Building Financial Resilience Through Culture and Strategy: A Higher Education Case Study
For years, finance in higher education has worked quietly behind the scenes—essential, but rarely seen as a force for change. Budgets got balanced, reports got filed, and institutions moved forward... slowly. But what happens when that model starts to crack? When rising costs outpace tuition revenue, and the math that once worked no longer adds up?
It’s a moment of reckoning—and an opportunity.
In this episode of Navigating Change, Howard Teibel is joined by Michael Gower (Rutgers) and Andrew Simpson (Hilltop Securities)—three leaders who are reimagining what’s possible when finance steps out of the back office and into the strategy room. They’re not just managing numbers; they’re reshaping mindsets.
Together, they explore a bold idea: that financial health isn't just about closing budget gaps—it’s about leadership, influence, and building a future-ready institution. Through the lens of the Rutgers University case study, they reveal how finance can become a catalyst for innovation rather than a barrier to it. And as Howard argues in The Need for a Cultural Reset, without a shift in how people engage and lead, even the best financial plans won’t take root.
The real question isn’t whether universities can afford to change—it’s whether they can afford not to. This is a conversation about power, persuasion, and the future of higher education.
To learn how Teibel Education Consulting can help you with strategy and culture alignment, reach out to us at info@teibeinc.com.
Relevant Readings
Reimagining Rutgers - Michael Gower
A Cultural Reset - Howard Teibel
The Role of Strategy - Andrew Simpson
