The Hidden Gem

Ep. 7: Why Every Community College Needs to Care About Their Employer Brand

Episode Summary

This eye-opening episode dives into a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of higher education success - employer branding and employee satisfaction within community colleges. Joined by Eddie Francis, the voice behind the 'I Wanna Work There' podcast, Maya and Eddie explore innovative strategies for attracting and retaining top talent, despite the challenges posed by limited budgets and high competition. This conversation sheds light on the significant impact that a positive work culture, strategic benefits, and a robust employer brand can have on the success of community colleges and their broader communities.

Episode Notes

This eye-opening episode dives into a crucial yet often overlooked aspect of higher education success - employer branding and employee satisfaction within community colleges. Joined by Eddie Francis, the voice behind the 'I Wanna Work There' podcast, Maya and Eddie explore innovative strategies for attracting and retaining top talent, despite the challenges posed by limited budgets and high competition. This conversation sheds light on the significant impact that a positive work culture, strategic benefits, and a robust employer brand can have on the success of community colleges and their broader communities.

Key Takeaways:

• The Importance of Employer Branding: Explore the crucial role of employer branding in attracting quality faculty and staff, vital for student satisfaction and institutional success.
• Strategies for Talent Attraction: Learn innovative ways community colleges can enhance their appeal to potential employees, including showcasing unique benefits and leveraging the institution's mission.
• Employee Satisfaction: Hear the significance of creating a supportive and engaging work environment to ensure employee satisfaction and retention.
• Impact of Digital Presence: Explore how a strong digital presence and leadership visibility on social media can influence job applicants' perceptions and decisions.
• Practical Tips: Gain actionable insights for community colleges to implement immediately to boost their employer brand.

The IMPACT Framework

Guest Name: Eddie Francis / Brand strategy consultant, speaker, leadership enthusiast, and award-winning broadcaster

Guest Social: 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddiefrancis/
https://www.youtube.com/user/augustus06
https://www.instagram.com/eddiefrancis06/
https://www.tiktok.com/@eddiefrancis06

Guest Bio: Eddie Francis is a brand strategy consultant, speaker, leadership enthusiast, and award-winning broadcaster. He hosts “I Wanna Work There!,” one of Hannon Hill’s best higher ed podcasts of 2024 and “For Our Edification,” and he is a frequent contributor to WBOK radio. 
He has been quoted and featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education, The Huffington Post, Inside Higher Ed, Careers in Government, Watch the Yard, on “The Higher Ed Marketer,” “Confessions of a Higher Ed CMO,” and more. Among Eddie’s honors are New Orleans Magazine’s “30 People to Watch,” the Press Club of New Orleans’ Best Radio Entertainment Feature, and two nominations for AMA’s Higher Education Marketer of the Year. 
Eddie earned his master’s degree in strategic leadership from Tennessee State University and his bachelor’s from Loyola University New Orleans. He is a member of the American Marketing Association, the International Leadership Association, and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.