Elizabeth Lotardo

If enrollment without data is gambling, then strategy and accountability are leadership. Recruitment and yield don’t improve by chance—they improve when institutions understand their markets, track behavior, and act with intention. In today’s enrollment landscape, relying on instinct or legacy tactics is no longer enough. Precision matters. The institutions that lead enrollment growth are the ones that align data, messaging, and timing to drive inquiry conversion, application completion, and enrollment decisions. Every touchpoint—from first interest to deposit—should be informed by insights, not assumptions. Enrollment leadership means owning the funnel, understanding what moves students to say “yes,” and building recruitment strategies that convert attention into commitment. #Enrollment #Strategy #HigherEdMarketing #Recruitment #Leadership

52

4 Comments

No amount of marketing can overcome programs that aren’t aligned with workforce demand. If you want sustainable enrollment growth, you need market-driven programs that lead to real jobs and real futures. Smart institutions invest in: Market research to understand what skills are in demand Industry partnerships to co-create relevant curriculum Flexible learning models that meet students where they are When your academic offerings match the needs of both students and the job market, enrollment isn’t a struggle—it’s a natural result. #ProgramDevelopment #EnrollmentMarketing #WorkforceReadyGraduates

32

3 Comments

It’s easy to say “people are our greatest asset.” It’s much harder to fund, trust, and empower your Chief People Officer to act accordingly. Kevin Kruse's excellent piece in Forbes shines a spotlight on the kind of bold CEO-CHRO partnership we should be seeing more of. He interviews Elaine Page, former Chief People Officer at TaxJar and GM at Stripe, whose track record proves what’s possible when HR is seen as a catalyst for performance and not just process. Elaine talks about the kind of CHRO every CEO needs: one who isn’t just running HR smoothly but helping the business run better. She outlines three imperatives: 1. Build the system, not the slogan 2. Lead from the future, not the past 3. Disrupt the noise with AI and insight None of that happens without taking a chance and acting with some courage. As she puts it, “You don’t earn a seat at the table by playing nice. You earn it by delivering results and telling the truth about what’s in the way.” The question this article leaves us with is one every leader should ask: Do we want HR only to be efficient, or transformative? Read the full article: https://lnkd.in/eFKaDibr #Leadership #CHRO #PeopleStrategy #HRTransformation #FutureOfWork #Culture #CEO #StrategicHR #EmployeeExperience

9

1 Comment

Visuals support learning by concretizing abstract concepts, showing hidden information the eye can't see, and creating a positive affect in learners. You can improve your visual design for learning by following the principles we'll discuss in this free IDEAS seminar from U Mass (registration required) on Feb 26th. We’ll explore: - How visual design influences cognitive load, attention, and comprehension. - What distinguishes effective visual design from ineffective. - Simple layout and alignment techniques that improve clarity. - How to choose colors, fonts, and images that are both engaging and accessible. - Practical strategies help build and refine visual design skills. I'll be joined by: Tim Slade - Award‑Winning Instructional Designer, eLearning Developer, Author and Speaker Taekyeom Lee - Associate Professor of Graphic Design, Indiana University Bloomington Kevin McKenna - Instructional Designer for IDEAS, UMass Amherst https://lnkd.in/esaFegFk

115

13 Comments

Need extra hands on an eLearning project? Hiring full-time isn’t always the answer. On-demand eLearning developers offer the speed, flexibility, and expertise your team needs—right when you need it. This article breaks down when and why to bring in contract talent (and how it can actually save you time and budget): https://lnkd.in/eGwsHhup #InstructionalDesign #eLearningDevelopment #CorporateTraining #LearningAndDevelopment #TrainingPros

