Talking Tactics – Details, episodes & analysis

After two years and 55 episodes packed with practical, joyful, and wildly clever ideas, Talking Tactics comes to a close. In this final episode, host Dayana Kibilds reflects on the “why” behind the show, shares her personal favorite tactics from past guests, and celebrates the everyday enrollment pros doing exceptional work in higher ed.

From transforming request forms and hacking Reddit to AI-powered emails and fundraising squirrels, this send-off is full of bite-sized brilliance you can still use — whether you're new to the podcast or have been tuning in since episode one.

Because while we may not keep talking the tactics together, I know you'll keep walking the walk.

Stay connected with Day on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dayanakibilds/

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Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On this episode of Talking Tactics, host Day chats with Stormie Harless and Reggie Hayes of Ball State University about one of the quirkiest—and most successful—Giving Day campaigns we've ever seen: letting donors name a goose. Yes, you read that right. This creative, low-cost tactic more than tripled gifts to the Ball State Fund, turning a fun gimmick into a strategic fundraising win. Learn how a "goose gang," Canva templates, and clever messaging made all the difference—and why sometimes a little silliness can have serious results.

Guest Names:
Stormie Harless, Senior Director of Annual Giving & Foundation Communications, Ball State University
Reggie Hayes, Assistant Director of Digital Engagement, Ball State University

Guest Socials:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stormieharless/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/reggiehayes/

Guest Bios: Stormie Harless has been at Ball State for over eight years and currently serves as the Senior Director of Annual Giving & Foundation Communications. She leads the university’s digital and annual giving teams, managing everything from web and social to blogs, emails, and fundraising campaigns.

Reggie Hayes graduated from Ball State University in 2019 and has worked on Stormie’s digital team at the Foundation for over 2 years as Assistant Director of Digital Engagement. The bulk of his responsibilities with the Foundation include creating content for the Ball State Alumni Association and Ball State University Foundation socials, newsletters, blog posts, and other external communication pieces.

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Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of Talking Tactics, John Azoni, owner and executive producer at UNVEILD, unpacks how to capture impactful video testimonials while saving on cost. John reveals his go-to tactic: using “fill-in-the-blank” questions to draw out strong, structured responses that deliver memorable intros and outros. This simple tactic can cut editing time by up to 10% while guaranteeing your videos start and end with impact. From thinking like an editor to using AI to craft better questions, this episode is packed with actionable tips for creating standout video content.

Watch John’s “fill-in-the-blank” questions in action:

• Outro: “If it weren’t for Baker____” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaeWelrhlnA
• Outro: “Cleary has changed the way I ____” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W9MfPuzAFg

Intro: “Golf is ______” 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQJsbmtbu54

Guest Name: John Azoni, Owner/Executive Producer at UNVEILD

Guest Links:
Subscribe to John’s Newsletter: https://unveild.tv/newsletter
Follow John’s Podcast: https://unveild.tv/podcast

Guest Socials: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnazoni/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/higheredstorytelling
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@HigherEdStorytelling

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Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this special episode, Enrollify’s Marketing Manager, Erin Fields steps into the guest host role to interview Day Kibilds. Day shares an innovative tactic she spearheaded while at Western University: a two-way texting initiative that connected admitted students to professors, current students, and alumni during the chaos of 2020. With over 4,000 personalized conversations, this approach led to a surprising boost in yield at a time when higher ed faced unprecedented challenges. Get ready to be inspired by a simple, scalable tactic that delivers big results.

Guest Name: Erin Fields, Marketing Manager, Enrollify

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-fields-m-s-75a040139/

Guest Bio: Erin Fields is a seasoned higher education professional with over five years of expertise in Admissions, Marketing, and Recruitment at the graduate level. She holds a BA in Advertising from Marshall University and an MS in Integrated Marketing Communications from West Virginia University. Erin currently serves as the Marketing Manager for Enrollify at Element451, where she leverages her extensive knowledge and innovative approach to drive impactful marketing strategies. Her passion for higher education and commitment to empowering enrollment marketers is reflected in her dynamic role, fostering growth and innovation within the industry.

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Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Sean Whitten, Senior Director of Enrollment Services at Southern Methodist University, is redefining how admission counselors handle one of the toughest parts of their job: letting go of students who choose another path. With empathy at the forefront, Sean created a clever, heartfelt tactic to celebrate the relationships built with students and families—a simple yet impactful goodbye video. Not only does this video leave a positive impression, but it’s also driving surprising results, with about 10% of students who initially withdraw deciding to come back!

Guest Name: Sean Whitten, Director of Strategic Partnerships, Southern Methodist University

Guest Social: www.linkedin.com/in/seanewhitten

Guest Bio: Sean Whitten works as the inaugural Director of Strategic Partnerships for Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, TX. Known for his imaginative learning approach and curiosity, Sean fosters inclusive environments that elevate and empower families, staff, and students in the college admission process and on campus. His 14 years of work span college admissions, enrollment management, and communications and marketing.

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What information do you hope a student finds when they search for “why do faculty relationships matter?” or “what does success mean?” Toni-Marie Critelli’s blog post at St. John’s University doesn’t hope for the best, she makes sure her institution’s content is ranking as a response. Tune in to this episode to figure out how as a team of two, they manage to produce 10-14 blog posts a month, ranking no. 1 in keywords such as “career mentoring,” “define success,” and “healthy snacks for college students.” Toni’s blog has seen a %1,400 increase in traffic over the past two years, and has created a prime opportunity for cross-campus content collaboration. 

