Free Daily Podcast Summary
Job Shadowing HE: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Susannah Marsden
Job Shadowing HE, presented by Susannah Marsden, sheds some light on the many and varied roles within Higher Education: in universities, in specialist HE institutions as well as in sector bodies that support the national HE infrastructure. It also aims to support people who are thinking about their career paths and who may aspire to a new role now or in the future.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 2 weeks ago32 min
Dr Marcelle Moncrieffe-Newman: One Step Forward, Two Steps Black
Dr Marcelle Moncrieffe-Newman is Chief People Officer at City St George’s, University of London and author of the book One Step Forward, Two Steps Black which looks at navigating anti-Black workplace culture. The book is informed by her Doctoral studies which considered the impact of the public sector workplace culture on the career progression of Black employees. Marcelle shares her motivation for writing the book and reveals more about its contents including the negative workplace experiences of numerous Black colleagues she interviewed as part of her research, as well as experiences of her own. We explore broader topics within her book including the role of HR, the flaws of unconscious bias training and why top-level institutional leadership and culture is essential to change. Marcelle also offers insight to the six-point action plan that is designed for leaders and colleagues to create genuine racial inclusion in the workplace, including in HE. You can find out more about Marcelle here and her book is available here. This episode is kindly sponsored by Anderson Quigley which builds better leaders for a better society. They are industry experts with decades of experience in public sector executive search, interim management and advisory. The Association of Higher Education Professionals and the British Universities FInance Directors Group, BUFDG, are both proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.
- Aug 18, 202649 min
Andy Youell - UK Higher Education Data
Andy Youell has a 35 year career working in and with Higher Education data systems and governance, resulting in him being very much the go-to sector guru in the field. While data may appear to be about numbers and systems, Andy’s approach to getting things right in the sector is very much about people, culture, capability and confidence. We discuss Andy’s career with sector bodies, his freelance consultancy, and a brief stint working within a university, as well as the advisory role he’s played on numerous occasions, including to Government Ministers. His extensive career also offers us a potted history of how the HE data landscape has evolved across the last three decades, and we talk about how institutions have responded to that and what needs to come next. We also reflect upon some classic data topics such as data burden and single source of truth - and - if data is a science or an art. This episode is brought to you by SEAtS, the Education Operations Platform trusted by universities, colleges, and education providers worldwide. If your timetabling, attendance, compliance, and campus operations are spread across multiple systems, SEAtS brings them together on one AI-powered platform built on Microsoft Azure and natively integrated with Microsoft Teams and Power BI. From day one, it's audit-ready and designed to simplify operations while improving student engagement and institutional performance. Leading institutions have increased retention by up to 20%, protecting millions in tuition revenue while helping thousands more students stay on track. To start a pilot or discuss your requirements, visit seatsone.com. The Association of Higher Education Professionals and the British Universities FInance Directors Group, BUFDG, are both proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.
- Aug 4, 202638 min
Nadia Ness, Executive Director of Transformation, University of Glasgow
Nadia Ness is Executive Director of Transformation at the University of Glasgow. Our conversation covers a wide range of topics about prioritising and leading change across the University, and the focus that Nadia places on people and partnership to deliver change well. With the earlier part of her career having been in senior roles in the corporate sector, including at Ikea, we also reflect upon the similarities and differences between that environment and leading change in HE. And on the theme of change and transformation, we additionally take a brief detour to talk about Nadia’s recent experience of stepping out of the workplace for a period of maternity leave, and some of the perspectives on change that she has since brought back. This episode is brought to you by SEAtS, the Education Operations Platform trusted by universities, colleges, and education providers worldwide. If your timetabling, attendance, compliance, and campus operations are spread across multiple systems, SEAtS brings them together on one AI-powered platform built on Microsoft Azure and natively integrated with Microsoft Teams and Power BI. From day one, it's audit-ready and designed to simplify operations while improving student engagement and institutional performance. Leading institutions have increased retention by up to 20%, protecting millions in tuition revenue while helping thousands more students stay on track. To start a pilot or discuss your requirements, visit seatsone.com. The Association of Higher Education Professionals and the British Universities FInance Directors Group, BUFDG, are both proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.
- Apr 14, 202638 min
Dr Alex Street, Senior Research Fellow in Music Therapy, Anglia Ruskin University
Dr Alex Street is a Senior Research Fellow at the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research, part of Anglia Ruskin University. He is an applied researcher who specialises in the use of music therapy for patients undergoing neurorehabilitation following stroke and brain injury. In this episode, Alex shares more about how music therapy works, including case studies of patient benefit. We also explore what led him to train as a music therapist as well as progressing his career into research, and we hear more about what it’s like to be a senior research fellow in his field and more broadly in HE. This episode is kindly sponsored by GatenbySanderson, the UK’s leadership expert across public services, not for profit and education. We partner with universities to find and place exceptional HE leaders and develop their teams – improving leadership performance, inclusivity and accelerating change. The Association of Higher Education Professionals and the British Universities FInance Directors Group, BUFDG, are both proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.
