The ReWorkflow Podcast

TJ Backofen joins us in this episode for a practical deep dive on making Slate cycle prep/reset more efficient, sustainable, and impactful. The discussion begins by leveraging Technolutions’ resources and then adapting these optimized practices for institutional/local contexts. At a minimum, core operations must routinely focus on auditing all data entry points and integration feeds (e.g., applications, forms across scopes, imports/exports). On the people side, the emphasis is on clear governance, designated project managers, and over-communicating with stakeholders. Above all, documentation and a biannual cadence are the game-changing habits for collaboration and ensure that wins and lessons learned become transparent and repeatable processes.   📝 Transcript |  🤖 AI Expanded Summary   📺Watch this Episode on YouTube   🔗Connect with Jon Linkedin | Slate Community (🔐requires Slate login) | ReWorkflow| ReSource 🔗Connect with TJ Linkedin | Slate Community (🔐requires Slate login) | ReWorkflow | ReSource   ❓Listener Question: "How to make Slate's annual cycle prep more efficient?" Connect with Luo Luo, Director of Enrollment Systems and Operations, Roosevelt University | LinkedIn | Slate Community (🔐requires Slate login)   💡Key Takeaways ✅ Cycle prep is an ongoing process, not just a one-time event. Treat it as both a scheduled rest/refresh as well as routine system stewardship. ✅ Understanding the unique needs of your institution is key to effective cycle prep. ✅ Anchor on Technolutions’ Slate Knowledge Base and cycle prep resources. Supplement with internal tools/processes and Slate Community advice. ✅ Audit data entry points and integrations every year. ✅ Invest in documentation to turn wins and lessons learned into repeatable process. ✅ Engaging stakeholders early in the cycle prep process is vital. ✅ Adopt biannual cycle prep to halve the load, increase training opportunities, and keep your Slate instance cleaner.   🗣️Sound Bites “…cycle prep could be compared to spring cleaning. It's something that is absolutely necessary, but no one ever wants to do it. And then when you get into mature cycle prep, meaning your system's been around for several different cycles, you can do spring cleaning with children around. And anyone who's a parent out there knows how difficult it is to get anything done with those children around.” “One tip that I always have is to make sure you check those static mappings…It's kind of like you shove everything behind the closet, you shut the door, it's working…you need to open the door because that's where most of the hidden surprises are stored.” “Being over communicative is very important as well, especially with your users. So they're aware of what's going on. Once you start there, then you get the feedback, you get the buy-in, and you can really start understanding their pain points, their weaknesses within the system, on top of just getting the system ready for their next cycle.” “I think sometimes the longer you're in the system, the harder it is to see the downstream impact on end users, because you can build something that's just technically robust. But if it doesn't make sense to the end user, did you build anything that's actually usable? And in cycle prep, you can have those conversations.” “So, I think that little wins will come out of cycle prep conversations. The important thing is not to do it in a cycle.” “I think Slate is one of those really good tools where you never master everything completely. It's always evolving and it's like a shifting landscape. And that keeps me engaged and I hope Slate users who love it, really it keeps them engaged as well.”   📚Referenced Technolutions Cycle Prep and Slate Optimization Knowledge Base Article (🔐requires Slate login) Slate Scholar Classroom Knowledge Base Article (🔐requires Slate login) Projects Knowledge Base Article (🔐requires Slate login) Documenting Slate ReSource ReWorkflow Podcast Season 5 Episode 4 with Kristina Kelpe "Slate Strategy Sessions: Documentation" YouTube | Audio and Show Notes   Host: Jon Rowand Audio & Video Production by: Jon Rowand   ❓Got a question you would like answered on a future episode? Feedback about the show? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]!    🌐 Learn more about ReWorkflow at www.reworkflow.com.

