About the Episode
Episode Summary
Enrollment challenges rarely appear where leaders expect them. In this episode of Higher Ed Pulse, Mallory sits down with Mehgan Cabrera, Director of Strategic Enrollment Management at Okanagan College, to explore the hidden risks of "residual momentum"—when enrollment pipelines appear healthy long after underlying problems have begun. Together, they discuss why dashboards often reveal issues too late, how institutions can identify early warning signs through relationships and market intelligence, and why AI can only accelerate processes that are already well-designed. From CRM governance to cross-functional accountability, this conversation offers a practical roadmap for building a more connected, student-centered enrollment strategy.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why enrollment dashboards often mask problems until it's too late.
- What "residual momentum" is—and how it can create a false sense of security.
- The hidden cost of pulling marketing investments from established recruitment markets.
- How relationship health can be an early indicator of enrollment shifts before the data catches up.
- Why strategic enrollment management requires shared accountability across the entire student journey—not siloed departmental KPIs.
- How Okanagan College built a digital student check-in system to reduce friction while gathering actionable insights.
- Why AI amplifies existing processes—for better or worse—and why clean data and strong governance matter.
- The three foundational elements every institution needs for CRM success: connected systems, consistent data governance, and shared institutional ownership.
- How institutions can move toward "one learner, one record, one journey" by breaking down organizational silos.
Key Quote
"Higher ed success isn't going to belong to institutions that operate in silos. It's going to belong to institutions that build an integrated learner ecosystem."
Guest
Mehgan Cabrera
Director of Strategic Enrollment Management, Okanagan College
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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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