Strategic Clarity in a Defining Moment: What We’re Hearing and How We’re Responding

Across the first half of this year, we’ve been in trusted conversation with higher education leaders—Presidents, Vice Presidents, Deans, and Directors—at some of the country’s most dynamic institutions. What we’re hearing is clear: this moment demands strategic focus, steady leadership, and the ability to navigate complexity with confidence.

Presidents and vice presidents describe this as a defining moment that demands strategic clarity across both senior leadership and the organization's middle management. Crisis and uncertainty have destabilized structures, unsettled teams, and disrupted decision-making. Leaders are working within environments marked by urgency, exhaustion, and a growing recognition that old solutions won’t solve what’s next. In this landscape, leadership can feel isolating, and many are seeking clearer pathways forward.

What Leaders Need Now

Leaders who are committed to staying in their roles tell us they need space to think clearly about complexity, tradeoffs, and what’s next. They’re looking for trusted partners who can offer perspective, ask the right questions, and help them navigate sensitive decisions with clarity and steadiness. Through our strategy work and advisory partnerships, we’re supporting leaders as they make those decisions thoughtfully, while also equipping their teams to lead through change and think more institutionally.

While some leaders are doubling down on their current roles, others are discerning what’s next. We’re in conversation with leaders who are considering a transition, whether prompted by opportunity, values misalignment, or the need for a different pace. These leaders are seeking space to think more broadly about their future and to make thoughtful decisions about what kind of leadership, impact, and life they want to build next. Our Portfolio service gives leaders the space to step back, clarify what matters most, and position themselves intentionally for what’s next.

Refining How We Serve

Over the past several months, we’ve taken a thoughtful look at how we serve colleges and universities, as well as the leaders shaping their future. We’ve refined and deepened our offerings to reflect the complexity of this moment. The result is a focused, flexible approach that centers strategy, leadership, and organizational health built to support transformation and manage change. We’re excited about this evolution and what it means for the work ahead. 

The work ahead is complex. But leaders don’t have to navigate it alone. We’re in steady partnership with those shaping what’s next, and always listening for what’s needed most.