Job Shadowing HE

Greg Sheridan is Senior Registry Digital Manager at the University of the West of Scotland. In this episode, Greg shares his experience of the cyber attack on his institution in July 2023. He explores both the rapid and longer-term change that he needed to progress to build back better the student record system, and how that process was as much about people, mindsets and decision-making, as it was about the system.   This podcast mini-series is kindly sponsored by Ellucian. Ellucian combines higher education expertise, focused innovation and deep partnership to help institutions navigate transformation. Unlock success with the complete, integrated Ellucian SaaSPlatform connecting people, processes and applications across your institution.

Louise Savage is Head of School Operations in the School of Education at the University of Nottingham. In this episode, Louise talks about her experience of engaging with change from a school perspective including in her roles as both a stakeholder and a leader. She explores navigating that often delicate balance of local and institutional needs, discusses how effective consultation, engagement and networks can create better outcomes and delves into why retaining the art of conversation is so important. This podcast mini-series is kindly sponsored by Ellucian. Ellucian combines higher education expertise, focused innovation and deep partnership to help institutions navigate transformation. Unlock success with the complete, integrated Ellucian SaaSPlatform connecting people, processes and applications across your institution.

Helen Langley is Project Manager in the Change Support Unit at City, University of London. In this episode, Helen provides an overview of the projects she has and is managing at City to enhance the student experience. She also shares more about how she got into project management, offers insight into the project framework used by City and reflects upon the downs and ups of being a project manager in a fast-paced and changing environment.    This podcast mini-series is kindly sponsored by Ellucian. Ellucian combines higher education expertise, focused innovation and deep partnership to help institutions navigate transformation. Unlock success with the complete, integrated Ellucian SaaSPlatform connecting people, processes and applications across your institution.

Ben Rogers is Director of Registry Services at Cardiff Metropolitan University and is also Chair of the UK's Academic Registrars Council. In this episode, Ben talks about being the co-sponsor of an institution-wide change project at Cardiff Met to review student journey processes from enrolment through to graduation and the implementation of a new student records system. He shares background to the project, its costs and benefits and the approach to getting buy-in. He also delves into supporting colleagues through change, including his approach to communication and engagement as well as supporting himself through the more challenging moments of change.  This podcast mini-series is kindly sponsored by Ellucian. Ellucian combines higher education expertise, focused innovation and deep partnership to help institutions navigate transformation. Unlock success with the complete, integrated Ellucian SaaSPlatform connecting people, processes and applications across your institution.

Professor Mairi Watson is Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Hertfordshire, prior to which she was Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and Student Experience. In this episode, Mairi offers a senior leadership perspective of leading change, the importance of ambition, the scope for taking risks and being brave, and why supporting colleagues' readiness for change is such a vital part of leading change well.  This podcast mini-series is kindly sponsored by Ellucian. Ellucian combines higher education expertise, focused innovation and deep partnership to help institutions navigate transformation. Unlock success with the complete, integrated Ellucian SaaSPlatform connecting people, processes and applications across your institution.

Susannah Marsden introduces her new podcast, Job Shadowing HE, where guests from across the Higher Education sector talk about their roles, their career paths and how to get in and get on in those jobs.

Yemi Gbajobi is the Chief Executive Officer of Arts Students' Union at the University of the Arts London. In this episode, Yemi talks about her role and career path, discusses the pushes and pulls of the relationship between students' unions and universities, shares how she navigates the intersectionality of being a younger, Black, female leader in Higher Education, reflects upon how she learns from working with other organisations, and considers how to plan for students of the future.    This episode is kindly sponsored by Blackbullion, the platform for students to learn about money and apply for more money in the UK’s largest hub of student support funds, scholarships and grants, with an app to help them manage their money with confidence. The platform also houses the UK’s leading end-to-end funding solution for staff to manage university funds and make instant payments to students.

Rachel Reeds is Senior Admissions Manager at Anglia Ruskin University. In this episode, Rachel talks about about the twists and turns of her career path, discusses the lynchpin role admissions professionals play in supporting students' HE journeys, shares her views on authentic leadership and provides insight into what she's gained from studying on the PG Certificate in HE Administration Management and Leadership run by AHEP. Rachel also tells more about the book that she has written to support HE professionals, due to be published in the coming months.    This episode is kindly sponsored by Blackbullion, the platform for students to learn about money and apply for more money in the UK’s largest hub of student support funds, scholarships and grants, with an app to help them manage their money with confidence. The platform also houses the UK’s leading end-to-end funding solution for staff to manage university funds and make instant payments to students.

Kerry Matthews is Chief Student Officer at the University of Surrey, and holds strategic leadership responsibility for the seamless student journey.  In this episode, Kerry shares insight into her role and career path to date, talks about her approach to leading cultural aspects of change, delves into what it's like to be a member of a University Executive Board and reflects upon why it's important to never forget why you do the job you do. 