Kristina Kelpe, Founder & CEO of Legato Strategic Consulting, joins host Jon Rowand to explore how higher education institutions can launch or level-up their approach to documentation. Whether your school is starting from scratch or improving an existing system, Kristina offers strategies for building sustainable, effective documentation practices. Drawing on over 20 years of experience in higher ed and technology systems, she shares why starting with the “why” behind every process is key to long-term success. You’ll hear practical tips for organizing knowledge, creating flexible documentation that works for all users, and fostering a culture of shared ownership without falling into perfectionism or chasing shiny new tools. From cycle reset planning to celebrating team contributions, this conversation is packed with strategies to help your institution stay efficient, prepared, and future ready.   📝 Transcript |  🤖 AI Expanded Summary   📺Watch this Episode on YouTube   🔗Connect with Jon LinkedIn | Slate Community (🔐 requires Slate login) | ReWorkflow 🔗Connect with Kristina LinkedIn | Legato Strategic Consulting   💡Key Takeaways ✅ Start with the Why: Good documentation doesn’t only cover how to complete a task. It explains the why behind each step so future users understand purpose and context. ✅ Keep it Flexible: Pair a short, checklist-style version of documentation with a detailed version that includes screenshots and background. This ensures it helps both confident users and those who need extra guidance. ✅ Use a Calendar of Activities: Map out your annual and cyclical processes on a shared calendar linked to your documentation. This helps teams plan ahead and avoid last-minute scrambles. ✅ Avoid Shiny Object Syndrome: You don’t need the perfect tool. Agree on one system of record (Google Drive, SharePoint, or Confluence) and focus on consistency and habit-building over time. ✅ Document Decisions Promptly: Capture decisions and their reasoning as you go. Even a simple Google Doc or “dear diary” log is better than waiting until the end of a project. ✅ Celebrate Contributions: Recognition fuels a culture of shared ownership. Thank teammates who keep documentation updated and highlight their efforts in meetings or group chats. ✅ Embrace Simplicity and AI: As AI evolves, storing documentation in an accessible, searchable format becomes even more valuable. Start by getting the information down, even if it’s not perfectly organized.   🗣️Sound Bites “I’m a big ‘why’ person. Tell me the why behind this [not just the steps].” “…if you don't have the old documentation, if you don't understand your data model, you could just be adding in new problems.” “It's more important to get it down and that it's just available. So, you could have something…and…we made a decision.“ “And yet we all can relate if we have that messy closet in our house and…I know I have things in there, but I can't find it. And I think we are so guilty of this in higher education…I got students to serve. I got things to do. I don't have time to keep things organized.”   📚Referenced David Dysart Linkedin | Slate Community (🔐 requires Slate login) | YouTube | Substack Katrina Holland Linkedin | Legato Strategic Consulting Jennifer Champaner Linkedin | Ai   Host: Jon Rowand Audio & Video Production by: Minh Ha   ❓Got a question you would like answered on a future episode? Feedback about the show? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]!    🌐 Learn more about ReWorkflow at www.reworkflow.com.

In this episode of Slate Strategy Sessions, Jon Rowand welcomes Sarah Kotlinski, Director of Enrollment Systems and Analytics at Gettysburg College. Sarah shares how she is transforming Slate training through empathy, creativity, and community-building. From the popular Slate Feature Friday series to launching the new Training group in the Slate Community Forums, Sarah offers actionable insights on meeting learners where they are, delivering bite-sized and judgment-free training, and making time for what matters.   📝 Transcript |  🤖 AI Expanded Summary   📺Watch this Episode on YouTube   💡Key Takeaways   ✅ Training isn’t just about teaching tasks. It’s about introducing concepts that help people think critically about Slate. ✅ Bite-sized, context-specific trainings like Slate Feature Fridays help drive adoption without overwhelming users. ✅ Judgment-free zones foster psychological safety, encouraging users to ask questions and engage fully. ✅ Good documentation doesn't need to be perfect. It just needs to be mindful, consistent, and open to change. ✅ Community and collaboration are essential with recommendations for where to join the conversation.   🗣️Sound Bites "No matter what I think I'm doing, if they're perceiving that they're not feeling trained, then I have some work to do" "Slate is an ever-growing, ever-evolving entity, and so it's important to be continually training." “The perfect is the enemy of the good. (Voltaire)” “I think as humans, we make time for the things that we care about." “My challenge to people is as a trainer, you get to be that person for the next generation.” 📚Referenced #slatefeaturefriday on LinkedIn TickTick (Sarah's go-to task management platform) 🎫 Slate-Based Ticketing Systems (ReW ReSource Article) Training special interest group in the Slate Community Forum (🔐 requires Slate login) Ben Parsons' Conducting a Data Boot Camp Presentation Slides (🔐 requires Slate login) Ben Parsons on The ReWorkflow Podcast S1E10 - Slate Makes Aid Great (Or At Least Less Awful) 🔗Connect with Jon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmaesrowand/ Slate Community: https://community.technolutions.net/member/Y51AbuXxly (🔐 requires Slate login) ReWorkflow Our Team page: https://www.reworkflow.com/about/team 🔗Connect with Sarah LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahkots/ Slate Community: https://community.technolutions.net/member/LJP4UxpJJw (🔐 requires Slate login) Gettysburg College’s Admissions Meet the Staff page: https://www.gettysburg.edu/admissions-aid/meet-our-staff/contact-admissions   🔗Other Slater Mentions   David Dysart LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daviddysart/   Slate Community: https://community.technolutions.net/member/4SwQnUdXKw (🔐 requires Slate login) YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheDavidDysart   Substack: https://dysartisanalinnovations.substack.com/   Ben Parsons LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-p-3966959/   Slate Community: https://community.technolutions.net/member/zr96bZOYIo (🔐 requires Slate login) Binh Rowand LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/binh-ha-rowand-a64201107/ Slate Community: https://community.technolutions.net/member/FsIBKTU7gk (🔐 requires Slate login) ReWorkflow Our Team page: https://www.reworkflow.com/about/team   Host: Jon Rowand Audio Production by: Isaac Best Video Production by: Minh Ha   ❓Got a question you would like answered on a future episode? Feedback about the show? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]!    🌐 Learn more about ReWorkflow at www.reworkflow.com.

