Boise State Vice President of Finance and Administration Stacy Pearson brings robust experience from her career to her role in higher education. Boise State’s growth is the result of smart leadership across the institution, according to Pearson, and this has prepared them to be more nimble, able to face whatever economic, social, and political challenges lay ahead. Most important, Pearson shares her valued perspective on the role of the CBO as a rewarding career for future finance leaders to ent...
Feb 25, 2016•26 min
You might not think of big pharma as a launchpad for a successful CBO, but that’s the path of our guest, Mike Mandl. As EVP for Business and Administration at Emory University, Mike brings a rich experience across industries to his work as an institutional leader. His early exploration led to a decades-long commitment to “a cause bigger than myself,” says Mandl. Today on CBO Speaks, shares how he takes his experience in financial leadership to partner across departments to help build creative so...
Feb 11, 2016•26 min
Amir Rahnamay-Azar is unique in our collection of interviews; he’s the first we’ve come across who aspired to business administration early in his career, rather than coming to financial leadership accidentally. He sees his team at Carnegie Mellon University as a group of friends and colleagues, equally adept in financial and strategic management as they are committed to the team’s role in financial leadership of the institution. This week on the show, we have a conversation that illustrates the...
Nov 19, 2015•24 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Brian Gutierrez has served as vice chancellor for finance and administration for Texas Christian University for over a decade. Like most CBOs, his responsibilities range from contracts, to risk, to audit management, all the way to the bookstore operations. What makes Gutierrez unique is his approach to working with his people. He espouses the critical importance of developing emotional intelligence, and he uses his own experience to listen more attentively, to sense the unspoken challenges his t...
Nov 12, 2015•27 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Dr. Betty Roberts has only been vice president for finance & administration at New Rochelle for about a year. But in her 30 years prior, she’s served as an operational leader across institutions and departments. From information technology to sustainability to finance and organization development, she’s seen it all. And that, she says, is a great gift — it serves to define the role of today’s CBO. Now, she’s giving back. In today’s episode, join us and hear how Betty Roberts identifies futur...
Oct 28, 2015•28 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Mike Unebasami has been with the University of Hawaii system in some way or another since 1968. Today, he serves as associate vice president for administrative affairs for University of Hawaii community colleges, but his long tenure in the system has given him a view of change unlike most in our industry and his insights as a result are that much more transformative. As many have reported in this series, the challenges of the job are rich in communication and human relations far beyond the rigor...
Oct 14, 2015•22 min•Season 1Ep. 8
This week, our CBO brings his global finance experience to Ithaca College. Gerald Hector hails from Kingston, Jamaica, originally a college athlete, serving non-profits through his first corporate role at Deloitte & Touche. His experience there lifted his profile, leading to an invitation to join the higher education community. It’s a fascinating conversation this week as Hector shares his insights from a 13-year career as a business officer. He believes that the pace of higher ed is not slo...
Oct 01, 2015•26 min•Season 1Ep. 7
This week's featured CBO, Mary Lou Merkt, is a seasoned higher ed veteran. She brings a wealth of experience across two other prestigious institutions to her current role as vice president for finance and administration at Furman University. Today, Merkt joins Megan Strand to share her experience in strategically developing her team. She talks about the importance of recognition — especially through difficult decisions, those good for the university, but sometimes challenging for the team — and ...
Sep 15, 2015•22 min•Season 1Ep. 6
University of Arizona Chief Financial Officer Gregg Goldman takes on change in gulps, not bites. Coming to the CBO role from the at the UA from the USC Marshall School where he served as a Dean and CFO in January of this year, he's taking on new functions and demands across the institution at a steady clip. His background in academic leadership makes Goldman a unique pick for CBO, but he says it's what makes him successful in the role. This week on CBO Speaks, Goldman recounts the fascinating ca...
Sep 03, 2015•22 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Dr. Brontè Jones joined Dickinson College because of the institution's demonstrated commitment to sustainability and global affairs. What she found there is a team dedicated to educational success. In this episode of CBO Speaks, Dr. Jones shares her perspective on the power of communication in her role, the importance of being able to comfortably and clearly translate complex financial realities into the language of her constituencies. Coming from a deep family of educators has given Dr. Jones a...
Aug 19, 2015•25 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Roger Bruszewski will begin his 39th year in higher ed this fall. In his role as VP for Finance and Administration for Millersville University, he's seen a world of challenge and opportunity. But the winding path of his career from chief information officer(Yes, CIO — you read that right!) has given him keen insights into the role of managing people, mentorship, and the stamp of legacy of the CBO in the physical structure of the institution. Join us for a wide-ranging discussion on growing your ...
Aug 10, 2015•26 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Nikki Krawitz has spent a career in education dedicated to refining the teaching and learning process. This week on CBO Speaks, Nikki joins us to share her journey from educator to finance leader at University of Missouri. From her work with presidents and board members, she offers insight into the importance of adaptability and delivering quality service in the face of sometimes fierce constraints.
Jul 18, 2015•24 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Nim Chinniah's new role as executive vice president and chief operating officer at Northwestern University is broad in scope and scale. This week on CBO Speaks, Nim joins us to talk about the critical importance of partnership across the business office and the office of the provost. He's worked hard to break down silos and offers his insight into creating a more fluid, cross-institutional practice of collaboration in cultivating growth and success at Northwestern.
Jul 17, 2015•22 min•Season 1Ep. 1