John Schless is Head of Student Experience at the Royal College of Art.    In this episode, John shares his leadership experience at the Royal College of Art as well as the transition to his current post from previously being Chief Executive of the Students' Union at the University of Greenwich. With the benefit of leading the student experience from 'both sides', and having perspectives from a large post-92 Students' Union, a world-leading postgraduate specialist medium-sized institution as well as an earlier career background in fundraising, John explores leading through change, the importance of influence and his ultimate motivation in making a difference to people's lives.

Rebecca O'Hare is Deputy Director of Residential Services at the University of Leeds. In this episode, Rebecca shares more about how student accommodation is a central part of the student experience, talks about her career path in different types of student accommodation jobs and highlights the role she took in response to the national Living Black at University report, commissioned by Unite Students and carried out by Halpin Partnership. Rebecca also discusses how her background in fine art influences her approach at work, and how social media has supported her professional presence and development.  This episode is kindly sponsored by JSS Search, a boutique recruitment agency prioritising and cultivating long-term relationships grounded in sector understanding and a diversity of needs. Their Higher Education team, comprising expert consultants in professional services areas such as student operations, change and transformation, finance, procurement, and HR, is committed to providing UK-wide support. This includes executive search, contingent recruitment or interim solutions. JSS actively supports sector development through networking events and webinars. Emphasising EDI and Social Mobility, they extend their impact beyond recruitment, making a positive contribution to the Higher Education community.

Ashleigh Hope is Head of Access and Participation at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and James Rew is Access and Participation Manager at Leeds Conservatoire.    In this episode, Ashleigh and James discuss the HE conservatoire setting, the benefits of working in a small specialist institution and how they have each developed their access and participation career paths to date. They also look at the backdrop of leading access and participation work in conservatoires when there is significant declining opportunity for young people to access early performing arts experiences in parts of the primary and secondary state education sector.

Josh Gulrajani is Director of Planning, Performance and Student Statutory Returns at Aston University.    In this episode, Josh explains the remit of a planning director and, with my episode co-host HE consultant David Marks, delves into the topics of student number planning, the broader planning process and recent sector experience of Data Futures. Josh also shares his career path so far, discusses the value of engaging with wider professional activities and offers advice on getting into the planning profession.   This episode is kindly sponsored by Dixon Walter. Dixon Walter is a Search and Selection Firm devoted to the appointment of outstanding leaders within Higher Education. Since 2015, they have been delivering successful appointments across the full spectrum of senior Professional Services and Academic Leadership positions throughout the UK and across all mission groups. Hallmarks of their service include the supportive and insight-driven approach leading to innovative, diverse, and inspirational appointments that regularly exceed the expectations of both clients and candidates.

Julie Kelly is Academic Registrar at the University of Hertfordshire and Lesley O'Keeffe is Registrar at Brunel University. They are also both members of the Executive Committee of the Academic Registrars Council, the national body that represents the profession.    In this episode, Julie and Lesley explore the vast and pivotal role of the Academic Registrar in supporting the student journey, the variations in roles and titles across the sector, their different routes into Higher Education careers and how you create line-management relationships with subject experts. They also offer advice to colleagues who may aspire to be an Academic Registrar in the short- or medium-term.    This episode is kindly sponsored by Anderson Quigley. Anderson Quigley builds better leaders for a better society. They are industry experts with decades of experience in public sector executive search, interim management and advisory. Driven by their core values, integrity, diversity and hands-on project ownership, they bring their expertise to bear for organisations that focus on society and social development, delivering leadership recruitment in higher education, schools, healthcare, charities, social care, housing, cultural organisations, the arts and government.

Alison Benson is Strategic Planning Manager (Governance) at the University of Leicester. She has worked in Higher Education since 2016 and currently leads a team that manages the top-level corporate and academic governance of the university.    In this episode, Alison explores the purpose of university governance, what's involved in its effective management and how you know if it's working well. She also shares wider aspects of her professional life including navigating part-time working in a predominately full-time HE culture and the leading role she is taking in the sector to support governance professionals in their career pathways.

Victoria Holbrook is Assistant Director (Consulting, Governance and Insight) at Advance HE, which is a member-led charity that works with partners across the globe to improve higher education for staff, students and society.     In this episode, Victoria shares her career path through roles in organisations that support the HE community, discusses why good engagement with stakeholders matters and provides insight to the expertise she brings to help HEIs with problem-solving; she also offers views on the challenges facing the sector, and shares tips on how to get into her type of job.

Jamie Jones is Vice-Principal (Operations and Infrastructure) at ARU Peterborough, a new £30 million university that opened its doors to its first students in September 2022. Jamie has worked in Higher Education for over 20 years. In this episode, he shares his leadership involvement in setting up a new institution, discusses why he was attracted to the opportunity, uncovers his career path to date, talks through his working life now - including his approach to work-life balance, and offers advice on how to progress into executive operational roles. 

Selina Hannaford is Chief of Staff at City, University of London. She has worked in Higher Education for 20 years and during part of that time has been the Chief of Staff to four different Vice-Chancellors or Presidents. In this episode, Selina shares her career journey to date, sheds light on what a Chief of Staff does, uncovers the importance of the working relationship between a Chief of Staff and a Vice-Chancellor, discusses the importance of authentic leadership and offers advice on how to get into the Chief of Staff role.