- Mar 30, 202642 min
Professor Ken Sloan, Vice-Chancellor and CEO of Harper Adams University
Professor Ken Sloan, Vice-Chancellor and CEO of Harper Adams University. Ken has extensive experience in strategy leadership, governance and commercial activities gained through both the Higher Education and private sectors, and he became a VC through a non-academic route. In this episode, we discuss his leadership of this specialist university, including its strategic focus, living the institutional values, the role of entrepreneurship and his overall optimism about the future. We also reflect more broadly on the vital role of specialist institutions and why a diverse UK HE sector can and should be maintained. This episode is kindly sponsored by GatenbySanderson, the UK’s leadership expert across public services, not for profit and education. We partner with universities to find and place exceptional HE leaders and develop their teams – improving leadership performance, inclusivity and accelerating change. The Association of Higher Education Professionals and the British Universities FInance Directors Group, BUFDG, are both proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.
- Mar 18, 202646 min
Dr Charlotte Verney and Dr Joanne Caldwell: Valuing Research and Scholarship of Professional Services Staff
Dr Charlotte Verney and Dr Joanne Caldwell each work in different areas of professional services, but both of them also engage in research and scholarship in HE management. In this episode, Charlotte and Joanne share more about their experience of balancing research and scholarship while working in a professional services role and consider the extent to which this type of portfolio of work is recognised and valued to the benefit of the sector. They also discuss their co-editorship of the Perspectives Journal, as well as the support networks available for current or aspiring professional services colleagues engaging in research. Resources mentioned in the episode: Journal: Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher Education | Journal | Taylor & Francis Online LinkedIn group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12963149/ Other: Higher Education Professional Services Research and Scholarship This episode is kindly sponsored by Tessa Harrison Executive Coaching. Tessa works with senior leaders across higher and further education who are navigating role transitions, leading organisational change or rethinking their careers. Her coaching blends reflective space with pragmatic challenge, enabling leaders to operate and make decisions with greater clarity and confidence. The Association of Higher Education Professionals and the British Universities FInance Directors Group, BUFDG, are both proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.
- Mar 4, 202630 min
Sarah Beavon: Chief Digital and Student Experience Officer
Sarah Beavon has worked in Higher Education for over 20 years, moving through a series of increasingly senior roles to her current position as Chief Digital and Student Experience Officer at Canterbury Christchurch University. In 2025, she was recognised as one of the top 100 innovators and change makers of the year reflecting her success with large-scale digital transformation projects. In releasing this episode close to International Women’s Day 2026, Sarah’s reflects upon her career as a female IT leader, the importance of coaching and mentoring, what introverted or quiet leadership looks like, and what the future may hold to support aspiring digital leaders. This episode is kindly sponsored by Niico AI. Niico automates admissions and student services across systems universities and colleges already use, without replacing them. Using conversational AI and process automation, we reduce manual workload and deliver a better student experience to support growth and improve operational efficiency. Book a demo at niico.ai. The Association of Higher Education Professionals and the British Universities FInance Directors Group, BUFDG, are both proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.
- Feb 18, 202651 min
Hugh Jones: Hugh Jones Consulting
Hugh Jones is a renowned figure in Higher Education having worked in several universities during his career and, since 2014, undertaken consultancy work with over 60 clients. He is also the founder of the HE postcard series on Wonkhe, and Deputy Chair of the Board of Governors at Birmingham City University. In this episode, Hugh delves into his career background and what it’s like to engage as a consultant. He also reflects more broadly on the HE landscape including the strategic opportunities institutions, as well as how governance needs to change into the future. He additionally offers some top tips for careers in HE professional services, and also shares what motivates him to continue working in the sector. This podcast is kindly sponsored by Ellucian Student powered by Banner. Ellucian Student is the modern AI powered SaaS solution purpose-built for Higer Education, empowering your institution to seamlessly connect people, processes and applications. By choosing Ellucian you choose a winning combination of global and regional expertise. The Association of Higher Education Professionals and the British Universities FInance Directors Group, BUFDG, are both proud to support Job Shadowing HE as a valuable source of professional insight.
About Job Shadowing HE
Job Shadowing HE, presented by Susannah Marsden, sheds some light on the many and varied roles within Higher Education: in universities, in specialist HE institutions as well as in sector bodies that support the national HE infrastructure. It also aims to support people who are thinking about their career paths and who may aspire to a new role now or in the future.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from Job Shadowing HE in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's Job Shadowing HE daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of Job Shadowing HE as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the Job Shadowing HE podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official Job Shadowing HE product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Susannah Marsden.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does Job Shadowing HE release new episodes?
Job Shadowing HE publishes biweekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does Job Shadowing HE cover?
Job Shadowing HE covers topics including Education. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting Job Shadowing HE summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.