About the Episode
About The Episode:
Carrie Phillips chats with Claire Masterson, Assistant Director of Marketing at SEMO, about the evolving role of AI in higher education and how leadership strategies can support meaningful change. Claire shares how her team is using automation tools to reduce burnout, enhance student engagement, and foster a culture of experimentation. If you're looking to turn AI anxiety into empowerment, this episode delivers.
Key Takeaways
- AI tools can help reduce burnout by taking on monotonous tasks
- Leadership transparency and support are key to successful AI adoption
- Creating a “sandbox culture” encourages safe experimentation with new tech
- Institutions must distinguish where humans add value vs. where tech excels
- It’s OK not to know everything—what matters is fostering a culture of learning
- Intentional AI use starts with aligning strategy across departments
- Reflecting regularly helps teams move from autopilot to innovation
Episode Summary: Creating a Culture of AI Curiosity in Higher Ed
What AI tools are Claire and her team most excited about?
Claire highlights her team’s use of Element’s “bolt bots,” which are AI-driven tools designed to streamline repetitive communications and administrative tasks. These bots help push students toward event attendance, manage follow-ups, and perform other functions that can otherwise bog down staff. What excites Claire most is the evolving functionality—specifically, how the bots now support personalized jobs and tasks that deepen student connection.Instead of just automating for efficiency, her team is using AI to free up time for more meaningful student interactions. By letting AI handle the “monotonous jobs,” staff can focus on human-to-human engagement—arguably the heart of student success strategies.
How does Claire approach leadership in a rapidly evolving tech environment?
Claire takes a refreshingly transparent approach to leadership, especially during times of innovation and uncertainty. She encourages her team to be honest about what they don’t know, while also empowering them to explore tools and resources that can support their work. Her leadership philosophy emphasizes learning together, asking questions freely, and experimenting without fear of failure. By creating an environment where it’s okay not to have all the answers, Claire fosters a culture of curiosity. It’s not about mastering every AI feature overnight—it’s about building the confidence to try, reflect, and iterate.
What strategies help prevent burnout during digital transformation?
Claire acknowledges that the introduction of new tools can feel overwhelming. Rather than plowing ahead with legacy systems and "the way we’ve always done it," she advises pausing to identify what tasks actually drain your team. Those are likely candidates for automation. This mindset shift—from defaulting to old processes to intentionally identifying better ways—is key to sustainable innovation.To reinforce this, Claire promotes a “sandbox culture,” where her team regularly steps back to assess how AI can be used differently—whether that’s improving an email campaign, enhancing an event experience, or simply reducing busywork. Reflection becomes a habit, not a once-a-year activity.
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!
Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Confessions of a Higher Education Social Media Manager.
Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.
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