Abby Benson is vice president for administration and finance at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston, Rhode Island. In this episode, Benson joins our host Donna Schiele to talk about her diverse career path, the importance of curiosity and transparency in leadership, and the unique challenges and opportunities facing higher education today.
“I would say that curiosity is really important. I think always being curious, always being willing to learn, I think is in line with the values of higher education,” Benson says. Continually asking questions and digging into issues provides valuable learning experiences that can be applied to future challenges. “I know that the times that I’ve asked questions, the times that I’ve dug into trying to understand an issue are the times that I feel like I’m learning so much, and I know that I can bring that to whatever my next challenge will be.”
Benson goes on to talk about the importance of transparency as a chief business officer. Sharing information and providing opportunities for people to ask questions helps build trust, which is essential when navigating change. Without transparency, people may resist new initiatives or budget models because they don’t understand the reasoning behind the decisions being made.
Join us for a conversation with Benson as she talks about cementing the role of higher education institutions as vital to society, the value of a college degree in changing lives and trajectories, and advice for aspiring leaders to recognize how their skills can translate to new roles and opportunities.
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