A higher education leader writes in wondering how to best lead a team of Slate experts as a non-Slate expert. Host Megan Story addresses this issue alongside guest, Katie Jordan, Senior Director of Slate Strategies at The Parish Group. Follow us: Katie Jordan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-jordan-slate/ Megan Story LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpstory/ Got a question you want to hear answered on the podcast? Email us at [email protected]!  Learn more about ReWorkflow at www.reworkflow.com

Data discrepancies on campus cause headaches for an admission leader writing in for help. Jon Rowand and Megan Story address this issue and discuss possible resolutions in this episode. Follow our hosts: Jon Rowand LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonmaesrowand Megan Story LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mpstory/ Referenced ReSource article - Reporting in Slate Got a question you want to hear answered on the podcast? Email us at [email protected]!  Learn more about ReWorkflow at www.reworkflow.com

In this episode, we’re joined by Cody Gray and Christopher Kwan from Technolutions to discuss what’s in store for Slate Summit 2025 and how you can submit a compelling presentation proposal. Cody and Christopher offer expert tips on crafting proposals that stand out, the topics most relevant to this year’s Summit, and how to make a lasting impact with your presentation. Tune in to gain insider insights and get ready to make your mark at Slate Summit 2025!   Follow our guests: Christopher Kwan https://www.linkedin.com/in/kwan-christopher Cody Gray https://community.technolutions.net/member/gj3vPNheqq Learn more about ReWorkflow at www.reworkflow.com

One of the most lauded presentations from Slate Summit 2024 was from Ben Parsons, this month's guest! Join us as we dig into configuring Slate with users in mind and learn more about building out financial aid processes in Slate! Follow our guest: Ben Parsons: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-p-3966959/ Learn more about ReWorkflow at www.reworkflow.com

Listen in as we chat with a prolific contributor to the Slate user community, Matt Schieren. Known for his impactful presentations at Slate Summit, Matt delves into how his background as a semi-professional gamer shapes his approach, offering fresh, actionable insights that bridge the gap between strategy and creativity. Tune in to learn from Matt's journey and discover new ways to enhance your Slate experience. Slate Summit 2024 Presentation Slates  (🔐 requires login) Follow our guest: Matt Schieren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mschieren Learn more about ReWorkflow at www.reworkflow.com

The most buzzed about session at Slate Summit 2024 was Jon Cherry's Interactive Query Challenge and he joins us today to talk about this innovative idea from conception to execution.  Slate Summit 2024 Presentation Slates  (🔐 requires login) Follow our guest: Jon Cherry: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-cherry-2405087a Learn more about ReWorkflow at www.reworkflow.com

