In this special episode of LaunchCode, we are diving into a discussion about a key component of organizational success: leadership. Moving beyond tech, we’ll explore how the right leadership "fit" can be a game-changer for organizational success. Our guest, Dr. Jeff Evans, the CEO and founder of Envision Global Leadership (EGL), is a thought leader in leadership assessment and development. Dr. Evans and his team help Fortune 500 companies navigate the complex terrain of succession planning, executive selection, and leadership development. EGL’s experience crosses a wide variety of clients such as Chevron, the Texas A&M University, NASA, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Join us as Dr. Evans shares stories from his own journey—stretching back to life lessons learned from his father’s unique approach to taming horses. We’ll delve into EGL's groundbreaking proprietary tools like ALLII Map, which combines leadership assessment with AI insights, and SuccessionNAV, a powerful tool for succession planning that extends from leadership roles to front line workers.

We’ll also explore common pitfalls in leadership and share real-world stories of leaders who overcame their blind spots to become more effective. Dr. Evans shares a fresh perspective on desirable leadership traits and its criticality for an inclusive workplace. Whether you're an executive, aspiring leader, or simply interested in the future of leadership, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

Tune in and discover what makes an effective leader and how that empowers a workforce and creates organizational success.

In this enlightening episode, we delve into the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence in higher education with one of the industry's most innovative thinkers, Matt Alex, the visionary founder of Beyond Academics. Known for his unwavering commitment to institutional success and his ability to challenge the status quo, Matt is reshaping how educational institutions approach AI and technology.

Beyond Academics has been at the forefront of engaging CIOs and executives nationwide, guiding them through AI strategy development, addressing challenges, exploring use cases, and crafting comprehensive AI roadmaps. Matt brings a wealth of knowledge and a fresh perspective on integrating AI to enhance student success and institutional effectiveness.

In this episode, Matt shares his expert insights on where institutions should begin their AI journey and discusses some of the most transformational future use cases. He sheds light on how leading institutions are pioneering AI applications that will redefine the educational landscape. Moreover, Matt explores the imperative for the academic side to embrace Generative AI as an enabler for advancing learning and productivity, rather than resisting this inevitable change.

We also tackle critical topics such as preparing for AI's potential pitfalls, including bias and ethical considerations. Matt offers practical advice on how institutions can ensure proper outcomes and uphold ethical standards in their AI initiatives.

Whether you're an educator, administrator, tech enthusiast, or simply curious about the impact of AI on the future of higher education, this episode is a must-listen. Join us as we uncover how AI is set to revolutionize the academic world and how you can be a part of this exciting transformation.

Welcome to Launchcode, Welcome to Episode 12!

This is a special episode, one that you won't want to miss. Surviving and overcoming physical trauma is incredibly challenging, and Kevin Gocke of Live Poised shares his powerful and inspiring story of turning personal tragedy into a mission to help others in their recovery.

In this episode, you'll discover how Kevin's experience led to the creation of Live Poised, a supportive community both online and in person. This isn't just about recovery; it's about a holistic approach that includes education, nutrition, fitness, mental wellness, and a strong support network. Live Poised is all about reclaiming life post-trauma by harnessing inner strength, empathy, and determination.

Prepare to be inspired by a story of strength and selflessness. Kevin's journey proves that one person can indeed make a significant difference in the lives of many. This is a story of strength. This is a story of selflessness. This is episode 10- Enjoy!

In this episode of LaunchCode with Mike and Paul we chat with Michael Carter, CEO of UStrive, a non-profit dedicating to expanding access to higher education.

Michael shares with us how UStrive serves a global community of students with mentors to help them access higher education and persist in their college journey. Having served over 2 million students, learn about its evolution from an idea in a college dorm serving handful of students to its global expansion. Learn how Michael moved from launching a startup to becoming an entrepreneur and philanthropist investing other startups and non-profits. Hear about his thoughts on changes in technology and much more.

This is Episode 9! – Enjoy!

Dive into this riveting episode of LaunchCode as we sit down with Charlie Moran, CEO and Co-Founder of Moran Technology Consulting. With over two decades of triumphs in the ERP consulting market, Moran Technology Consulting is a highly regarded, industry-leading firm. Discover how Charlie’s 40 years of experience guided his startup into a respected higher education consulting powerhouse. He also discusses the evolution of technology and its impact on software evaluation and institutional decision-making.

On a much more personal note, learn what factored into the recent and bold decision to make Moran Technology Consulting an employee-owned business. Instead of opting for a traditional retirement, Charlie chose to create a legacy and ensure continuity of the company culture and success through an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). This episode provides a deep dive into entrepreneurial strategies and factors that led to an ESOP decision. Learn about the tax benefits for the employees and founders.

Get ready for an engaging and enlightening conversation that showcases Charlie's unique journey from entrepreneur to empowering leader. This is a fascinating story of Moran Technology Consulting's success! This is Episode 8- Enjoy!

This week, we're thrilled to have Andy Clark, the Industry Executive Director for Public Sector and Higher Education at Oracle, join us. Andy takes us through his journey, from his early career to his impactful role at Oracle.

Dive in as Andy unveils some groundbreaking technology solutions that Oracle is pioneering in Higher Education, including Student Cloud,. With years of industry experience under his belt, Andy has a treasure trove of captivating stories and intriguing anecdotes.

Whether you're a tech enthusiast, an education professional, or just curious about the future of technology, student systems and AI, this episode is packed with insights and fun moments you won't want to miss.

In this episode of LaunchCode with Mike and Paul we chat with Tracy Lemon, CEO of Visions Group, an international consulting company based in South Africa.

Tracy shares with us how Visions services their global Higher Education customers. With decades of experience, she describes how best practices have changed from implementing on-premises to Cloud systems. Tracy also provides valuable insights on how institutions outside of the United States are maximizing the functionality and ROI of existing PeopleSoft systems. Also not to be missed are great stories from her international travels and Visions plans for the U.S. market. It's informative, it's international and it is Episode 6!- Enjoy!

In this episode of :LaunchCode with Mike and Paul we have leaders from the Higher Education Users Group (HEUG), join us. We are joined by:

• Josh Vincent – HEUG Board President
• Brittany Moon – HEUG Executive Director
• Tom Chambers – HEUG Director of Community and Development

The HEUG is a group that many Higher Education IT leaders have looked to for valuable information and career growth over the years. Recently, the HEUG has been going through an evolution to bring even greater value to the industry and its members. In this episode, we cover how the HEUG is evolving, the new and exiting programs they are offering and since the HEUG is a great group of people- we have a lot of fun discussing it all! No matter if you are a HEUG member or not you won’t want to miss this episode! This is Episode 5 – Enjoy!