Element451 Founder and CEO, Ardis Kadiu, recently sat down with Dr. Rod Berger for a conversation on the On Balance Podcast.

The On Balance Podcast centers on conversation around the world of education. Each episode features guests that are working to impact the next generation of learners and educators.

Innovating Yesterday's Processes For Today's Students

As a graduate student at NYU Tandon School of Engineering, Kadiu worked with the graduate admissions office and saw firsthand the frustration of enrollment and admissions professionals with the CRM products on the market.

During his time in the admissions office, he saw how severe the gaps were between admissions processes. He noted that the school had just moved away from a paper process and was not quite ready to match the technological experience that students needed and expected.

Playing Catch Up vs. Getting Ahead of the Curve

Kadiu spent some time describing the difference between schools that were slow to innovate at the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Those who were reluctant to move online, offer asynchronous instruction, and market their institutions with a digital-first strategy were hit the hardest.

On the other hand, schools that saw the consequences of the pandemic as an opportunity to move into the digital future that was already rapidly approaching have been able to keep students engaged throughout their entire lifecycle with virtual events, alternative credentials, and personalized communication that speak to individual students' needs.

Kadiu spoke about the importance of how institutions need to learn about their students with behavioral data and act upon what they learn with hyper-personalized messaging that's both immediate and unique.

Taking A Risk For The Greater Good

Together, they also discussed the world of entrepreneurship and being a business owner. Kadiu spoke about the power of making important connections, having invaluable partners and a spirit of risk taking necessary to succeed when there is no clear path ahead.

Regardless of the difficulties that come with building a business like Element451, Kadiu's journey has helped him create a community of partners and employees that is making a real tangible difference in institutions around the world.

To learn more about Dr. Rod Berger and the On Balance Podcast or to listen to more episodes, find "On Balance" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and the Strategos Group website.

P. S. Want to hear more from Ardis and the Element451 team? Check out our very own In Your Element podcast, part of the Enrollify Podcast Network.