Public-Private Partnerships in Higher Education | Rick Rattray – S2 E02

Public-Private Partnerships in Higher Education | Rick Rattray – S2 E02 Dr. Tim Jansa welcomes higher education consultant and coach Rick Rattray, founder of Parliament Group, for a timely conversation about public-private partnerships (PPPs) across today’s college and university landscape. With deep experience spanning both higher education and the private sector, Rick unpacks why institutions increasingly rely on external partners to address funding pressures, operational gaps, and evolving student and employer needs. This episode explores how coaching and thoughtful change leadership can help universities navigate the opportunities and tensions PPPs create, including cultural mistrust, faculty resistance, decision-making complexity, and misaligned expectations. Rick shares practical insights on transparency, stakeholder engagement, and building trust across university-industry collaborations. Companion Site: https://leadershipimagined.com/podcas... In this episode you’ll learn how to: 🔹 Understand what public-private partnerships look like in higher education 🔹 Recognize why universities turn to external partners for key services 🔹 Help clients spot common tensions around academic control and institutional culture 🔹 Address faculty concerns about mission, trust, and intellectual property 🔹 Use coaching to surface resistance and build psychological safety 🔹 Engage stakeholders early before partnerships create conflict 🔹 Assist clients navigate different timelines and decision-making structures in higher ed 🔹 Enable clients to lead partnerships with clarity, communication, and a compelling “why” Chapters: 00:00 Public-Private Partnerships in Higher Ed 01:03 Introducing Rick Rattray and His Work 01:45 What PPPs Are and Why They Matter 02:31 Common Campus Examples of PPP Models 03:34 Online Program Managers and Pathway Partnerships 04:39 Faculty Skepticism and Academic Resistance 06:07 Intellectual Property and Partnership Breakdown Risks 07:43 Mission vs Business Tensions in Higher Education 09:54 Culture Gaps and Institutional Resistance to Change 10:42 Where Coaching Supports Partnership Success 12:31 Trust, Communication, and Psychological Safety 13:07 Key Red Flags That Signal Failure Early 14:03 Transparency and Stakeholder Inclusion Before Signing 15:16 Timing Challenges and Private Partner Expectations 17:09 Navigating Decentralized University Decision-Making 18:05 Coaching After the Deal to Rebuild Alignment 19:13 Readiness Assessment and Expectation Setting 23:08 Building the Compelling “Why” for Partnerships 26:22 Coaching vs Consulting in PPP Engagements 29:01 Final Advice for Coaches Supporting PPP Work 31:27 Closing Reflections and Outro This episode is especially valuable for enrollment management leaders, admissions and financial-aid directors, student-services professionals, deans, vice presidents, higher-ed HR/OD leaders, and coaches supporting universities through complex change. If you are wrestling with institutional mistrust, partnership pressures, or want to introduce coaching into campus collaborations, this conversation offers practical starting points. 🔗 Companion site & resources: higheredcoaching.us – leadershipimagined.com/podcast 📩 Work with Dr. Tim Jansa: leadershipimagined.com 👍 If this episode helps you, please Like the video, Subscribe to the channel, and Share it with colleagues in higher education leadership and student success. #coachinginhighereducation #highereducation #publicprivatepartnerships #highereducationleadership #leadershipcoaching #changemanagement #organizationaldevelopment #studentservices #enrollmentmanagement #executivecoaching #facultyleadership #higheredstrategy #trustandleadership #groupcoaching #studentaffairs Disclaimer: The views and opinions shared in these conversations are for educational and informational purposes only and do not constitute legal, financial, or mental‑health advice. Leadership situations are always context‑specific, so viewers should consider their own institutional policies and consult appropriate professionals before making decisions based on this content. All guests speak from their own experience and do not represent the official position of any institution.