Higher Ed Marketing Needs Bold Leadership—Here’s How to Step Up. A Conversation with Suzan Brinker

Education Marketing Leader with Chris Rapozo · Mar 6, 2025 · 38m

Higher Ed Marketing is at a Crossroads

The demographic cliff is here. Competition is tougher than ever. Institutions are losing talent to the private sector.

So how do we fix it?

I sat down with Suzan Brinker, Co-Founder & CEO at VIV Higher Education and author of Pass/Fail, to unpack what institutions must do to survive the next decade.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Integrated Growth Planning is Non-Negotiable

Most institutions operate in silos:

❌ Academic affairs picks programs in a vacuum

❌ Marketing chases inquiries without strategy

❌ Enrollment pushes deposits without knowing capacity…