With Slate Summit 2024 in the rearview mirror, we're diving deeper into the presentations we saw in Chicago. In this episode Danielle Buczek of Brandeis and Jasmine Solomon of NYU join Megan to discuss their presentation Solutions in Action: Real-World Troubleshooting Examples.  Slate Summit 2024 Presentation Slates  (🔐 requires login) Presentation resources: https://resource.reworkflow.com/books/slate/page/slate-summit-2024-presentation-resources-solutions-in-action-real-world-troubleshooting Follow our guests: Danielle Buczek - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dbuczek Jasmine Solomon - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasminesolomon Learn more about ReWorkflow at www.reworkflow.com

Join Megan and super helpful community member from Technolutions, Christopher Kwan, as they discuss making the most of your time at Summit and then going home and turning those ideas into action. We'll get into the details on debriefing, following-up with new contacts, and applying new ideas to day-to-day work.    💡Key Takeaways We hope listening to this episode helped you feel equipped for Summit and your return home after Summit. As a reminder, here are some ideas for what to do once you return home: Debrief with Colleagues: Organize a meeting or discussion with your colleagues who also attended Slate Summit. Share your key takeaways, insights, and any materials you gathered. This is especially helpful if you attended different sessions. Follow-Up with New Contacts: Reach out to the people you've networked with during the conference. Send follow-up emails, connect on LinkedIn, or even arrange follow-up meetings to solidify the connections you made. People who reach out to presenters to thank them for their presentation are heroes. You have the chance to make someone's day. Take it! Review and Organize Your Notes: Go through your Summit notes and materials while the information is still fresh. Organize your notes by themes or categories to make it easier to refer back to later. Implement New Ideas: Identify specific ideas, strategies, or insights you've gained from the conference that could benefit your projects or work. Create an action plan for integrating these new concepts into your work. Provide Feedback to the Organizers: If there were aspects of the conference (or pre-conference activities) that you found particularly beneficial or areas that could be improved, consider providing feedback to the organizers. This helps them enhance future events. Last year Megan suggested the Show and Tell session and this year Technolutions did it! One of the great things about the Slate community is that one person's idea can gain traction and turn into action.  Remember that the goal is to leverage your Slate Summit experience to enhance your professional growth, expand your network, and drive positive impact in your projects and institution.   🔗Connect with Megan LinkedIn | Slack | Slate Community (🔐 requires Slate login) 🔗Connect with Chris LinkedIn | Slack | Slate Community (🔐 requires Slate login)    Check out Chris' Slate Summit Memories, along with recollections from other Technolutions staff and community members.   If you're listening to this before Slate Summit 2024, you can see if Megan really know what she's talking about by checking out her presentation on Friday, June 21st at 10:40am in Festival Hall B2. The session is called Solutions in Action: Real-World Troubleshooting Examples and Megan is presenting along with Danielle Buczek of Brandeis and Jasmine Solomon of New York University.   Host: Megan Story Audio Production by: Isaac Best   ❓Got a question you would like answered on a future episode? Feedback about the show? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]!    🌐 Learn more about ReWorkflow at www.reworkflow.com.

Networking at Slate Summit is crucial, as it provides an opportunity to forge meaningful connections with peers, experts, and potential collaborators. Making the most of your time in Chicago means exchanging ideas, sharing best practices, and building relationships that you'll maintain long after our time together in June. Join Megan and her guest, ReWorkflow CEO Jon Rowand, as they dig into best practices for networking at Slate Summit.   💡Key Takeaways Networking at Slate Summit can be a valuable opportunity to connect with higher education professionals, learn from experts, and potentially advance your career. Here are some tips to make the most out of your networking experience. Set Clear Goals: Determine what you want to achieve from the conference. Are you looking to make new connections, learn about specific topics, or explore job opportunities? Setting clear goals will help you focus your efforts. Prepare Your Elevator Pitch: Have a concise and engaging introduction ready that describes who you are, what you do, and what you're looking to gain from the conference. Make it memorable and relevant to the event. If your job title doesn't make it clear, make sure to explain what you do in Slate. Attend Social Events: There are the meals, the Thursday night party, and the very late Thursday night coding party as part of the official conference, but tons of preferred partners have happy hours and user groups have hosted events as well. Offer Value: Networking is a two-way street. Consider how you can help others – whether it's sharing insights, offering your expertise, or connecting them with relevant people. . Diversify Your Connections: While it's natural to gravitate towards people like you, also try to connect with those from different specialties or from different areas. This can lead to unique perspectives and opportunities. Someone working in advancement can learn from people in admissions. Someone at a large university can learn from someone at a small scholarship granting organization. Be Respectful of Time: Understand that everyone's time is limited at Slate Summit. Don't monopolize a person's time and be mindful of their schedule. Follow Up: After the conference, reach out to the connections you made. Connect on LinkedIn, send personalized follow-up emails, or even set up meetings to continue the conversation. Remember that networking is about building relationships, not just collecting business cards. Approach each interaction with authenticity and a willingness to learn from others, and you'll likely find valuable connections that can benefit your professional journey.   🔗Connect with Megan LinkedIn | Slack | Slate Community (🔐 requires Slate login) 🔗Connect with Jon LinkedIn | Slate Community (🔐 requires Slate login) | ReWorkflow   Host: Megan Story Audio Production by: Isaac Best   ❓Got a question you would like answered on a future episode? Feedback about the show? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]!    🌐 Learn more about ReWorkflow at www.reworkflow.com.

