Lightning talks

Help! I need somebody! — Tips for working effectively with freelancers/independent contractors

Donna Talarico — Donna Talarico: Stories and Such

We’ve all been there. Too much work, not enough time. Not enough people. Not enough budget. Sometimes you might need some extra help, but not so much that you need to hire a part-time employee or enter into a contract with an agency for a longer-term engagement. Enter the higher ed freelancer.

This lightning talk — led by someone who's been a self-employed content writer/strategist for more than a decade — will share practical tips for finding, managing and maintaining relationships with freelancers. She'll also cover how to best set up your freelancer for success, such as providing the right "scaffolding" for the project and resource materials to work efficiently and effectively.

Whether you're looking to hire a writer for a one-time project like a campaign or viewbook, or need someone to provide on-going content support to supplement your team's efforts, you'll learn how an independent contractor can add value to your organization — and leave with ideas how to work well with an outside content expert.

Note: While focused on content, tips covered in this talk could apply to other types of freelance arrangements.

Lead with an open heart

Kristin Gasser — Arizona State University

We all have to experience transitions in work and life: some desired, some unexpected, some dreadful, some anticipated, some joyous and some painful. None are without risk. Yet we all must, over and over, change and experience changes around us. Is it possible to experience change with intention? I believe so. Take a risk and join me for an exploration of how we face change.

I have friends everywhere

Jeff Stevens — UF Health

Finding alignment in a decentralized campus can be a challenge. Competing goals, organizational structures and resources lead to fragmentation and a lack of focus. How do you encourage a group of ragtag rebels to tackle a galaxy of problems? We'll explore how we can use communities of practice to rebuild hope that things can change for the better.

Goodwill is not infrastructure

Shelley Keith-Panulla — Cornell University

Behind every higher education website are people quietly holding things together: updating content, interpreting policies, fixing broken experiences and protecting users from confusion. Their care matters. But care alone is not a governance model. Based on capstone research into web governance in public-good organizations, this talk explores digital trust, leadership responsibility and how we can better support the people who steward our public-facing digital spaces.