Higher Ed Conversations

Join host and CEO of GradComm, Cheryl Broom as she sits down with higher education experts to discuss trends in marketing, communications, advancement and student success.

Higher Ed Conversations is a education podcast hosted by Cheryl Broom, with 86 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Cheryl Broom hosts Higher Ed Conversations, a education show with 86 episodes published.

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  Episode #86

  Ep 86: You Bought the Technology. Now What?

  Oct 2, 202635 minS1

  New technology can promise greater efficiency and a better student experience, but successful implementation often depends on more than the tool itself. Mike Toguchi of Tectonic joins GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom to discuss how staffing challenges, disconnected workflows, departmental silos, and competing priorities can prevent colleges from turning technology investments into meaningful change. Cheryl and Mike discuss explore AI and automation and the opportunities they create for higher education. Their conversation looks at what it takes to successfully implement new technology, from building staff buy-in and strengthening collaboration between marketing and IT to balancing innovation with privacy, security, governance, and cost. What You’ll Learn: How leaders can build staff buy-in by focusing on people and purpose instead of platforms. Ways marketing and IT teams can find common ground and work toward shared goals. How colleges can approach AI while considering privacy, security, governance, and ROI. How to start small by identifying one workflow or problem worth solving. Why colleges should start by trying to solve the problem instead of starting with the platform. Thanks for listening! Connect with GradComm: Instagram: @gradcommunications Facebook: @GradCommunications LinkedIn: @gradcomm Send us a message: GradComm.com Higher Ed Conversations is hosted by Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm, a marketing and branding agency specializing in community colleges and public education.

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  Episode #85

  Ep 85: Quick Take: Don’t Tell Marketing: Why Campus Teams Go Rogue

  Sep 17, 202615 minS1

  What happens when someone on campus says, “Don’t tell marketing”? Usually, there’s a bigger story behind that little act of brand rebellion. In this special Quick Take episode of Higher Ed Conversations, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom celebrates the release of her new book, Marketing Is Mission Work: How Colleges Can Build Trust, Remove Barriers, and Better Serve Students , by reading Chapter 1: “Don’t Tell Marketing.” In this chapter, Cheryl shares stories of rogue logos, off-brand colors, and campus branding battles to explore why people go around marketing in the first place. Often, they’re looking for visibility, ownership, or a faster way to solve a problem. Cheryl explains how marketers can uncover what their campus teams really need and build the trust needed to become strategic partners from the start. Marketing is Mission Work will be released this October. It will be available online at cherylbroom.com and at gradcomm.com/book , or you can purchase it on Amazon. What You’ll Learn: Why brand consistency matters for building trust What requests for new logos, colors, and designs may really be telling you How bringing marketing in early can shift the conversation from control to strategy Three questions to ask before saying “no” to an off-brand request Thanks for listening! Connect with GradComm: Instagram: @gradcommunications Facebook: @GradCommunications LinkedIn: @gradcomm Send us a message: GradComm.com Higher Ed Conversations is hosted by Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm, a marketing and branding agency specializing in community colleges and public education.

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  Episode #83

  Ep 83: Quick Take: Not All Students Scroll the Same

  Aug 17, 202615 minS1

  The strongest college marketing doesn’t start with a platform. It starts with understanding the people you’re trying to reach because, let’s face it, not all students scroll the same. In this Quick Take, GradComm CEO and Higher Ed Conversations host Cheryl Broom digs into data from nearly 4,000 students and $2 million in digital media spending to uncover how age, lifestyle, and personal goals shape what messages students need to hear, where they look for information, and what can get in the way of enrollment. Using the three T’s of college marketing- target, transformation, and tactics- as a framework, Cheryl breaks down why reaching different student audiences on the right platforms is only part of the equation. What You'll Learn: How younger and older students differ in the messages they need to hear and the media they use. Which platforms and creative approaches are performing across different age groups. How authentic student voices and platform-native content can drive stronger results. Where operational barriers can undermine even the strongest marketing campaign. Thanks for listening! Connect with GradComm: Instagram: @gradcommunications Facebook: @GradCommunications LinkedIn: @gradcomm Send us a message: GradComm.com Higher Ed Conversations is hosted by Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm, a marketing and branding agency specializing in community colleges and public education.

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  Episode #82

  Ep 82: Why Higher Ed Leaders Should Show Up on LinkedIn

  Aug 2, 202630 minS1

  LinkedIn has become one of the most valuable tools for professional networking and thought leadership, yet many higher education leaders are still using it like a bulletin board instead of a place to build relationships. In this episode of Higher Ed Conversations, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom talks with Greg Star, entrepreneur and founder of Driven Authentic Branding Solutions (DABS), about how college leaders can use LinkedIn to strengthen their professional connections and support the institutions they serve. Greg shares how he used his personal LinkedIn account to grow his own company, why personal posts often outperform company updates, and how college presidents, marketing directors, faculty, and development teams can use LinkedIn to share their expertise, tell meaningful stories, and communicate the value of their work. Cheryl and Greg also discuss authenticity, AI, personal branding, and why the best LinkedIn content often comes from the stories leaders are already telling in everyday conversations. What You’ll Learn: How personal storytelling can strengthen a college’s brand and community presence Why presidents and senior leaders should be visible on LinkedIn How colleges can use LinkedIn to connect with donors, employers, students, and community stakeholders Why authenticity matters more than polished corporate messaging How AI tools like Claude can support writing without replacing a leader’s voice Thanks for listening! Connect with GradComm: Instagram: @gradcommunications Facebook: @GradCommunications LinkedIn: @gradcomm Send us a message: GradComm.com Higher Ed Conversations is hosted by Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm, a marketing and branding agency specializing in community colleges and public education.

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  Episode #81

  Ep 81: Quick Take: The Three T's Behind Better College Marketing

  Jul 15, 202612 minS1

  College marketing takes more than announcing the launch of a new program and hoping students will show up. In this Quick Take episode, GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom shares her strategic framework for developing successful college marketing campaigns: the Three T's of College Marketing. Cheryl explains why effective campaigns first identify the right target audience, second build messaging around the transformation students are seeking, and third choose the tactics that will best reach them. From high school students and entry-level workers to adult learners, career changers, veterans, and first-generation college students, this episode explores how colleges can move beyond generic messaging and create marketing that speaks directly to the audiences they want to reach. What You’ll Learn: Why identifying the right target audience is the foundation of effective college marketing How different programs attract different types of students Why transformation should be at the center of your college marketing message The importance of making the student the hero of your marketing message How to choose the right marketing tactics based on your audience and goals Thanks for listening! Connect with GradComm: Instagram: @gradcommunications Facebook: @GradCommunications LinkedIn: @gradcomm Send us a message: GradComm.com Higher Ed Conversations is hosted by Cheryl Broom, CEO of GradComm, a marketing and branding agency specializing in community colleges and public education.

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