Three Case Studies in Change Leadership

Real Change. Real Results. Real Organizations.

During my tenure at a 65-year-old private school, I was tasked with reversing declining enrollment and modernizing key operational systems. Over several years, I led significant organizational change across three areas:

Modernizing Communication & Rebuilding Trust

Redesigning Admissions, Financial Aid & Enrollment

Evolving Fundraising & Aligning the Organization

Each case study highlights a different dimension of change—digital modernization, process redesign, and strategic fundraising—while reflecting the core principles I bring to facilitation today: listening deeply, co-creating solutions, and implementing change that sticks.

Case Study 1: Modernizing Communication in a 65-Year-Old School

Digital Transformation, Community Alignment & Organizational Momentum

Impact Dashboard

  • +65% increase in inquiries

  • +85% increase in website traffic

  • +50% increase in engagement

  • 5% website conversion rate (year one)

  • 86% parent retention

  • 40% of tours converted to enrolled students

  • Social reach more than doubled

  • Parents were frustrated and uninformed. Communication lived on:

    • a weekly printed newsletter on green legal paper

    • an outdated website

    • no social media

    • minimal email use

    • overwhelmed admin staff

    • declining enrollment and trust

    Traditional culture resisted modernization—but desperately needed it.

    • Launched a new parent-friendly website

    • Introduced a weekly digital newsletter

    • Built a social media presence

    • Created a communication ecosystem with clear purpose & ownership

    • Engaged the community in the “why” behind the change

    • Rolled out gradually to build comfort and trust

  • Parents felt informed.
    Staff regained time.
    Events were better attended.
    Brand trust grew.
    Enrollment momentum increased.
    The school felt “modern” for the first time.

Case Study 2: Redesigning Admissions, Financial Aid & Enrollment

Process Mapping, Systems Integration & Better Family Experience

  • The admissions pipeline was failing:

    • families falling through cracks

    • unclear roles & handoffs

    • spreadsheets everywhere

    • an Access database that didn’t connect to anything

    • frustrating financial aid process

    • manual billing & paper packets

    • inconsistent re-enrollment

    It was confusing, inefficient, and costly.

  • Phase 1: Process Redesign

    • Mapped the entire journey

    • Centralized tracking

    • Clarified roles & handoffs

    • Standardized communication

    • Reduced friction for families

    Phase 2: Systems Modernization

    • Online applications

    • Online financial aid

    • Online re-enrollment

    • Online tuition billing & payments

    • Full accounting integration

  • A smooth, transparent, professional enrollment experience—one that matched parent expectations and relieved staff burden.

Impact Dashboard

  • +50% increase in family engagement

  • +10% growth in new enrollment

  • Dramatically reduced staff time

  • Fewer errors & corrections

  • Lower overdue accounts

  • High parent satisfaction
    (“We’ve been asking for online payments for years!”)

Case Study 3: Evolving the Fundraising Model & Aligning the Organization

Major Donor Strategy, Cultural Change & Enterprise Execution Discipline

  • Fundraising relied on:

    • one big annual auction

    • draining events with low ROI

    • no major donor program

    • overdependence on legacy gifts

    • unpredictable revenue

    • community resistance to ditching tradition

    The school needed sustainable fundraising and organization-wide alignment.

  • Shifted the Strategy

    • Moved from events → major donor cultivation

    • Built one-on-one relationships with HNW donors

    • Replaced the auction with simple, meaningful community gatherings

    Implemented the 4 Disciplines of Execution (4DX)

    • 2 Wildly Important Goals:
      Increase enrollment & Increase donations

    • Lead measures: inquiries, tours, donor touchpoints, learning conference engagement

    • Weekly accountability meetings

    • Visible scorecard

    • KPI ownership across departments

    Supported with Brand & Enrollment Work

    • Brand refresh

    • Digital + print campaigns

    • Parent word-of-mouth toolkit

  • A predictable, scalable fundraising model—and a school unified around shared goals and disciplined execution.

Impact Dashboard

  • +60% increase in major donor investments (year one)

  • Three significant major gifts closed

  • Stronger enrollment pipeline

  • Better organizational alignment

  • Staff clarity & accountability

  • Tradition preserved without the burnout of events

What These Experiences Taught Me About Change

Change isn’t a one-time event. It’s a continuous practice.

I don’t know what the school looks like today, and that’s the point. Change keeps happening—with or without us. My role wasn’t to create permanent solutions—it was to build momentum, capacity, and clarity so the organization could continue evolving.

These years taught me:

  • change happens at the speed of trust

  • participation matters more than perfection

  • systems and culture must evolve together

  • clarity reduces friction

  • people support what they help create

  • burnout happens when one person carries what should be shared

This is the foundation of my facilitation work today.

Ready to lead change with clarity and confidence?

I design and lead strategic workshops that help your team:

  • Align fast – Get everyone on the same page in one focused session.

  • Surface what’s stuck – Address the real blockers, not just symptoms.

  • Make better decisions – Create clarity, buy-in, and a path forward.

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