About the Episode
Host Brian Piper speaks with Scott Clyde, Chief Growth Officer at enroll ml, about the evolving role of artificial intelligence in higher education admissions and enrollment strategy. Scott shares his first hand experiences navigating change management, testing AI tools, and learning from “fail fast” moments, including why 17-year-olds won't connect with AI phone callers. They also dive into the fine line of hyper personalization, the importance of retention, and why creating a sense of belonging requires an “all in” campus effort where recruitment and retention become everyone's responsibility.
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Episode prompt:
I'm introducing AI into a workflow and I need to know what I'm walking into.
THE CHANGE
What I'm proposing: [describe the actual change in plain terms]
What it replaces or alters: [what people do today]
Who it lands on: [roles, how many people, how long they've been doing this]
What I'm telling them the goal is: [your stated rationale]
What's actually driving it: [budget, capacity, leadership mandate, be honest here]
What I can't promise: [job security, timeline, that it will work]
GIVE ME
1. THE OBJECTION LIST
Every objection this group will raise, sorted into two columns: what they'll say in the meeting, and what they'll say to each other afterward. The second column
is the one I need. Include the objections people express as enthusiasm, as process questions, or as sudden concern for students.
2. WHAT'S UNDERNEATH EACH ONE
For each objection, name the real concern driving it. Fear of being replaced, fear of looking incompetent with a new tool, loss of craft or expertise they're proud of, more work with no relief, or a genuine problem with my plan.
3. WHICH ONES ARE RIGHT
Flag every objection that is legitimate and should change what I'm doing. Do not soften these. If my plan has a real hole, say so and tell me what to fix before
I announce anything.
4. THE HONEST RESPONSE
For each objection, give me two things:
- What an honest response sounds like, in plain speech, no corporate language
- What the defensive or evasive version sounds like, so I can recognize it if I start saying it
- Where the honest answer is "I don't know yet" or "some of this will change your job," write the version of that sentence I can actually say out loud.
5. THE PHRASES THAT WILL COST ME
List the specific words and framings that will destroy trust with this group, and what to say instead. Include anything that sounds like a promise I can't keep.
6. THE OPENING
Write the first three sentences of my announcement. They should say what is changing, name the concern in the room before anyone else does, and state what
I am asking for. Under a hundred words.
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