerability, open dialogue and clarity of purpose. “When the leadership team is aligned, it creates safety and direction for the entire organization,” she said.
Scott Roberts, Vice President for University Advancement at Colorado State University, noted that “if you go quiet, people make up their own stories.” He turned monthly all-staff meetings into a ritual that mixes personal updates with big-picture goals to keep transparency alive.
Cindi Roth, President and CEO of the West Virginia University Foundation, reminded us that “how we manage change will either lead to stability or [momentum will] dissolve.” For her team success hinged on consistent communication even when the answers were hard.
Among my favorite insights were three relatable case studies from Miller Lugo, Woodbury and Mo Cotton Kelly, Chief People Officer and Senior Vice President for Alumni Relations, University of Connecticut Foundation. Their stories offer actionable takeaways for navigating mergers, driving realignment and investing in leadership cohesion.
What impressed me most was their humility. These leaders weren’t trying to be perfect; they were trying to be present. In that presence, they created space for alignment, clarity and trust.
At Bryant Group we believe leadership isn’t about titles or checklists. It’s about how you show up — especially when it’s hard.
That’s why we captured these insights in our new white paper: The Power of People, Purpose and Presence in Advancement Leadership
It reflects conversations with 16 leaders who stay grounded in their mission and keep people at the heart of the work.
A few truths rang loud and clear:
Leadership presence, purpose clarity and people-centeredness are not “soft skills” — they are success factors.
The more we lean into our shared humanity the more fulfilled and effective we become.
Join us at the CASE Summit to continue this exploration. In a moment that demands human-centered leadership we can build stability, connection and real change together.
Acknowledgments
This white paper is made possible by the candid insights and thoughtful contributions of the following leaders:
Blaire Atkinson, President, Oklahoma State University Foundation
Mo Cotton Kelly, Chief People Officer and Senior Vice President for Alumni Relations, University of Connecticut Foundation
Rod Grabowski, Senior Vice President for Advancement and Partnerships and CEO of the University of Central Florida Foundation
Brigitte Grant, Vice Chancellor, University of Tennessee Health Science Center & University of Tennessee Foundation Inc.
Kathleen Heckman, Vice President for University Advancement, University at Buffalo
Pamella Henson, Executive Vice Chancellor for University Advancement, Washington University in St. Louis
Tamara Michel Josserand, Vice President of Development, University of Washington
Karl Miller Lugo, Vice President of Advancement and Alumni Engagement, University of Texas at San Antonio
Missy Ryan Penland, Senior Associate Vice President for Development, Clemson University
Tony Proudfoot, Vice President of Marketing and Strategic Communications, Western Michigan University
Scott Roberts, Vice President for University Advancement, Colorado State University
Cynthia Roth, President and CEO, West Virginia University Foundation
Rick Virgin, Vice President for University Advancement, University of San Diego
Greg Willems, President and CEO, Kansas State University Foundation
Heidi Woodbury, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, The University of Utah
Thank you for showing us what it means to prioritize people, lead with presence and to advance with purpose.
To request a copy of this white paper, click here.
