A peer-to-peer discussion with the Dean of Mays Business School at Texas A&M University.

🎙️ In our latest episode of the Deans Counsel Podcast, Dean Nate Sharp reveals how he navigated skepticism and "naysayer" advice to launch the Flex Online suite at Texas A&M University - Mays Business School. The results didn't just meet expectations—they shattered enrollment records in the process.

Going "between the lines," Dean Sharp explains how Mays bypassed legacy models to build a high-touch, world-class digital platform from the ground up. He details the strategic "listening tours" he conducted at aspirant schools during his first year, revealing how radical collaboration and benchmarking informed their most successful best practices. This "Flex 2.0" approach allowed Mays to leapfrog established players by focusing on immersive technology and the unique power of the Aggie network.

Beyond the metrics of growth, Sharp offers a masterclass in change management, providing pragmatic strategies for leading through a "sprint" while overcoming deep-seated internal resistance. 

“I want to see results sooner than later. So we're moving at a pretty quick pace, and that's a little disruptive from time to time, but we're not being disruptive for the sake of being disruptive, we're being thoughtful, " said Sharp.

He also offers an unusually candid look at the diplomatics of deanship, sharing how he navigates a flagship public institution through the complexities of the current Texas political and legislative landscape by staying anchored to the university's core mission.

If you are leading an organization through "unprecedented change" or fighting for a bold vision against the status quo, Nate’s "pearls of pragmatic wisdom" are essential listening for any academic leader.

Listen to the full conversation here: 👉🏼 

#DeansCounsel #HigherEdLeadership #MaysBusiness #Innovation #MBA #AcademicExcellence

🎧 Listen here:

Photos courtesy of University of Mays

Read more about Dean Sharp here.