Beyond Academics

Whose Birthday is it? Five years - Is that a long time? In dog years, yes. In a frustrating job or relationship - certainly! But when you’re on the right path, time moves differently. Five years ago, I made a choice that at the time felt uncertain - but that choice was driven by a deep belief: that true impact comes from serving clients, not just chasing contracts, titles, or money. I left behind the comfort of a lucrative, known path to create something I believed in—a place where transformation is the mission, not just a buzzword. A place where campuses, not vendors, drive the change they need. That belief shaped Beyond Academics. If you haven’t figured it out yet, I don’t chase titles. I don’t chase awards, and I certainly don’t let money dictate my mission. The freedom to do what’s right is worth far more than a nameplate or a trophy. Because here’s the truth: ???Titles and awards are just levers to keep you moving in someone else’s direction. ???Superficial inclusion is a leash, disguised as a seat at the table. ???It’s actually much easier to follow and make money. It’s a lot harder to be and stay on mission. Over the last five years, I’ve watched Beyond’s competition force clients to take a backseat to vendor-driven agendas. Following the breadcrumbs of vendors to hit your consulting sales quota is easy. Spreading the vendor’s propaganda just to get walked in the door for big contracts. That’s easy too. At Beyond, our goal is to help clients recognize that while real change is hard, it’s well worth the effort. The uncomfortable conversations we facilitate that leads to real policy, procedure, people, system and structure change is damn hard. That’s the consulting we do. Impact over ego. Mission over money. Always. Now 5 years old, Beyond isn’t just surviving—it’s thriving. The path we’re on today far exceeds what I left behind. Not because it was easy. But because it was the right thing to do. Would I do it again? In a heartbeat. Here’s to the next five years of serving the most innovative minds in higher education, leading with purpose, and making the kind of impact that actually matters. Happy Birthday to Beyond and everyone who has made it what it is today! And many happy returns! Joe Abraham Joel Mathew Sally Abraham John Thompson-Haas Gabrielle Kristofich Frederik Creugers Rogelio Guzman, PMP Sujoy Pereira Elizabeth (Liz) Powell Nick Morosco Nate Baron Hannah Krispin Jonathan Mitzenmacher Lauren Wass Sureya Alex Annika Patel Paul Rhinehart Rupal Shah Christine E. Looser Brandon Sosa Alain Flores John Berkenkotter Dan Moran Kunalsinh Vaghela Dr. Robbie L. de Leur Rupal Shah David Lotz

Trying to get real movement? Do you really understand why people make the decisions they do? It all comes down to one thing—what value means to them. If you want to dive into the psychology behind what people truly value, this session is for you. Everyone throws around the word "value" when pitching new initiatives, but has anyone actually defined it? Value looks different for campuses, vendors, consulting firms, and even you as an individual. So many factors at play—let’s break it down together. We will tackle the hours into 3 parts: 1. Defining Value in Higher Education 2. The Value Formula 3. Challenges in Assessing Value #yourvoicematters - We moved this topic to Zoom to ensure a frictionless flow of conversation with an open mic. Join us via the Zoom link above or use the quick reference below: https://lnkd.in/dmM4WpYC This is a deep conversation—probably one of the most important conversations that impact everyone, from the campus to software vendors and you as the individual. Beyond Academics Gabrielle Kristofich Matt Alex

Innovation flourishes in a culture where everyone feels empowered to contribute, regardless of their role or department. It’s not just about new ideas or technology—it’s about fostering an environment that encourages creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. When people have the support, resources, and connections to bring their ideas to life, innovation becomes a shared commitment that drives meaningful transformation. At Miami Dade College, we took a bold step towards innovation at scale with the launch of the President’s Innovation Lab—an initiative from President Madeline Pumariega designed to empower employees at all levels to innovate in ways that improve efficiency and student success. For our first call for projects, we received 68 proposals from across the institution. Out of those, 12 were selected for a five-month journey where participants went through multiple workshops led by Beyond Academics and The Idea Center at Miami Dade College and were paired with mentors to develop and test their ideas. Their journey culminated in a Shark Tank-style pitch to the College President, Provost Malou C. Harrison, and COO and Chief of Staff Maryam Laguna Borrego, where they presented their solutions for potential implementation. What made this initiative truly inspiring? ? Collaboration across departments—Colleagues from different areas came together to solve common challenges. ? Stepping out of comfort zones—Employees took on new experiences because they were driven by a desire to improve processes. ? Recognizing grassroots innovation—Some participants had been creating solutions on their own for years and finally found a platform to share their passion for efficiency with institutional leadership. But what stood out the most? The passion and commitment of all my colleagues pitching their projects, and their desire to be an integral part of the future of MDC. Seeing their drive to go beyond job descriptions, to invest time and effort into solutions that benefit students and the institution—that’s what defines a true culture of innovation. Efficiency at a corporate level isn’t achieved through fear of job loss or pressure to do more in the same hours. It comes from fostering pride in one’s work, creating an environment where people feel valued, and building leadership that inspires. I’m incredibly proud of this first cohort (they were all winners!) and excited to see how they implement their projects and how the President’s Innovation Lab continues to shape the future of MDC. Congratulations Sandy Mujica, Niurka "Niki" Goenaga, Evelyn Falcon, Beverly Moore-Garcia, Georgette Perez, Dianne Valdivia, Julio Lopez, Nelson Maga?a, Caridad Castro, Eddie Martinez, Denise Fiona Troope, Juliet Bedard, Christian O., Andrew Carbon, Mayte Castro, Dr. Deborah Robinson, Samantha Pierre, Joshua Arjona, Yhosemar Mendez, Amy Crowley-Gonsoulin, Jennifer Diptee-Martos. Great job Alejandro D. González, Joe Abraham, and your respective teams.