With the release of the Slate Summit schedule and the Slate Summit 2024 app  our excitement is growing! Right now is the time to prepare for your trip to Chicago in June by getting into the nitty gritty of planning for Slate Summit. Megan's former coworker Tiffany Kawafuchi joins her to discuss her meticulous planning for Slate Summit and how that helps her team once they're at the conference.   💡Key Takeaways When choosing which sessions to attend at Slate Summit you want to make the most out of your time and networking opportunities. Here's a method you can follow: Set Your Goals: Determine your primary objectives for attending the conference. Are you looking to learn about new skills, brainstorm creative solutions to problems, or connect with higher education professionals? Your goals will guide your session choices. This is a great way to include coworkers to make sure you're working toward both institutional and personal goals.  Review the Agenda: Carefully review the Summit schedule, including presentations, affinity groups, and networking events. Look for topics that align with your goals and interests. Note session titles, speakers, and descriptions. Prioritize: Not all sessions will be equally valuable to you. Prioritize the sessions that are most relevant to your institutional and personal goals and professional development. Focus on sessions that will provide new insights, skills, or perspectives. Diversify: While focusing on your main goals, try to diversify your session choices. You may work in an advancement office, but be able to learn something new by attending a session led by someone working in an admissions office. Be Open to Change: Conference dynamics can change, and sometimes you might find out more about a session's content or speaker closer to Summit. Stay flexible and be open to adjusting your schedule if a session that wasn't initially on your radar becomes more appealing. Network Strategically: Networking is a crucial aspect of Slate Summit. Identify affinity groups, social events, and opportunities to connect with fellow attendees. Balance your schedule to allow for meaningful interactions. Keep an eye out for events hosted by preferred partners and user groups. Stay Balanced: Summit can be intense, so make sure to balance your schedule with breaks, meals, and downtime. It's essential to stay refreshed and engaged throughout the event. Remember, you might not be able to attend every session you're interested in, so be prepared to make choices that align with your goals and priorities. You can always check out the presentation slides after Summit and reach out to the presenter with questions then.   🔗Connect with Megan LinkedIn | Slack | Slate Community (🔐 requires Slate login) 🔗Connect with Tiffany LinkedIn | Slack | Slate Community (🔐 requires Slate login)   Check out Tiffany's presentation as part of the Show-and-Tell event at Summit on Thursday, June 20th, 2024 at 12:40pm in Festival Hall A1.   Host: Megan Story Audio Production by: Isaac Best   ❓Got a question you would like answered on a future episode? Feedback about the show? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]!    🌐 Learn more about ReWorkflow at www.reworkflow.com.

