Hey there! I’m Ryan Baltrip, and I’m passionate about helping leaders and organizations discover and deliver value. Currently, I’m an Assistant Professor of Marketing at Old Dominion University, where I get to share my love for marketing and AI with students. I also have the opportunity to contribute to the Loyalty Science Lab as its Associate Director.
Throughout my career, I’ve had the privilege of leading teams and institutions through periods of exciting growth and transformation. Whether it was developing strategic plans that boosted academic quality or spearheading the creation of new academic programs, I’ve always enjoyed the challenge of finding innovative ways to create value. In fact, I’ve been fortunate enough to help create over 50 new academic programs that now generate over $50 million in revenue annually and serve over 40,000 online students through various digital learning initiatives.
Before joining ODU, I was the Dean of the College of Professional Studies at Carson-Newman University. I oversee a wide range of academic programs and enrollment activities. My team and I worked hard to establish a new college, create a strategic plan focused on growth, and develop exciting new graduate and undergraduate online degrees.
I also had the amazing privilege of helping shape the strategic direction of digital learning initiatives at Miami University. Serving out of the Provost Office as the chief online learning officer for the main campus, we launched a variety of successful online, hybrid, and professional development programs while enhancing academic excellence and extending learning innovation. And earlier in my career, I was part of another incredible team at William & Mary where, out of the Provost Office, we cast a vision for and fostered learning innovation and helped expand a variety of online, hybrid, and distance education offerings across the university.
Overall, it’s been a fulfilling journey filled with opportunities to learn, grow, and make an impact. From my seminary days, I came across a quote from the missionary William Carey that said, “Expect great things from God; attempt great things from God.” It kind of captures the essence of my outlook on creativity, business, education, innovation, and life as a whole. Let’s keep moving forward with hope and great expectations!
The Bridge Bible
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AI Insights for Business Leaders: 8/30/2024
In the dynamic landscape of modern business, staying at the forefront of technological innovation is paramount to success. With these AI Insights, I’ll do my best to provide you with actionable insights, thought-provoking perspectives, and the latest AI news to help you harness the power of AI and lead your organization into the future. So, let’s dive in!
1. The End of Generative AI Hype? A Reality Check for Business Leaders
The initial excitement around generative AI may be fading some, but this may actually be a positive development. As the dust settles, a recent article highlights that we’re seeing a shift toward more realistic and sustainable AI adoption strategies. Businesses are recognizing that AI is not a magic bullet. Instead, they […]
AI: The New Co-Founder for Small Businesses? My Take
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, AI is emerging as a powerful tool for small businesses. A recent New York Times article, “How A.I. Can Help Start Small Businesses“, shed light on how generative AI is empowering entrepreneurs to launch and scale their ventures with unprecedented speed and efficiency. I was particularly intrigued by the stories of individuals like Steven Bright, who leveraged ChatGPT to navigate the complexities of starting his company, Skittenz. But overall, having grown up with both my parents being small business owners, the article’s core message resonated with me – AI has the potential to be a game-changer for small businesses seeking to leverage the power of this technology.
While the potential benefits are undeniable, it’s […]
Understanding AI History Teaches Us to Keep Hype-Cycles in Perspective
As of August 2024, almost two years after AI hit the cultural consciousness, it seems the AI-bubble may be starting to take some hits. Recently, Bloomberg News posted an article highlighting that some tech founders and investors are starting to question/wonder about AI’s profitability, etc. etc.
Well, here is case & point on why it’s so important for business leaders to have some basic understanding of the history of AI (or technology, for that matter).
AI, in particular, has gone through periods of rapid progress followed by an “AI Winter,” which is often caused by a lack of what we could call tech capacity (software, hardware limitations, etc.). We often go through hype cycles, and if the […]
Building a Strong Foundation: A University-Wide Learning Technologies Governance Framework
A well-defined governance structure is essential for the successful implementation and oversight of any university’s online learning initiatives. This blog post explores the key components of a university-wide learning technologies governance framework, drawing on the example provided (though it’s important to note that specific titles and reporting structures may vary depending on your institution).
1. The Executive Council: Setting the Strategic Direction
- The Executive Learning Technologies Council provides high-level oversight and strategic direction for the university’s learning technologies.
- This council is likely comprised of senior leaders from various departments across the institution, with a vested interest in online learning.
- Their focus would be on ensuring that the university’s learning technologies strategy aligns with the institution’s overall academic goals.
2. […]
Planning New Professional Education Programs: A Look at Key Considerations
Developing new professional and continuing education (CE) programs requires careful planning and thoughtful consideration of various factors. This post explores some of the key elements you might encounter when reviewing a spreadsheet outlining potential CE program offerings, drawing from the sample data provided (though it’s important to note that specific details will vary depending on your institution and program).
1. Program Options and Considerations
- Program Length: The spreadsheet might show you a range of options for program lengths, from shorter online courses to full-fledged certificate programs.
- Course Formats: The data might include various delivery formats like fully online, blended (online with in-person elements), or on-campus intensives.
- Break-Even Analysis: This analysis would show the minimum number of students required to cover […]
Building an Effective Online Program Marketing Budget for Higher Education
In today’s competitive online learning landscape, a strategic marketing budget is essential for attracting qualified students to your institution’s programs. But where do you begin? This blog post explores the key elements to consider when crafting an online program marketing budget for higher education, drawing on insights from a sample budget.
1. Identifying Your Target Audience
- Program Specific: Tailor your marketing strategy to the unique needs and interests of prospective students for each program.
- Consider Demographics: Age, location, professional background, and interests will all influence how you reach potential students.
2. Marketing Channels
- Organic Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Optimize your program’s webpages to rank higher in search results for relevant keywords. This is an ongoing, cost-effective strategy.
- Paid […]