Applying Quiet Leadership to Digital Transformation 2.0

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Rating: 4.8 (3721 reviews)

02/26/25 • 35 min

David Weil, Vice President of Information Technology and Analytics at Ithaca College, joins the TRANSFORMED podcast to discuss the role of quiet leadership in navigating digital transformation 2.0, in an era increasingly shaped by AI.

In this conversation with host Joe Gottlieb, President and CTO of Higher Digital, Weil shares insights on:

How quiet leadership fosters trust, collaboration, and innovation in institutional change
The evolving role of AI, including Agentic AI, in accelerating digital transformation and reshaping institutional processes
Practical strategies for leading digital change, including pilots, proof-of-concepts, and intentional leadership

Weil provides real-world examples from Ithaca College, including AI-driven student support initiatives and the successful integration of analytics with IT. His approach offers higher education leaders a thoughtful perspective on advancing transformation while keeping people at the center.

References:

David Weil

Ithaca College

https://er.educause.edu/articles/2024/2/digital-transformation-20-the-age-of-ai

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In this conversation with host Joe Gottlieb, President and CTO of Higher Digital, Weil shares insights on:

How quiet leadership fosters trust, collaboration, and innovation in institutional change
The evolving role of AI, including Agentic AI, in accelerating digital transformation and reshaping institutional processes
Practical strategies for leading digital change, including pilots, proof-of-concepts, and intentional leadership

References:

David Weil

Ithaca College

https://er.educause.edu/articles/2024/2/digital-transformation-20-the-age-of-ai

Previous Episode

Exerting Patience When Refreshing an Institution's Vision

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Fairmont State University President, Dr. Michael Davis, shares his journey as a first-time president, offering insights on building 'cultural change before structural change' and embracing Fairmont’s unique 'Artisan University' identity. Discover how patience and relationships drive meaningful progress as our host, Joe Gottlieb, engages with Dr. Davis to explore best practices and the value of patience.

Next Episode

Adaptive Leadership: How to Win Trust and Accomplish Change

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In this episode, host Joe Gottlieb speaks with Dr. Karlyn Crowley, Provost at Ohio Wesleyan University, about "Adaptive Leadership: How to Win Trust and Accomplish Change." Dr. Crowley, the first woman provost in Ohio Wesleyan's 182-year history, shares how she has successfully led major institutional changes during challenging times, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Crowley reveals her journey from passionate horseback rider to academic leader, explaining how her early discipline and boldness shaped her leadership philosophy. She discusses implementing five significant change initiatives in five years, including program prioritization, curriculum revision, and faculty handbook overhaul. Throughout the conversation, she shares practical "leadership cheat codes" from Ron Heifetz's adaptive leadership model, emphasizing the importance of correctly identifying problems, regulating distress, getting perspective, and giving work back to those affected.

With candor and authenticity, Dr. Crowley discusses the challenges of leading through resistance, the loneliness of leadership, and the importance of maintaining joy in administrative work. The conversation concludes with her optimistic outlook for Ohio Wesleyan's future, highlighting their impressive student retention improvements and innovative equity initiatives.

References:

Dr. Karlyn Crowley

Ohio Wesleyan University

TRANSFORMED - Applying Quiet Leadership to Digital Transformation 2.0

Transcript

David Weil00:00:00.265

As an IT professional, one of the challenges is how do I , um, help the institution advance what it needs to do? And I think AI will play a role in that, but not be seen as the AI advocate. And I'm not necessarily an AI advocate, I'm just saying we have to be aware of it. And I think it's a tool that we can use, but we have to do it very thoughtfully and intentionally through intentional quiet leadership. We had conversations, I and my deputy, C