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Stepping Outside Your Comfort Zone: Belmont University CBO Harry Allen's Advice for Growth

CBO Speaks

Release Date: 11/01/2024

Students First, Always: A Leadership Journey with Lafayette College CBO Audra Kahr show art Students First, Always: A Leadership Journey with Lafayette College CBO Audra Kahr

CBO Speaks

Audra Kahr is executive vice president for finance and administration at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania. In this episode, Kahr joins our host Melissa Farley to discuss her journey from private sector accounting to higher education leadership, building exceptional teams, and creating a legacy focused on student success.   "Leadership is about really taking everything you've encountered throughout your life and making it come to life in better ways. As leaders, we fail all the time. We don't always get the right answer," Kahr says. This philosophy shapes how she approaches team...

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CBO Speaks

Alan Gilbert is senior vice president for finance and administration at Brooklyn College, part of the City University of New York system in Brooklyn, New York. In this episode, Gilbert joins our host Melissa Farley to discuss leading through transformative times, building trust-based organizational culture, and adapting higher education to meet evolving student needs.   "Be yourself is the most important thing," Gilbert says. His authentic leadership style has shaped his approach to managing teams and institutional challenges. "If you don't love students and you don't get the energy from...

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CBO Speaks

Kizzy Lea is chief financial and operations officer at Forsyth Technical Community College in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In this episode, Lea joins host Melissa Farley to discuss leadership evolution beyond finance, embracing operational innovation, and creating student-centered institutional impact.   "Get comfortable wearing multiple hats—it's not just about finance anymore. Technical skills are just the foundation," Lea says, offering guidance to emerging higher education leaders. "Your credibility will be shaped as much by how you lead people as how you manage the dollar." She...

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CBO Speaks

Kevan Buck, president of finance and administration and chief financial officer, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio, joins host Melissa Farley to discuss mission-driven leadership, embracing innovation, and creating meaningful student experiences in higher education.   "It really comes down to one thing and that's students. If you're on a campus when the kids arrive in the fall and you walk out and you just feel the excitement of the students and the families, it's pretty amazing," Buck says. Having served in higher education finance for over 40 years, he emphasizes the importance of...

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CBO Speaks

In this special transition episode of CBO Speaks, longtime host Donna Schiele welcomes incoming host Melissa Farley, former corporate journalist with USA Today Network and current host of The Morning Show in Arizona.   "I'm really excited to uncover the stories behind the titles," Farley says. "I want to understand not just what our guests do, but how they think, what motivates them, and the lessons they've learned along the way."   Join us for this milestone conversation as Farley shares her vision for diving into the human side of higher education leadership and exploring the...

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CBO Speaks

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Growth and Strategic Scale: Texas A&M University CBO John Crawford on Stewarding Financial Success show art Growth and Strategic Scale: Texas A&M University CBO John Crawford on Stewarding Financial Success

CBO Speaks

John Crawford is vice president for finance and chief financial officer at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. In this episode, Crawford joins our host Donna Schiele to discuss following in his father's CPA footsteps, managing Texas A&M's massive $2.5 billion budget during a tuition freeze, and navigating the evolving landscape of higher education finance.   "I think evaluating the P3 [public-private partnership] opportunities is crucial," Crawford says, highlighting the importance of strategic financial management in modern higher education. "We as a leadership team...

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CBO Speaks

Robin Van Harpen is senior vice chancellor for finance and administrative affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In this episode, Van Harpen joins our host Donna Schiele to talk about transitioning from legal counsel to CFO leadership, navigating institutional financial challenges, and fostering an environment where talent can thrive.   "Leadership in higher education is not easy. It's not for the faint of heart. And that’s not going to change," Van Harpen says, reflecting on the realities of higher education leadership. "But I think it is worth it....

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CBO Speaks

Christopher Calvert is chief financial officer and vice president of administration and finance at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, Kentucky. In this episode, Calvert joins our host Donna Schiele to discuss his journey from private sector finance to higher education leadership, implementing data-driven financial strategies, and navigating the evolving landscape of institutional finance.   "One of the things that I did learn as I've gone through the various progressions of my career is just learning how to be strategic, learning how to communicate strategy," Calvert says,...

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CBO Speaks

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Harry Allen is executive VP for financial excellence and CFO at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee. In this episode, Allen joins our host Donna Schiele to talk about his journey from banking to higher education, the importance of relationships and service in leadership, and his vision for the future of finance in higher ed.
 
"I view my role in the many roles that I've had in my career. I'm mostly one that is empowering others and serving as the catalyst," Allen says. He emphasizes the importance of listening, learning and collaborating to find mutually beneficial solutions. "And so I show up to tables to listen and learn. And I think when you spend time doing that first, you get a true understanding of what the person's goals and motivations are versus coming to the table ready to say no to something."
 
Allen goes on to talk about his excitement for the future, seeing AI not as a threat but as a tool to enhance human creativity and innovation. He advises emerging leaders in higher ed to raise their hand for special projects, serve their community, and stretch outside their comfort zone to gain new skills.
Join us for a conversation with Allen as he talks about Belmont's explosive growth, building proactive financial infrastructure, and leaving a legacy of service and philanthropy.
 
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