The Mission Is the Strategy: First-Gen Leadership, Access, and the Power of Showing Up

Katie Condon, VP of Enrollment Management at Eastern Michigan University, shares how a first-generation college student with no family roadmap climbed from temp admissions counselor to vice president — and built a division focused on access, belonging, and saying yes to students others overlook.In this conversation, you'll learn:✅ How to advocate for yourself so leaders can actually coach and sponsor you✅ Why accepting all feedback equally is damaging your mental health — and how to filter it✅ How AI can extend your team's capacity to serve people 24/7 without replacing human connectionThis episode is for mission-driven leaders who want to build organizations rooted in access and purpose — and lead their teams through growth without losing themselves in the process.👤 ABOUT KATIE CONDON:Katie Condon is the Vice President of Enrollment Management at Eastern Michigan University. A first-generation college student herself, she began her career as a temporary admissions counselor at West Virginia University and spent over a decade in enrollment and recruitment before reaching the VP level. She is passionate about access, mission-driven higher education, and building teams that lead with curiosity.🔗 Katie's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-condon🔗 Eastern Michigan University: https://emich.edu🎙️ ABOUT HART & HUSTLE:Hart & Hustle brings you weekly conversations with mission-driven leaders solving real problems in healthcare, education, and community services. Every week, host Efrain Lozada sits down with nonprofit executives, operations directors, and innovators to uncover practical strategies you can implement in your organization.Subscribe for weekly insights on nonprofit leadership, operations, and scaling mission impact.🔗 CONNECT WITH US:FRANSiS™ Website: https://fransis.aiLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fromfransis