From Checklist to Leadership: The First 90 Days as a New University Communications Executive-Recording

Video Transcription

Video Summary

This discussion centers on successfully navigating the first 90 days in a new higher education communications leadership role, featuring April Call, Associate VP for Strategic Communications at Carnegie Mellon University, and Melissa Farmer Richards, author of the 30-60-90 Day Handbook. April shared how she used Melissa's framework and checklists to set priorities, build trust, and make immediate impact in her transition from West Virginia University to Carnegie Mellon. Key steps included reading the handbook thoroughly, focusing on leadership mindset, evaluating organizational and departmental culture, building peer relationships, and investing in her team. April highlighted the importance of listening and observing before communicating, embracing curiosity as a learner, managing "this is how it’s always been done" resistance with affirmative alternatives, and fostering trust through consistent delivery and transparent handling of mistakes. A significant early success was launching the "Work That Matters" research impact campaign with a communicators’ toolkit enhancing decentralized teams’ cohesion. April stressed continuous learning, leveraging early wins to expand strategic initiatives, and embracing multi-generational perspectives for inclusive team leadership. The conversation underscored leading with empathy, positive intent, humility, and intentionality to establish credibility and drive long-term success in new leadership roles within higher education communications.

Keywords

90-day plan

higher education communications

leadership transition

strategic communications

team building

organizational culture

trust building

early wins