About this episode
The episode discusses the complexities of buying AI in higher education and offers practical advice for institutional leaders.
JC is joined by Element451 Chief Revenue Officer Trey Boyer and VP of Customer Strategy & Technology Kelly Sinacola to discuss the complexities of buying AI in higher education. They examine why many campuses struggle to realize ROI on AI investments, highlight the pitfalls of shiny demos and vaporware, and emphasize frameworks for selecting the right problems to solve. The conversation covers data readiness, the importance of organizational culture, and how successful AI adoption depends on people and process—not just technology. Practical advice is shared for institutional leaders preparing to make significant AI purchases.
People in this episode
Host: JC Bonilla
Guests: Trey Boyer, Kelly Sinacola
Topics covered
- AI in higher education
- ROI on AI investments
- data readiness
- organizational culture
- AI adoption
- problem selection
Keywords
- AI
- higher education
- ROI
- data readiness
- organizational culture
- AI adoption
- technology
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Element451
More episodes of Higher Intelligence
- First 100 Days Leading AI in EdTech · June 2, 2026 · 56 min
- Bridging the Gap Between AI Pilots and Practice · May 26, 2026 · 53 min
- AI in the New International Student Landscape · May 12, 2026 · 50 min
- Shaping Students for an AI Future · May 5, 2026 · 58 min
- New Stories That Signal the Future of Higher Ed · April 28, 2026 · 21 min
- Field Notes from the AI Frontier · April 21, 2026 · 24 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Higher Intelligence podcast page.