In this episode we’re focusing on public speaking and creating slide decks for Slate Summit. Joining us this week are Mark Ledoux and Corey Stamco from Kent State University! Listen in on our conversation discussing their experience co-presenting as part of Slate Stage and learn from their experience.   💡Key Takeaways Presenting as part of Slate Summit can be a nerve-wracking yet rewarding experience. Here are some tips to help you deliver a confident and impactful presentation: Engaging Opening: Start with a compelling hook, story, or statistic to grab your audience's attention right from the beginning. Memorizing your entire presentation word-for-word can make you sound robotic, but your nerves are going to be biggest at the beginning, so memorize your opening and let the rest flow. Vocal Variety: Vary your tone, pitch, and pace to keep your audience engaged. A monotonous voice can make your presentation less interesting. Body Language: Use open and confident body language. Stand tall, use purposeful gestures, and move around the stage if possible.  Be Passionate: Show your enthusiasm for the topic. A passionate speaker is more likely to captivate the audience. We’re all there to talk about software for higher education. We’re not cool, so don’t worry about looking like a nerd. Be Authentic: Be yourself. Authenticity builds trust and makes your presentation more relatable. You don’t need to know what you don’t know. Remember that public speaking skills improve with practice. Even experienced speakers have room for growth. Embrace each opportunity as a chance to learn and develop your abilities. Creating your an engaging and polished slide deck is essential to effectively communicate your ideas and engage your audience. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you create an impactful presentation: Content Creation: Keep your content concise and avoid overcrowding slides with too much information. Use bullet points, short phrases, and visuals to convey key points. Use high-quality images, charts, graphs, and diagrams to illustrate your ideas. Include real-world examples, case studies, and anecdotes to make your points relatable. Visual Design: Maintain a consistent color scheme and font style throughout the presentation. Use contrasting colors for text and background to ensure readability. Avoid excessive animations and transitions that can distract from your message. Text and Typography: Limit the amount of text on each slide. Aim for a few key points per slide. Use a font size that is easily readable from a distance. Avoid using too many fonts; stick to two or three complementary fonts. Practice Delivery: Rehearse your presentation with your slides multiple times to ensure smooth delivery. Practice your timing to stay within the allotted presentation time. Gather feedback from colleagues or friends to make necessary improvements. Conclude Well: Include your contact details or social media handles for attendees to reach out after the presentation. Consider what you’re leaving your audience with. Show off your work by linking to a portfolio, providing a suitcase link or having attendees fill out a great survey you’ve made in Slate forms. 🔗Connect with Megan LinkedIn | Slack | Slate Community (🔐 requires Slate login) 🔗Connect with Mark LinkedIn | Slate Community (🔐 requires Slate login) 🔗Connect with Corey LinkedIn | Slate Community (🔐 requires Slate login)   Host: Megan Story Audio Production by: Isaac Best   ❓Got a question you would like answered on a future episode? Feedback about the show? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]!    🌐 Learn more about ReWorkflow at www.reworkflow.com.

In this episode we’re focusing on creating and collaborating a presentation for Slate Stage or Slate Summit. Our guest this episode is Allie Duffney and we discuss issues such as taking an idea and turning it into a presentation and collaborating with someone at another school or institution on your presentation.   💡Key Takeaways Turning a presentation proposal for Slate Stage or Slate Summit into the actual presentation involves careful planning, organization, and effective communication. Here's a step-by-step strategy to help you create a compelling presentation: Review Your Proposal: Start by revisiting your original proposal. Remind yourself of the main points you intended to cover and the objectives of your presentation. This will help you maintain focus and ensure that your final presentation aligns with your initial intentions. Structure Your Presentation: Organize your presentation into a logical structure. A common structure includes: Introduction: Introduce yourself, the topic, and its importance. Background: Provide context for your presentation, including any relevant background information. Main Content: Break down your content into key points, each supported by evidence, examples, and data. Conclusion: Summarize the main points and reiterate your key message. Q&A: Prepare for potential questions from the audience. Consider Your Audience: The Slate community is wide and varied. Provide diverse entry points in your presentation for your audience. People in leadership positions will be looking for higher level reasons to move forward with a Slate project, while on-the-ground users will be looking for the technical details needed to implement in their instance. Within reason, try to have something for everyone. Limit Content: Avoid overwhelming your audience with too much information. Focus on key takeaways and supporting points. Less is often more. People will not remember the code you provide, but they will remember your approach to a project and the problems you solved. Give them a way to get the details later. If you’re paired up with others outside your institution for your presentation, here’s some advice for your collaboration: Clear Communication: Establish open and frequent communication channels from the outset. Clearly define roles, responsibilities, and expectations for both you and your colleague. Some people just split the presentation time and give individual presentations, while others give a team presentation, taking turns presenting slides and building off the ideas shared by the others. Now it the time to decide how’d you want to move forward to avoid conflict and disappointment later. Establish a Timeline: No matter how you choose to move forward, you still have a shared deadline to meet. Determine a timeline for communication and deliverables now so everyone’s on the same page. Be Flexible: Your co-presenter may get a new job a month before your presentation. The main point of your presentation may lose relevance after Technolutions releases a new feature. The Slate community still has something to learn from you, so take a breath and get creative. We’re all rooting for you and appreciate your generosity in sharing your expertise.   🔗Connect with Megan LinkedIn | Slack | Slate Community (🔐 requires Slate login) 🔗Connect with Allie LinkedIn | Slate Community (🔐 requires Slate login)   🔎Allie Duffney's Slate Summit Presentations Slate Summit 2022 presentation - Creating Your Slate Succession Plan - Allie Duffney & Susanna Mayo   If you're interested in graduate admissions in Slate, please join the Graduate Slate Community User Group, led by Allie and Megan. Host: Megan Story Audio Production by: Isaac Best   ❓Got a question you would like answered on a future episode? Feedback about the show? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]!    🌐 Learn more about ReWorkflow at www.reworkflow.com.

