--- title: Mickey Baines - Home of Spark & Scale description: Higher-ed advisor, host of the Spark & Scale podcast, and Senior Vice President at Human Capital Education. Subscribe for ideas and concepts for growth. --- [Skip to content](https://www.mickeybaines.com#main-content) ![](https://www.mickeybaines.com/hs-fs/hubfs/spark-scale-cover-1.png?width=500&height=500&name=spark-scale-cover-1.png)Homepage - Home - Products - Pricing - Blog - Company Get started - Home - Products - Pricing - Blog - Company Get started [ Mickey Baines](https://www.mickeybaines.com#top) [About](https://www.mickeybaines.com#about)[Podcast](https://www.mickeybaines.com#podcast)[Speaking](https://www.mickeybaines.com#speaking)[What I Do](https://www.mickeybaines.com#what)[Contact](https://www.mickeybaines.com#contact) [Subscribe](https://www.mickeybaines.com#subscribe)  Higher ed advisor · Speaker · Host Hello, I'm Mickey. I work at the intersection of **AI**, strategy, and technology, helping institutions and organizations rethink how work gets done and find smarter, simpler ways to move forward. [Grow with me →](https://www.mickeybaines.com#subscribe)[Listen to the podcast](https://www.mickeybaines.com#podcast) ![Mickey Baines](https://www.mickeybaines.com/hubfs/mickey-headshot%20from%20web.png)  What I Do Three ways I show up. A consultant and advisor, a speaker, and a dad — I share what I'm learning across all three, in short episodes, conversations and shorter reads.   Advise I partner with leaders in higher ed and ed tech on enrollment strategy, org transformation, and the tools underneath. Serving 225+ institutions to date.   Host Spark & Scale, the podcast — conversations with the people building the future of higher ed and the tools inside it. On the EdUp Network.   Speak Keynotes and workshops on growth, org design, and bridging the gap between people and **AI**. Invite me to your event. ![Spark & Scale podcast cover](https://www.mickeybaines.com/hubfs/spark-scale-cover.png) The Podcast Ideas & concepts for growth. Conversations with the people building the future of higher ed and the tools inside it. 25–35 minute episodes. Listen, or watch — your call. [Listen on Spotify →](https://open.spotify.com/show/2G0nhzbmFso7APOxPgP5BY?si=e82193b139444338)[Watch on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@SparkandScalePodcast) Listen on:[Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/2G0nhzbmFso7APOxPgP5BY?si=e82193b139444338)[YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@SparkandScalePodcast)  Speaking Invite me to your event. Keynotes and workshops on enrollment growth, org transformation, and the human side of AI adoption in higher ed. I love speaking to teams who want to actually try something on Monday. [Book Mickey to speak →](https://www.mickeybaines.com#contact)  Find me out on the road - Jul CollegeVine Commons New York City - Aug The Vineyard Nashville - Sep Leadership Forum Private event - Oct Leadership in AI Workshop Virtual  Subscribe Ideas for growth, in your inbox. Podcast episodes and a short read, together. One address. Unsubscribe anytime.   Free•No spam, ever•Unsubscribe anytime ![Mickey Baines presenting live on stage](https://www.mickeybaines.com/hubfs/mickey-on-stage.png) About Mickey A little about me. The way work gets done in higher education is changing quickly, and I spend a lot of time working to understand what that really means. Much of my work today sits at the intersection of **AI**, enrollment strategy, technology, and operations. I'm focused on how institutions move beyond experimenting with new tools and begin rethinking the work itself — how decisions are made, how teams spend their time, where technology creates real value, and where it simply adds more complexity. That perspective comes from experience on both sides of the table. I spent **12 years** as a higher-ed practitioner before moving into consulting, where I've spent the past **15 years** working with institutions on enrollment strategy, CRM, technology, operations, and growth. Today, I serve as **Senior Vice President at Human Capital Education**, following the acquisition of Kennedy & Company. The role gives me a broader platform to keep building on that work — particularly around AI, technology strategy, new services, and the ways institutions can work smarter as the landscape continues to change. What keeps me energized is the work itself: solving hard problems, challenging assumptions, and finding simpler, more effective ways to move important ideas forward. 15 yrs Consulting in higher ed 12 yrs As a higher-ed practitioner  Get in Touch Let's talk. Advising, speaking, or just to say hello — send a note and I'll get back to you.   Or reach out directly: [mickey@mickeybaines.com](mailto:mickey@mickeybaines.com)[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/mickeyb/)  Mickey Baines [What I Do](https://www.mickeybaines.com#what)[Podcast](https://www.mickeybaines.com#podcast)[Speaking](https://www.mickeybaines.com#speaking)[Subscribe](https://www.mickeybaines.com#subscribe)[About](https://www.mickeybaines.com#about)[Contact](https://www.mickeybaines.com#contact) © 2026 Mickey Baines - Home - Products - Pricing - Blog - Company --- Privacy Policy · Legal · © 2026. All rights reserved.