"EdUp Edge: The Scoop on Career Schools, Leadership & Life Hacks"

Let’s be honest—admissions and leadership can be an emotional rollercoaster. One minute you’re inspiring someone’s future, the next you’re talking a student off a metaphorical ledge… or holding back from rolling your eyes on Zoom. In this solo episode, Kat breaks down emotional intelligence like only she can—with straight talk, a little sass, and a whole lot of strategy. You’ll learn how to keep y...

In this bold episode, Glen Patterson drops serious knowledge on what’s broken in workforce development—and how WorkSchool is flipping the script. We dig into the real skill gaps plaguing today’s job seekers, the rise of Web3.0, and why recruiters and mentors matter now more than ever. Glen unpacks the critical difference between just having a job and building a career that evolves with tech, data,...

In this episode, I sit down with Darius Goldman, founder of Career Bond, to expose the biggest enrollment killer— lack of financing options. Schools aren’t just losing students; they’re losing revenue because marketing, admissions, and financial aid teams are stuck fighting a battle they can’t win without the right tools. Darius shares his journey from Meratas to Career Bond and why he’s doubling...

Let’s be real—admissions is a battlefield. Every day, reps face intense pressure to hit numbers, handle constant rejection, and juggle fast-paced conversations while trying to stay personal and genuine. Sound familiar? In this episode, I’m calling out the hidden struggles admissions reps and leaders deal with but rarely talk about. From the mental weight of enrollment goals to the daily grind of o...

Q1 is in the books—now it’s time to level up and make Q2 your strongest quarter yet! I sit down with admissions and marketing powerhouse Brian Maggio to break down the must-know strategies for boosting enrollments, re-engaging leads, and maximizing advisor performance. If you’re a school leader, admissions director, or marketing pro , this episode is packed with real, actionable insights to help y...

In this episode, I sat down with Rustam Irani, President of RGI Marketing and Consulting , a powerhouse in enrollment strategies, marketing, and institutional growth. Rustam helps institutions navigate the enrollment cliff, tackle regulatory changes, outmaneuver competition, and fix broken marketing strategies that drain budgets with little return. 🔥 What You’ll Learn in This Episode: 👉 The bigg...

Episode Drop: Breaking the Cycle – The Admissions Counselor Malaise Admissions burnout is real, and it’s killing motivation, performance, and results. In this episode, I sit down with Teege Mettille , a powerhouse in the admissions world, to dig deep into his book, The Admissions Counselor Malaise —what’s behind the frustration, the fatigue, and the “going-through-the-motions” mindset. We’re talki...

Are accreditation visits keeping your school up at night? Think again! In this episode, we sit down with Laurie Shanderson, CEO of Accreditation Insights, to flip the script on accreditation stress and show schools how to turn these visits into a strategic advantage. With 25+ years in higher ed leadership, Laurie breaks down the biggest misconceptions about accreditation, why agencies are actually...

This week, I’m sitting down with Dr. Karen Hills Pruden, a powerhouse Leadership Strategist with over 30 years of expertise who knows how to transform careers and build impactful leaders. From struggling to find mentorship in middle management to investing $350/hour with a LinkedIn mentor, Dr. Pruden shares how that game-changing investment helped her secure a senior leadership role after a rigoro...

With a new administration taking the reins at the U.S. Department of Education, the stakes for educators, students, and institutions are higher than ever. In this thought-provoking episode, we sit down with Dr. Fateri, a trailblazer in higher education whose remarkable journey spans decades of leadership and transformation across the industry Dr. Fateri brings his bold insights and expertise to un...

In this final episode of the season, we’re diving into the wild world of managing high-performing remote advisors with Rachel Lawler, Enrollment Director at Charter College. Rachel’s got a killer track record in admissions and operations, and she's all about building "leadership mills" — developing leaders who can create more leaders. We break down how to stay laser-focused and organized as a remo...

In this high-energy episode of EdUp Edge: The Scoop on Career Schools, Leadership, and Life Hacks , we’re joined by Sarah Holmes—Senior Account Executive at Advance 360 Education, admissions OG, and all-around industry powerhouse. We’re spilling the tea on the best and worst of working in admissions, from daily advisor struggles to jaw-dropping horror stories that’ll make you cringe. We’re also sh...