Thinking about presenting at Slate Summit but not sure where to start? In this kickoff episode, Megan sits down with longtime presenter Trevor Kingsley to pull back the curtain on how talks come together and why sharing your work matters more than you think. It’s a candid, sleeves-rolled-up conversation about choosing a topic that helps Slaters shape a clear story and learning from the inevitable “wish we’d known that sooner” moments. If presenting has been on your “someday” list, this is the friendly nudge to move it to “this year.” 💡Key Takeaways The question we’re answering in this episode is why you should consider presenting as part of Slate Summit. To start, there are a ton of reasons you should consider presenting. Contributing to the Community: Sharing your experiences, successes, and even failures can benefit the wider Slate community by helping others avoid common pitfalls and inspiring them to explore new ideas. In addition, presenting provides a platform to share insights, best practices, and innovative solutions related to Slate. It's an opportunity to contribute to the collective knowledge of the field and help others improve their processes. Networking: Summit brings together professionals from various institutions and backgrounds. Presenting allows you to connect with colleagues, industry experts, and potential collaborators. These connections can lead to valuable partnerships, collaborations, and future opportunities. In addition, presenting demonstrates your expertise and thought leadership within the field. It can elevate your professional profile and position you as a knowledgeable and influential figure in the higher education. Institutional Exposure: For your institution, presenting at Slate Summit can showcase the innovative approaches and technologies being employed in your admissions/advancement/student success processes. This can enhance your institution's reputation and attract attention from prospective students, partners, and other stakeholders.  Feedback and Validation: Presenting your work to the Slate user community allows you to receive valuable feedback and insights. This feedback can help you refine your ideas, improve your solutions, and validate the effectiveness of your strategies. Professional Development: Preparing and delivering a presentation enhances your public speaking, communication, and organizational skills. It also pushes you to stay current with the latest trends and developments with Slate, contributing to your continuous professional growth. The process of preparing a presentation forces you to dive deep into your topic, research thoroughly, and organize your thoughts.  We hope the conversation with Trevor inspired you to consider presenting this year or in the future!   🔗Connect with Megan LinkedIn | Slack | Slate Community (🔐 requires Slate login) 🔗Connect with Trevor LinkedIn | Slack | Slate Community (🔐 requires Slate login)   🔎Trevor Kingsley's Slate Summit Presentations Nth Time’s a Charm for International Admissions Workflows (and Beyond): Continuously Improving the International Admissions Process from Application through the I-20/Visa process (and Beyond!) - Keith Gallinelli & Trevor Kingsley (🔐 requires login) From Application Cloning to Custom Copying: How to Build and Automate Your Process - Michael Bendorf & Trevor Kingsley (🔐 requires login)   Submit your 2024 Summit Proposal by January 12, 2024.   Host: Megan Story Audio Production by: Isaac Best   ❓Got a question you would like answered on a future episode? Feedback about the show? We'd love to hear from you! Email us at [email protected]!    🌐 Learn more about ReWorkflow at www.reworkflow.com. Special thanks to Richard Clark at Area Code Audio for his advice in launching this podcast.

A trailer for a six-episode season focused on Slate Summit.