This...Is...EDUP!

300. We have interviewed, recorded, and produced over 300 podcasts with Presidents of colleges and universities in under 5 years.

Yes, we have finally accomplished a goal Elvin Freytes and I talked about years ago. Though EdUp launched on January 25th, 2020, a little known fact about our journey is that Elvin and I did not meet in person until December 8th, 2021...nearly two years after starting our business, and after 357 recorded and produced episodes! Another little known fact is that I began that Qatar trip podcasting by myself, as Elvin didn't set his alarm and showed up right before lunch as if his presence was expected at that time...

It was in Doha that we began to discuss how we could impact higher education through The EdUp Experience Podcast with The President Series as catalyst for critical conversations. It seemed like an impossible goal at times - today's Presidents/Chancellors are very busy managing disruption, conceptualizing business model innovations, dealing with stakeholder groups, and ensuring care for the staff and faculty serving the people we work so hard to serve...the students.

But higher education has not been without it's detractors has it?

As confidence in higher education has waned, as the value of higher education has come into question, and as detractors have focused on every possible negative of the industry, we quickly repositioned EdUp to be a bright light (or mic) in a dark room waiting for the right leaders to spread the important message of higher education through our platform - to fight back against the narrative of negativity and renew the power of education through insights and actions discussed in relaxed and organic way. A way for these leaders to be themselves and say what they want, all while mobilizing their messages into an effective defense against the sea of messaging sameness against industry.

In the Battle of Thermopylae, the 300 Spartans fighting against the Persian army fought to the death. And while we are not literally in a life or death battle, aren't we theoretically in a battle for the future of our World? We know that higher education leads to better life outcomes related to economics, health, and other areas detailed in research by Georgetown and other sources, but we also must hear the roar of the crowd to reduce costs, create more access, and explore alternative pathways. The Presidents we have interviewed on EdUp are from all types of institutions and I can tell you, with certainty, that innovation lives within these leaders and institutions. So, we must mobilize.

The EdUp President Series is not stopping anytime soon - in fact, we probably have another 15 recorded episodes with Presidents yet to be released and another 20-30 scheduled to be recorded by the end of this year. The next goal? 500. What about 1000? Have you taken the time to explore the interviews we have completed with these Presidents? If not, I urge you to take a few minutes and explore the insights these leaders have taken the time to pass on to our audience.

To those Presidents or Chancellors that we have not yet interviewed - we invite you to come speak with EdUp when you are ready. We want to give you this opportunity to join an unprecedented list of leaders that have created an unprecedented cache of higher education content via an EdUp Experience microphone.

And to the first "300", we thank you for your time, attention, insights, and expertise. This content will live forever in one form or the other and YOU created it. You are always welcomed back, as a guest, co-host, or contributor to EdUp Editorials. Thank you for your passion for students and higher education.

Ladies and Gentlemen, YOU've just EdUpped!

P.S...Elvin's reaction each time I remind him about being late in Qatar.

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