by NACUBO
On Career Conversations, NACUBO's Christine Simone sits down with higher education professionals to discuss their personal experiences, including successes and challenges of all kinds. They'll offer career advice and insights as well as nuggets of wisdom for business professionals new to higher education.
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🇺🇲
Publishing Since
8/25/2023
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April 25, 2025
<div>As senior director of technical accounting and reporting at Howard University in Washington, DC, Meyroodjy Delva discovered his passion for accounting in high school through a business computer class. Now leading financial operations at his alma mater, Delva shares his journey from Big Four accounting to higher education leadership.</div> <div> </div> <div>In this episode, Delva discusses his transition from public accounting at KPMG to higher education during COVID-19, and how he built high-performing financial teams at Howard. He shares insights on navigating major institutional challenges including ERP implementation and cybersecurity incidents, while developing his leadership philosophy across different organizational cultures. Delva also reflects on creating a lasting legacy of financial excellence at Howard University.</div> <div> </div> <div>"What I was looking for is really problem solvers, like really smart people that don't run away from complex problems," says Delva, highlighting his approach to team building. His career insights emphasize embracing challenging opportunities despite setbacks, building strategic networks, adapting leadership style to institutional culture, handling professional feedback constructively, and maintaining focus on continuous process improvement.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong>Links</strong></div> <ul> <li>Check out NACUBO’s other podcasts!</li> <li> <ul> <li><a href="https://learn.nacubo.org/cbo-speaks">CBO Speaks</a></li> <li><a href="https://learn.nacubo.org/nacubo-in-brief">NACUBO in Brief</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul>
April 11, 2025
<div>Kate Smith, controller at Maryville University in St. Louis, Missouri, brings a wealth of experience in transforming higher education finance through innovative approaches to data and modeling. In this episode, Smith shares her journey from public accounting to higher education, including her work with nonprofits, an 8-year stint at higher ed marketing firm mStoner, and her role as controller at Logan University before joining Maryville's team of 10,000 students.</div> <div> </div> <div>Smith emphasizes the critical shift happening in higher education finance, moving from traditional historical reporting to forward-thinking financial planning and analysis (FP&A). She discusses how modern financial leaders must focus on predictive modeling and future scenarios to support institutional decision-making effectively. Drawing from her experience implementing financial tools at both small and large institutions, Smith provides practical insights on modernizing financial operations while working within existing constraints.</div> <div> </div> <div>The conversation explores the vital role of professional networks in higher education, with Smith's own career trajectory serving as a testament to the power of relationship building. She shares her approach to team development, seeking out curious minds who question processes and aren't afraid to take calculated risks. Smith also discusses how finance leaders can support institutional growth while maintaining agility in their operations.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong>Key Takeaways:</strong></div> <ul> <li>Financial leaders must shift focus from historical reporting to predictive analysis</li> <li>Technology modernization can be approached incrementally based on institutional needs</li> <li>Professional networking creates unexpected opportunities throughout your career</li> <li>Successful finance teams balance risk-taking with mission-driven decision making</li> </ul> <div>The episode offers valuable insights for both emerging and established higher education finance professionals, highlighting the evolution of the field and the importance of embracing change while maintaining strong financial fundamentals.</div>
March 28, 2025
<div>In this episode of NACUBO's Career Conversations podcast, host Christine Simone sits down with Isaiah Behnke, director of student finance at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA. Isaiah shares his unique career journey, which he describes as an "improvised jazz session" rather than a scripted symphony, with twists and turns that led him to his current role at UVA. He discusses a pivotal moment of being laid off early in his career, which taught him the importance of embracing discomfort and vulnerability.</div> <div> </div> <div>Isaiah also explains his leadership philosophy based on three core pillars: imperfection, collective effort, and genuine connection. To stay curious and innovative, Isaiah engages with professional organizations like NACUBO and taps into on-campus resources.</div> <div> </div> <div>Rather than focusing on leaving a legacy, Isaiah aims to make a meaningful impact in the present by creating a culture where people feel valued, heard, and supported. He draws inspiration from the ancient Greek concepts of "eunoia" (beautiful thinking and goodwill) and "eudaimonia" (flourishing through virtue or purpose) to guide his approach to leadership and problem-solving.</div> <div> </div> <div>Isaiah's advice for higher education professionals includes embracing imperfection, assuming the best in others, bringing humility and humor to your work, focusing on people rather than just processes and systems, and allowing discomfort and uncertainty to stretch and grow you rather than derail you. Tune in to hear Isaiah Behnke's full story and gain valuable insights on genuine, collective, and imperfect leadership in higher education.</div> <div> </div> <div><strong>Links</strong></div> <ul> <li>Check out NACUBO’s other podcasts!</li> <li> <ul> <li><a href="https://learn.nacubo.org/cbo-speaks">CBO Speaks</a></li> <li><a href="https://learn.nacubo.org/nacubo-in-brief">NACUBO in Brief</a></li> </ul> </li> </ul>
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