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Oct 30, 2025 36 min

170. David Kennedy: Strategic Realignment

from The Development Debrief Hosted by Kathryn Van Sickle

In this episode, we sit down with David Kennedy, Vice President for Alumni Engagement and Development at Duke University—a leader who’s navigated some of the toughest questions in higher education today. We talk about his career, why Duke's current campaign has no dollar goal, and how they have managed making 20% cuts. David explains his north star phrase which is: our job is to fulfill the mission. In unprecedented times, when every institution is being asked to do more with less, David shares how strategic realignment is both a financial exercise and a leadership one. We also touch on how we can develop the skills we’ll need to meet the challenges ahead. It’s a conversation about the craft of leading through change.

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170. David Kennedy: Strategic Realignment

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