In this conversation, I discuss what it actually takes to build growth strategy inside higher education today. We talk through why many initiatives stall, how institutions misdiagnose growth challenges, and what it means to move from idea generation to execution. This is not about adding more programs or chasing new markets. It is about building the internal clarity and capability required to make strategy work in practice.

Most grant offices are built to respond, not to lead.

This Business Model Canvas, adapted specifically for higher education, gives grant leaders a one-page view of how their office actually operates. It helps you step back from individual proposals and assess your funding model, partnerships, value, and constraints in one place.

Use this tool to identify where your current approach is sustainable, where it is strained, and where strategic shifts are needed.

Federal funding cuts are forcing universities to rethink how grant strategy actually works. In this conversation, I discuss why chasing individual RFPs is no longer a sustainable model, how grant offices can shift toward ecosystem-based funding, and what it takes for grant leaders to move from support function to strategic partner.