We are so proud of the opportunity to work with dynamic higher education innovators like Antonio Delgado Fornaguera and Alejandro D. González on meaningful work like this. Can't wait for the next one!

There's a common misconception that lower costs automatically lead to higher value. As you will see from this article, we dive deep into why "savings" doesn't always lead to positive value, and in fact, can have negative consequences for your campus. This article sets the table for the conversation we will have on Thursday. See you then! Gabrielle Kristofich Matt Alex Vistasp Karbhari WILLIAM CULEY Joe Sallustio, EdD Joe Sabado, MBA Christine E. Looser Joe Abraham Frederik Creugers Rogelio Guzman, PMP Sally Abraham Stephanie Powell Lauren Wass Nick Morosco John Thompson-Haas Lidia Anderson Jessica Holler Brittany Moon Tom Chambers Higher Education User Group EDUCAUSE The Chronicle of Higher Education Inside Higher Ed

This is the first post of a series by Rogelio Guzman, PMP, our AI project management pro. At Beyond, what differentiates us from others is that we are using AI and not just talking about it. We are a not a firm that is afraid of AI, and we are not talking about obstacles that hinder us from leveraging what AI should do for our consulting, as well as for our clients. In the next few days, weeks, and months ~ you will see how Beyond is using AI and why we are the firm that innovative leaders are turning to, to enable AI on their campus. If you are coming to Alliance '25, you will have the opportunity to meet with Ro, as he is presenting on MainStage with topics like this. Follow him and Beyond. Higher Education User Group

Campuses are so focused on short-term savings that they end up costing themselves millions in the long run. ?? Let’s talk about how institutions can make smarter financial decisions—seeing real value without getting taken to the cleaners. ?? Join the conversation! Matt Alex Joe Abraham Gabrielle Kristofich Elizabeth (Liz) Powell Lauren Wass Sally Abraham Nick Morosco John Thompson-Haas Rogelio Guzman, PMP Frederik Creugers Sujoy Pereira Arthur "Art" Fridrich Brian A. Dixon Vistasp Karbhari Joe Sallustio, EdD Bryan Alexander Jim Bouse

When campuses prioritize savings, they are signaling that the initiative is not a priority. This long over due topic focuses on how campuses often prioritize cost-saving measures without aligning them to strategies that drive meaningful impact, ultimately missing opportunities for greater revenue generation. It highlights the risks of short-term savings at the expense of long-term value, especially when decision-makers fail to understand the true revenue impacts of their actions.

?? ???????????? ???? ????????. ?????????????? ???? ????????. ????????’?? ?????? ?? ???????????????? ?????????????? ???????? ??????????. Most people type their prompts into ChatGPT. But I’ve found that talking to it is way more efficient—especially if you think out loud like I do. Here’s my setup: ?? Step 1: Use Dictation Software I use VoiceTyper (Windows has a built-in tool, but it’s buggy for me). Mac users can find a native dictation option. ?? Benefit: Speak naturally, and let AI handle the rest. ??? Step 2: Talk to ChatGPT Instead of Typing Instead of overthinking what to write, I just say what I mean and let ChatGPT clean it up. ?? Example: Brainstorming a proposal? Just talk through your ideas. ChatGPT structures them for you. ?? Step 3: Use ChatGPT’s Voice Feature I call my voice assistant John—it’s like having a live brainstorming session with an AI. ?? Example: When I need strategy ideas, I just open ChatGPT’s voice mode and talk with it. It feels like having a second brain. ? Result? I get things done faster, easier, and more naturally than typing everything out. If you’ve never tried talking to ChatGPT, you’re missing out. Give it a shot. ?? Do you use ChatGPT’s voice feature? How do you maximize it? Drop your thoughts in the comments. #ChatGPT #AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Productivity #Efficiency #AIProductivity #VoiceAI #Dictation #FutureOfWork #TechTips #DigitalTransformation #WorkSmarter #Automation #Brainstorming #ProjectManagement #Leadership #LinkedInTips #Growth #Innovation #TechTrends #AIForBusiness

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