by John Azoni
A podcast dedicated to helping higher ed marketers tell better stories and enroll more students. Hosted by video producer and storytelling coach, John Azoni, these episodes provide quick-win practical advice you can put to use in your marketing right away.
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Publishing Since
4/20/2022
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April 23, 2025
<p>In this episode, John Azoni chats with Maya Demiskevich, a higher ed CMO, marketing strategist, and social media consultant. Maya shares how she overcame imposter syndrome and fear of judgment to start posting on LinkedIn—an intentional decision that changed the trajectory of her career. Since then, she’s presented at over 10 higher ed conferences, landed podcast features (including this one!), and built a thriving community.</p><p>John and Maya dive into the mindset shift that helped her start creating, how she balances LinkedIn content with a busy life, and the power of staying curious and authentic online. They also explore Maya’s entrepreneurial ventures—from a food business to higher ed analytics—and how experimentation fuels her creativity.</p><p>Whether you’re trying to grow your LinkedIn presence or find the courage to start sharing, Maya’s story will inspire you to take the leap.</p><p><strong>Key Takeaways:</strong></p><ul><li>Start Before You’re Ready: Maya started posting on LinkedIn just two years ago by putting aside perfectionism and focusing on curiosity.</li><li>Let Go of Imposter Syndrome: You don’t have to be the expert in everything to contribute meaningfully. Share what you know.</li><li>Consistency Is Personal: Maya posts when inspiration strikes, proving that you don’t need a rigid schedule to grow your presence.</li><li>Career Growth Through Visibility: From speaking at AMA to podcast invites, visibility on LinkedIn has led to real-world opportunities.</li><li>Entrepreneurial Spirit: Maya shares how trying new things—from vegan snacks to social media analytics—has helped her stay engaged and creative.</li><li>Balancing it All: With a full-time job, side businesses, and a family, Maya explains how collaboration with her entrepreneurial husband makes it all work.<p></p></li></ul><p><strong>Resources & Links:</strong></p><ul><li>Check out the Social Media Calculator here: <a href="https://mycollegecrusader.com/social-media-calculator/">https://mycollegecrusader.com/social-media-calculator/</a></li><li>Connect with Maya on LinkedIn:<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayademiskevich/"> https://www.linkedin.com/in/mayademiskevich/</a></li><li>Follow John on LinkedIn:<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnazoni"> https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnazoni</a></li><li>Learn more about UNVEILD:<a href="https://www.unveild.tv"> https://www.unveild.tv</a></li><li>Subscribe to the Higher Ed Storytelling Newsletter:<a href="https://unveild.tv/newsletter"> https://unveild.tv/newsletter</a></li></ul><p><br></p>
April 9, 2025
<p>In this episode, John Azoni chats with Randolph Infinger, Senior Video Producer at Vanderbilt University, about his journey from digital marketing to video production, how Vanderbilt’s creative team is structured, and what it takes to produce videos that truly connect with audiences.</p><p>Randolph shares his love for conceptual storytelling, explains how jazz influences his editing choices, and offers insight into balancing artistic freedom with brand consistency in a large institution. From project workflows to platform-specific content strategies, this is a must-listen for higher ed marketers navigating in-house video production.</p><p><strong>🔑 Key Takeaways:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>From Digital Marketing to Video Production:</strong> Randolph’s unexpected path into video started with a record label request for lyric videos—a spark that ignited a new creative passion.</li><li><strong>The Jazz Effect:</strong> Jazz music plays a key role in Randolph’s editing style, creating a unique and upbeat energy that feels both academic and approachable.</li><li><strong>Creative Team Structure at Vanderbilt:</strong> With a five-person visual media team inside a larger 50-person creative team, collaboration and clear role delineation keep projects flowing smoothly.</li><li><strong>How They Triage Projects:</strong> Video requests go through a structured process using Wrike, but not every request gets accepted. The team filters projects based on alignment with Vanderbilt’s brand and marketing goals.</li><li><strong>Balancing Consistency and Freedom:</strong> While brand alignment is critical, Vanderbilt empowers creators with room to explore, test new ideas, and collaborate across departments and platforms.<p></p></li></ul><p><strong>🔗 Links & Resources:</strong></p><ul><li>Connect with Randolph Infinger on<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/randolphinfinger"> LinkedIn</a></li><li>Learn more about UNVEILD:<a href="https://unveild.tv"> https://unveild.tv</a></li><li>Subscribe to the Higher Ed Storytelling Newsletter:<a href="https://unveild.tv/newsletter"> https://unveild.tv/newsletter</a></li><li>Watch podcast episodes on YouTube:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/@HigherEdStorytelling"> Higher Ed Storytelling on YouTube</a></li></ul>
March 26, 2025
<p>In this episode of Higher Ed Storytelling University, host John Azoni sits down with Heather MacBain, Head of Marketing at the University of Edinburgh. Heather manages a vast network of over 300 MarCom staff across the university, spanning marketing, communications, and stakeholder engagement roles. She shares insights on how their unique structure helps keep everyone aligned in messaging, branding, and strategy.</p><p>Heather and John discuss the challenges of managing a decentralized marketing team, the importance of maintaining brand consistency, and how Edinburgh fosters a strong community of practice among its marketing professionals. They also dive into the impact of social media, the power of professional development, and how to create clear vision and autonomy within a large institution.</p><p><strong>Key Takeaways:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Managing a Large MarCom Team</strong> – How Edinburgh’s decentralized structure operates effectively with 300+ marketing professionals.</li><li><strong>The Power of Community</strong> – Building a strong internal network to share best practices and stay aligned with university goals.</li><li><strong>Social Media Strategy</strong> – Why marketing teams need to focus on engagement and community-building rather than just posting.</li><li><strong>Brand Consistency vs. Creative Autonomy</strong> – Finding the right balance between clear guidelines and allowing departments flexibility.</li><li><strong>Professional Development for Marketers</strong> – The importance of continuous learning and how Edinburgh supports its MarCom staff.<p></p></li></ul><p>If you’re looking for insights on marketing leadership, brand management, and building a strong internal marketing community, this episode is for you.</p><p><strong>Connect with John Azoni:</strong></p><ul><li>LinkedIn:<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnazoni"> John Azoni</a></li><li>Website:<a href="https://unveild.tv"> Unveild</a></li><li>Newsletter:<a href="https://unveild.tv/newsletter"> Subscribe here<br></a><br></li></ul><p><strong>Connect with Heather MacBain:</strong></p><ul><li>LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/heathermacbain/">Heather MacBain</a></li><li>Website: <a href="https://www.ed.ac.uk/">University of Edinburg</a></li></ul>
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