The AI Workforce for Higher Ed is Here |

Talk to a Bolt Agent
EP
8
August 30, 2022
Episode 8: Health, Wellness, Leadership, and Building Community

Health, Wellness, Leadership, and Building Community

Or listen on:

About the Episode

In this episode, Jeremy sits down with Kerry Keating who is the Head of Business Development and Chief of Staff and Culture for TaskHuman, an innovative wellness company that helps people grow through personalized 1-to-1 guidance from hundreds of specialists in different areas of their daily work and personal life.

Kerry offers tips for building strong relationships, talks about the idea of community in 2022, and explains what separates the best of the best from everyone else. He also shares his thoughts on leadership, emotional intelligence, as well as burnout and an employer’s responsibility for their employees’ overall well-being. 

Key Takeaways

  • Active Listening is Key: Building strong relationships starts with genuinely listening and understanding the needs of others. Prioritize intentional communication.
  • Community Goes Beyond Geography: A true community is built on shared values and a willingness to support one another, both locally and globally.
  • Leadership Requires Emotional Intelligence: Modern leaders must invest in understanding their teams on a personal level to foster meaningful engagement and collaboration.
  • Consistency and Repetition Drive Success: Whether in personal growth or team building, success comes from showing up and doing the work, even when no one is watching.

Episode Summary

What Makes a Great Relationship Builder?

Kerry Keating emphasizes the importance of listening as the foundation of strong relationships. In a fast-paced world dominated by technology and instant communication, the ability to actively listen and respond thoughtfully is a powerful skill. He shares tips on how higher ed professionals can foster authentic connections by putting the other person first and being fully present in conversations.

How Does Community Strengthen Leadership and Culture?

Kerry redefines "community" as more than a physical location, highlighting how organizations can foster global and local connections. He shares how TaskHuman leverages technology to create a sense of belonging and personalized support for employees. By expanding the definition of community and harnessing shared goals, organizations can create environments that empower individuals to thrive.

Why Emotional Intelligence is a Game-Changer for Leaders

Drawing from his coaching background, Kerry explains how emotional intelligence is an essential leadership quality in 2022. He shares actionable strategies for developing emotional awareness, including the importance of being vulnerable, investing in personal growth, and leading by example. Leaders who prioritize emotional intelligence can better support their teams’ personal and professional journeys.

What Separates the Best from the Rest?

Whether in athletics or the workplace, Kerry believes the highest achievers are those who focus on the unseen hours. Consistency, discipline, and a commitment to improvement—even when no one is watching—are the hallmarks of excellence. He connects this mindset to higher ed by encouraging professionals to invest time in relationship-building with students and colleagues.

This episode is brought to you by Gecko - a student engagement platform offering multiple modules to help institutions better engage with students and lighten the load for their staff.

Mission Admission is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!  

Our podcast network is growing by the month and we’ve got a plethora of marketing, admissions, and higher ed technology shows that are jam packed with stories, ideas, and frameworks all designed to empower you to be a better higher ed professional. Our shows feature a selection of the industry’s best as your hosts. Learn from Mickey Baines, Zach Busekrus, Jaime Hunt, Corynn Myers, Jaime Gleason and many more. 

Learn more about The Enrollify Podcast Network at podcasts.enrollify.org. Our shows help higher ed marketers and admissions professionals find their next big idea — come and find yours! 

People in this episode

Host

Jeremy Tiers is the Founder and President of Top Tier Higher Ed and the host of Mission Admissions.

Interviewee

Kerry Keating

Kerry Keating is the current Head of Business Development at TaskHuman, while also serving as the Chief of Staff and Culture. A 25-year Division 1 college basketball coaching veteran, Keating previously served 16 of those years as an Assistant, twice at his alma mater, Seton Hall, as well as Wake Forest, Vanderbilt, Appalachian State, Tulsa, Tennessee, and UCLA.

Other episodes

Pulse Check: Your Guide to Engage Summit 2026Play Button
Pulse Check: Your Guide to Engage Summit 2026

Engage emcees Brendan Henkel, AVP of Solutions Engineering at Element451, and Cecily Street, VP of People at Element451, sit down to preview what's in store for this year's conference in Charlotte.

Ep. 68: Higher Ed Conferences: What You Should Know Before You GoPlay Button
Ep. 68: Higher Ed Conferences: What You Should Know Before You Go

Jenny Li Fowler welcomes back Dr. Josie Ahlquist, higher education consultant, researcher, and longtime conference enthusiast, for a practical conversation about making the most of professional conferences.

Ep. 106: How to Write an RFP That Actually WorksPlay Button
Ep. 106: How to Write an RFP That Actually Works

Jaime Hunt sits down with Louis Miller to demystify the RFP process and share practical advice for higher education marketers navigating agency partnerships, procurement requirements, and major marketing investments.

Episode #333: How AI Is Reshaping Course Design and AssessmentPlay Button
Episode #333: How AI Is Reshaping Course Design and Assessment

Dustin speaks with Auryan Ratliff of Arizona State University about how AI—especially agentic AI—is transforming course design, assessment, and the broader student experience.

Episode 17: How to Buy AI in 2026Play Button
Episode 17: How to Buy AI in 2026

JC is joined by Element451 Chief Revenue Officer Trey Boyer and VP of Customer Strategy & Technology Kelly Sinacola to discuss the complexities of buying AI in higher education.

Weekly ideas that make you smarter

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Subscribe
cancel

Search podcasts, blog posts, people