A self-described “recovering academic elitist,” Dr. Kevin Fleming has prioritized spreading the message that there are careers and career opportunities for everyone – not just for students at universities.
Dr. Fleming, a former community college vice president and now founder and CEO of the professional development platform Catapult, says it’s time to move away from a “university for all” mentality to a “university for many.” He counters that work-based learning and opportunities through community colleges and trade schools are legitimate paths for establishing careers that provide purpose, passion, and good income.
In a recent episode of the Higher Education Conversations podcast, Dr. Fleming noted that in the quest for professional happiness, many often overlook the multitude of opportunities at hand that could lead to better, more satisfying careers. While Dr. Flemming’s primary focus is to assist educators in preparing students for success in the new economy, much of what he teaches can also apply to senior-level higher education professionals. And much of his discussion with GradComm CEO Cheryl Broom can even help college administrators grow professionally.
Find Your Purpose
Individuals who have identified their core values and passions can align their careers with their purpose. This purpose fuels their daily “get-up-and-go,” gives them the courage to take risks that ultimately help them reach higher professionally and opens them up to realize even larger missions. For example, Dr. Fleming found his purpose through his own educational journey, and this purpose has led him to branch out into a successful career that impacts thousands of educators and students across the United States.
“I don’t think any child ever says when I grow up, I want to be a community college administrator in economic development,” said Dr. Fleming. “That’s not normally right after ‘firefighter’ or ‘teacher’. So, by happenstance, I fell into this and love it. I’ve developed a passion for it. I’ve been a regional labor market analyst in California. We call them Center of Excellence Directors. I’ve been a CTE faculty member. I’ve been a dean of instruction over current technical education at the community college level. And for the last four years, I’ve been a vice president. And I love this field. And I love focusing on systemic and regional solutions for helping students find their purpose on purpose.”
Have a Growth Mindset
Also important is having a growth mindset as it pertains to career decisions. The need to continuously learn and develop new skills is a critical component of a fulfilling and successful career. Committing to a life of learning and exploration allows individuals to stay relevant and adaptable and remain open to new opportunities.
So committed to the idea of professional growth is Dr. Fleming that he intentionally makes his professional development services through Catapult go beyond just listening to keynote speakers to include intentional discussions around how to implement change.
“Think about all of the webinars and conferences we’ve been to, and it’s just, we sing Kumbaya, and then we go back to our desks and do everything the same way we did before,” he shared. “That’s why Catapult has a third level to it. The third piece is using learning science to spend intentional time reflecting on practice and implementation. And the results have been amazing.”
You Can Reinvent Yourself
There may be times in your career where you don’t just feel stuck, but you feel lost. Rather than focusing on whether or not you have a “forever” career, think about what comes next.
“It’s not about what you’ll do forever; it’s just what you want to do next. And that’s what’s great: people can reinvent themselves. They can decide in their late twenties what they thought they wanted to do when they were 18. They’re a different person, and they wanted to, you know, pivot and go a different direction. And so that’s what I love about our higher education system in America. There’s open entry, open access, there’s so many opportunities. You, you’re never in one track, right?”
As the walls of academia continue to break down and workplace mobility increases, college administrators must have a clear vision of the future and create their own paths that work for them. Employing the ideas put forth by Dr. Fleming, such as finding a sense of purpose, developing a growth mindset, and being open to reinvention, can help higher education professionals open doors that might have otherwise remained closed. By applying these concepts in their professional sphere and personal lives, they will surely find greater satisfaction in their careers moving forward.
If you want to take your higher education career in new directions, listen to the full Higher Ed Conversations podcast with Dr. Fleming here (or wherever you get your podcasts) for valuable insights on how success means so much more than money and prestige.
