Ep. 18: Human-Centered Design and Institutional Success

About the Episode

The what's what...

About the Episode: It has become a theme on “I Wanna Work There!”–higher education is a people business, especially when it comes to faculty and staff. So, what happens when faculty and staff are forced to conform to an institution’s processes and culture? While it seems normal, Erik Rueter sees this as forcing employees to “use a hammer to try to screw something into a wall.” That is why Erik champions human-centered design. Don’t be fooled by what may seem like feel-good language. Erik explains how human-centered design boosts institutional efficiencies, processes and profitability in addition to faculty and staff’s talent experience.

To help your institution with its talent experience efforts, here are this episode’s three takeaways:

Understanding of what human-centered design is,
How human-centered design can be applied to the complex campus environment, and
Ways to implement human-centered design for a great faculty and staff experience.

About the Show: I Wanna Work There! takes a look at how colleges and universities can develop competitive, compelling employer brands. Join us for an honest and solutions-based look at the issues that surround institutions positioning themselves as employers of choice.

About The Enrollify Podcast Network: I Wanna Work There is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Some of our favorites include Confessions of a Higher Ed Social Media Manager and Talking Tactics.

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

Connect with Us at the Engage Summit: Exciting news — many of your favorite Enrollify creators will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI.

Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $99! This early bird pricing lasts until March 31.

Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!

About the Podcast

Host

Eddie Francis

Eddie Francis, a brand strategy consultant, award-winning broadcaster, podcaster, and speaker, is driven by the deep belief in the importance of being valued. As the founder of Edify Ventures, a consultancy focusing on personal and employer branding, Eddie hosts "I Wanna Work There!" on employer branding in higher education and "For Our Edification" on personal leadership. With a background in radio, including hosting the "HBCU Lifestyle Podcast," Eddie's contributions extend to various platforms, earning him recognition as one of New Orleans Magazine's "30 People to Watch." In higher education, he played pivotal roles in brand identity, communications, and enrollment growth. As a speaker, Eddie shares leadership insights with college students and has contributed to the book "Leadership to Letters." Eddie holds a Master of Professional Studies in strategic leadership and a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication. Proudly affiliated with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., he is the husband of Dr. Halima Leak Francis and the father of Stevie.

Interviewee

Erik K. Rueter

Erik K. Rueter, PMP, PMI-ACP (he/him) has over 20 years of professional experience across diverse industries. He worked for tech start-ups, colleges and universities, a Grammy®-award-winning production company, and healthcare organizations. He has been a public policy analyst, professional photographer, marketing and public relations director, and now a senior project manager at the American Marketing Association. He has co-authored two papers on health inequity in oncology nursing, lectured at Boston and Emerson Colleges, and been a guest speaker on diversity and inclusion at, among others, Medtronic, VSP, and the San Antonio Spurs. He recently founded Human-Centered Success LLC, a consulting organization focused on creating more inclusive spaces through servant leadership.

I Wanna Work There

A great employee experience equals a great student experience. In a time where employee recruitment and retention is more challenging than ever, I Wanna Work There! takes a look at how colleges and universities can develop competitive, compelling employer brands. Join us for an honest and solutions-based look at the issues that surround institutions positioning themselves as employers of choice.