Scott Pulsipher on Reimagining Higher Education, Innovation with Accountability, and Creating Opportunity at Scale

This week, Jessica sits down with Scott Pulsipher, President of Western Governors University, to explore how education must evolve to meet the realities of a rapidly changing world. Drawing on his background in technology, business, and leadership, Scott shares why traditional assumptions about higher education are breaking down and what it takes to build an institution designed around outcomes rather than convention. Scott explains how WGU grew into one of the largest universities in the country by focusing relentlessly on student success, affordability, flexibility, and competency rather than seat time. He discusses why innovation requires both autonomy and accountability, how an innovation bias became part of WGU’s culture, and why organizations must continually challenge their own assumptions if they hope to remain relevant. The conversation also explores the future of learning in an era shaped by artificial intelligence, accelerating technological change, and shifting workforce demands. Scott reflects on the role of education as a pathway to economic and social mobility, the importance of stewardship in long term leadership, and why institutions must be willing to reinvent themselves before the world forces them to. At its core, this episode is about building systems that create opportunity, leading with purpose rather than tradition, and preparing people not just for today’s challenges, but for a future that is arriving faster than ever. About Scott Pulsipher Scott Pulsipher serves as president of Western Governors University (WGU), the nation’s first and largest competency-based university, leading all academic, operational, and organizational functions. Pulsipher came to WGU in 2016 and blends a personal drive for making a difference in the lives of individuals and families through education and a passion for technology-powered innovation. At WGU, he is driving continuous innovation to improve student outcomes by focusing on rapidly advancing curriculum quality, new faculty models, data-driven learning, and an innovative cost model. In 2020, EdTech Digest named him one of the Top 100 Influencers in EdTech. Pulsipher chairs the President’s Forum, a collaborative network of nearly 20?college and university presidents committed to the reinvention of higher education.He also serves as a member of Handshake’s Impact Advisory Board, and on the board of the American Council on Education. Before coming to WGU, Pulsipher had more than 20 years of leadership experience in technology-based, customer-focused businesses, including Amazon, Sterling Commerce (now part of IBM), and two successful startups that traverse retail, supply chain, banking, payments, and manufacturing sectors. Pulsipher holds a bachelor’s degree in management from Brigham Young University and an MBA from Harvard University.   LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-pulsipher-5735143/             Website: https://www.wgu.edu/   Host: Jessica Kriegel   Culture Partners LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/culturepartners Website: jessicakriegel.comLinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jessicakriegelInstagram: @jess_kriegelWebsite: culturepartners.com