14

🎮 #Storytime from the eLearning world I’m on a call with a potential client. They say it’s a “small request.” Spoiler alert: It’s a 220-slide PowerPoint deck—charts, text-heavy slides, stock photos, the works. 😅 …and this is how it went.. Them: We want this turned into a 30-minute gamified eLearning module. Me: Great! Let’s trim the fluff, focus on learner goals, and add some sparkle.✨ Them: No, we want everything included—stories, case studies, quizzes, games. Also, keep it short, what do they say these days? Ah microlearning! You know… attention spans these days. 🙄 Me: How do we fit all of that in without overwhelming the learner? 👀 🤔 Them: You’re the eLearning expert—you’ll figure it out. 🤷🏽‍♀️ Four meetings, endless emails later… we’re still not aligned. 🎯 Takeaway: ✅ Understand your learners’ needs. ❌ Microlearning ≠ 30 minutes of nonstop info overload. We eLearning developers are magicians—but we do appreciate a little ✨realism✨ with the abracadabra. 🪄😉 #eLearning #Instructionaldesign #Learningexperiencedesign #Gamifiedlearning #Microlearning #Clientdiaries #Traininganddevelopment #LXD

58

16 Comments

How is AI reshaping the future of higher ed? In a recent webinar, instructional design leaders from MITxPRO, Aspen University, and MUSC - Medical University of South Carolina explored how AI is enhancing LMS capabilities, from personalizing learning to streamlining administrative tasks. This blog breaks down the top 5 takeaways, including: - How to use AI for adaptive learning paths - Supporting curriculum development with data-driven insights - Practical tips to reduce faculty workload and increase student success - Ethical considerations every institution should be thinking about Read the recap: https://ow.ly/OjSq50VXMGT

14

🚨 Recruitment marketing isn’t a “set it and forget it” game. 🚨 Too many enrollment teams wait until the end of the cycle to evaluate what worked… and what didn’t. But the most effective strategies are built on real-time insights and continuous improvement. At Capture, we believe that measuring your marketing performance year-round is essential — not just for ROI, but for attracting the right students at the right time. In this blog, we cover 5 must-dos for evaluating your recruitment marketing strategies all year long. 👉 Read the blog: https://lnkd.in/enzKPQ77 #HigherEdMarketing #RecruitmentMarketing #EnrollmentStrategy #MarketingAnalytics #EdTech #CaptureHigherEd #EnrollmentManagement

10

Want to stand out to higher ed leaders? Make your message feel like it was meant just for them. There’s nothing wrong with using scalable marketing tactics like newsletters, nurture sequences, webinars. But if you’re trying to build relationships in a space as trust-driven as higher ed, personalization still matters. 👉 Here’s a tactical approach: Pick 10–15 institutions that closely match your ICP (Ideal Customer Profile). Then ... Do your homework! Then, and only then, send a short, specific message that shows them you know exactly what they’re up against. Here’s some successful examples I’ve seen in the past: - "I noticed your team is navigating FAFSA-related uncertainty—here’s how others are adjusting communications." - "Saw your Fall '24 deposits are pacing slightly behind—if helpful, I can share what we’ve seen other campuses try this time of year." - "It looks like you’re hiring for a new admissions counselor—this could be a good time to rethink [X process your product helps with]." This kind of message doesn’t feel like outreach. It feels like a colleague who understands what’s happening on campus and wants to be helpful. And that’s exactly what builds trust. Next week, I’ll shift gears and talk about how to effectively leverage BDR teams (including what NOT to outsource to them if you’re selling into higher ed). Let me know if there’s anything you’ve tried that’s worked well!

10

5 Comments

At our RedThread Research #Elevate2025, Lightcast sponsored a pre-conference session on creating a skills strategy. We are following that up with a public roundtable for HR practitioners (sorry vendor friends!), building on that session to talk more about how do we go from concept to execution. Day: Tuesday, October 7 Time: 11 am PT / 2 pm ET In this roundtable, we’ll dig into practical questions we’re actively researching, including: --How do we combine skills data so we can have the information where we need it, when we need it? --How do we validate skills and ensure those validations are consistent across systems and the organization? --How do we better understand the connection between skills, tasks, jobs, and AI — and how that understanding can inform work design, automation, and talent development? --How do we leverage technology effectively to support these efforts — without creating unnecessary complexity? Sign up to join here: https://lnkd.in/gsF3fXA7

17