Check out The Johnnies Blog: https://www.stjohns.edu/news-media/johnnies-blog

Guest Name: Toni-Marie Critelli, Digital Content Producer/Writer, St. John’s University

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toni-critelli-digital-content-producer-new-york-city/

Guest Bio: Toni’s journey in digital marketing started with a simple passion for building meaningful communities. Over the past six years, that passion has grown into a career she truly loves. She’s worked in different digital media roles, from full-time to freelance, and has gained experience in everything from creative writing and brand development to social media management, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), and public relations (PR).

Now, as a content producer and blog manager at St. John’s University, she gets to combine all of these skills in one place, making an impact on the university’s community today and in the future.

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Summer camps are an incredibly effective way to attract and engage students in your community to your institution, from a very early age. Typically, summer camps are hosted by academic departments, and the relationship building ends after the camp is done. Not at Siena College. Brianna Brown, Assistant Director of Marketing, shares how they launched a new career-focused summer camp called Aspire Camp to build engagement within their community — and ended up with an early action admitted student in the process!

Guest Name: Brianna Brown, Assistant Director of Marketing, Siena College

Guest Social: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianna-brown9/

Guest Bio: Brianna Brown, a Siena College graduate ('20) with a BS in Marketing and an MBA in Management ('21), now serves as the Assistant Director of Marketing at her alma mater. Passionate about creativity and innovation, she’s dedicated to engaging students and showcasing Siena's vibrant community.

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode Laura Rudolph of Square One Consulting shares how she transformed a holiday gift guide into a powerful admissions yield predictor. Hit play to learn all about the creative holiday gift guide email to parents that discreetly pinpointed high-likelihood deposits—with 70% of those who clicked ultimately enrolling.

Guest Name: Laura Rudolph, CEO, Square One Consulting

Guest Social: 
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/laurakrudolph
Website: www.squareoneky.com

Guest Bio: 
As a seasoned higher education marketing professional, Laura Rudolph combines creativity, efficiency, and deep audience insights to help small colleges and universities thrive. As the founder of Square One Consulting LLC, she collaborates closely with institutions to streamline communications and build resilient, self-sufficient teams. Laura’s inventive, tailored solutions empower institutions to connect meaningfully with their audiences, strengthening enrollment initiatives with confidence and lasting impact. Outside of work, Laura is a new Millennial parent with a passion for mysteries and thrillers and feels certain her inquisitive nature would make her an excellent detective in a parallel universe.

- - - -

Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

This episode of Talking Tactics is all about empathy. Allie Bear and Madelin Thompson from Wilfrid Laurier University in Canada share how they came up with a very successful Admissions Top Questions video series to support their prospective students through their university decision. The tactic was grounded and born from a robust student journey mapping project, and ended up getting 15,000 views (with half coming from email!) over the 2023 admission cycle. 

Check out Wilfrid Laurier University's Admissions Top Questions series.

Guest Names:
Allie Bear, Manager of Marketing and Communications Strategy at Wilfrid Laurier University
Madelin Thompson, Communications Coordinator at Wilfrid Laurier University

Guest Socials:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alliebear/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/madelinthompson

Guest Bios: 
Allie Bear is a seasoned marketing and communications strategist with a proven track record in developing and executing integrated plans. With over ten years of experience in the higher education sector, Allie has been instrumental in attracting and converting prospective students through compelling marketing campaigns and communications plans. Currently serving as the Manager of Marketing and Communications Strategy at Wilfrid Laurier University, Allie leads a team of five specialists in communications, digital engagement, and CRM-enabled marketing. Her role focuses on attracting prospective undergraduate students to consider Laurier as their top-choice university. Working closely with the integrated recruitment and admissions leadership team, Allie develops data-informed enrollment strategies and ensures a seamless journey for each student through the enrollment funnel.

Madelin Thompson is a Communications Coordinator for Wilfrid Laurier University’s Recruitment & Admissions Team, with over 5 years of experience specializing in email marketing. During her two years as a Communications Coordinator at Laurier, Madelin has developed and overseen a comprehensive content calendar, launched multiple highly targeted email marketing campaigns, and contributed to notable increases in enrolment numbers for programs of focus at Laurier. Madelin’s favourite aspect of her job lies in analyzing campaigns and crafting compelling messaging that resonates with target audiences, merging creativity with data-driven insights.

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Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

High school students are inundated by our emails — just go to r/ApplyingToCollege and search for “emails” and you’ll see just how bad it is.

Cory Glover at the University of Michigan - Dearborn and his small email team have figured out how to break through the noise. It’s simple: Adding empathy. First, by meeting the students where they are and not just talking about the institution. And second, by respecting their time and inbox, making copy easier to scan, actions clear to understand, and the tone more conversational.

The results? Combined with the rest of their marketing mix, they saw a 30% increase in deposits and a 17% increase in applications after the email changes were made.

Guest Name: Cory Glover, Marketing Cloud Manager, University of Michigan - Dearborn

Guest Social: 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coryglover/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/corymarkglover/

Guest Bio: Cory is responsible for supporting the strategic development and execution of email marketing initiatives for the University of Michigan-Dearborn. Before joining UM-Dearborn, he spent over a decade working in higher education and non-profit settings. Cory has experience in copywriting, web management, email marketing, and everything in between. Before completing his master’s degree in communication from Central Michigan University, Cory earned his bachelor’s degree from UM-Flint. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, attempting to write songs, running, and spending time doing as many fun things as possible with his two kids and wife.

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Connect With Our Host:
Safaniya Stevenson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/safaniyastevenson/ 

About The Enrollify Podcast Network:
Talking Tactics is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too! 

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — The AI Workforce Platform for Higher Ed. Learn more at element451.com.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.