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123
June 29, 2026
Episode 123: The LinkedIn Double Standard Costing Higher Ed Its Best Marketers

The LinkedIn Double Standard Costing Higher Ed Its Best Marketers

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About the Episode

About the Episode

The higher education sector is facing a quiet talent crisis: a staggering 74% of higher ed marketers are actively considering an exit from the industry. Mallory sits down with Shane Baglini, Executive Director of Marketing and Branding at William & Mary, to uncover the systemic issues fueling this exhaustion and explore how institutions can reverse the trend. Drawing from his own journey climbing from a small four-person team at Muhlenberg College to overseeing 22 creatives at a historic flagship university, Shane breaks down the unique hurdles of stepping into a high-visibility executive marketing role. They dive headfirst into a problematic culture where leadership often misinterprets professional development and personal LinkedIn branding as a “flight risk” rather than a powerful, organic extension of the university's reach.

Related Articles:
What the 2026 salary report reveals about retention risk in higher ed marketing
CMO Tenure Statistics (2026)


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Connect With Our Host:
Mallory Willsea
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/
https://twitter.com/mallorywillsea

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

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People in this episode

Host

Mallory Willsea is a strategist and consultant working at the intersection of higher education.

Interviewee

Shane Baglini

Shane Baglini serves as executive director of marketing and branding at William & Mary.

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