In this hard-hitting episode of EdUp Edge: The Scoop on Career Schools, Leadership, and Life Hacks, we sit down with the unstoppable Veronica Castellanos, who has shattered expectations by transitioning from admissions to the career services team with incredible success. Veronica spills the secrets on her game-changing approach to forging rock-solid relationships with students, mastering the stude...

In this electrifying episode of EdUp Edge , we welcome the dynamic Brian Maggio, an admissions leader, coach, trainer, and all-around guru. Get ready to dive into the wild world of admissions as Brian and Kat spills the tea on the highs and lows, the setbacks and comebacks, and the daily grind of admissions trainers. Join us for a no-holds-barred discussion on what it really takes for admissions t...

In this episode of EdUp Edge, host Kathy Belletty sits down with Brennan Howard, an Account Executive for Advance Education. Brennan brings her extensive experience in higher education admissions, K-6 teaching, and higher ed marketing to the table. Together, they dive deep into the intricacies of enrollment marketing, uncovering where schools often miss the mark in attracting prospective students....

Join Kathy Belletty, host of EdUp Edge: The Scoop on Career Schools, Leadership, and Life Hacks as she sits down with Vincent Scaramuzzo, President of Ed-Exec, Inc. Vincent, a seasoned and passionate recruiter in education from K-12 through higher education, shares invaluable insights on the essential traits of effective leaders in the education sector. Discover what makes a standout candidate, th...

Join us for an exciting and insightful episode as we dive into the world of lead management and enrollment solutions for higher education. Our guests, Eric Kades, Founder of TextChat, and Cade Scott, Founder of Enroll Boost AI, bring their unique perspectives and innovative systems to the table. While both aim to revolutionize the enrollment process, their approaches are distinct. In this episode,...

Join us in this insightful episode of EdUp Career Schools "The Scoop," as we sit down with Marco Velasquez and Jason McWilliams, both former enrollment leaders in higher education. Discover the reasons behind their departure, the struggles they faced, and what they loved most about leading enrollment teams. Gain valuable insights into the challenges enrollment leaders encounter and explo...

In this episode of EdUp Career Schools "The Scoop" podcast, we sit down with Eric Kades , Founder of TextChat, to discuss how admissions teams can capture more leads and streamline communication with potential students. With over 20 years of experience in creating and scaling customer support businesses, Eric shares his expertise in lead generation, online marketing, and enrollment manag...

Join us on this compelling episode of EdUp Career Schools "The Scoop," with your host Kathy Belletty, where we sit down with the remarkable Dr. Fardad Fateri , a trailblazer in higher education with a remarkable journey spanning various leadership roles. From educator to CEO, Dr. Fateri's illustrious career showcases his unwavering dedication to transforming lives through education....

Tune in to "EdUp Career Schools: The Scoop" for an insightful discussion on the critical importance of prompt lead contact in the admissions process. Our special guest, Cade Scott , joins us to unravel the mysteries of lead velocity and its profound impact on student enrollment. From the moment a lead is received to the crucial window of opportunity for engagement, Cade shares invaluable...

Join us on this enlightening episode of EdUp Career Schools "The Scoop," as we delve into the detrimental effects of toxic workplaces and uncover practical solutions. Our special guest, Danielle Shelton , an esteemed writing coach, instructional design consultant, author, podacst host and English teacher, just to name a few, will guide us through identifying the signs and navigating the...

In this episode of EdUp Career Schools "The Scoop," we delve into the remarkable journey of Elsia Quintanilla , founder of a Texas technical trade school. Despite facing numerous challenges as a minority female entrepreneur, Elsia's unwavering determination led her to overcome adversity and establish a school that has transformed the lives of thousands of students. Join us as we expl...

Welcome back to another insightful episode of EdUp Career Schools "The Scoop," with your host Kathy Belletty , Founder of Motivate With K.A.T. In this episode entitled "EduAI: Navigating the Future of Education," we unravel the mysteries of Artificial Intelligence in education. Join us as we explore how AI has been seamlessly integrated into education, often without us even rea...

Leaders are nurtured through experience, and everyone is not called to serve in this role. Tune into another explosive episode of EdUp Career Schools "The Scoop" as we delve into the pivotal role of a Campus President. Guess what? Who's better to discuss this critical topic than Billy Kidd, Campus President with Northwest Lineman College. In this episode, we'll explore how Billy...