---
title: Mickey Baines | Clarity, strategy and the path to get there
description: Mickey Baines helps higher ed leaders clarify the outcome they want, align it to strategic priorities and design the path that will get them there.
---

[Mickey Baines](https://www.mickeybaines.com/?hsLang=en)

[The Book](https://www.mickeybaines.com#book)[Writing](https://www.mickeybaines.com#writing)[Podcast](https://www.mickeybaines.com#podcast)[Speaking & Consulting](https://www.mickeybaines.com#speaking)About

![Mickey Baines, laughing](https://www.mickeybaines.com/hubfs/Website%20Images%20and%20Graphics%20(Plum%20Site)/MB-Headshot-cutout-for-plum.png)

# What*outcomes* areyou tryingto achieve?

I help you clarify and align your answer to strategic priorities and then design the path that will get you there.

[Here’s how](https://www.mickeybaines.com#book)

The Book

## From Here to There

What it takes to lead a transformative effort

This book walks you through understanding exactly what a transformation is and entails, and gives you the framework for what you need to lead one yourself.

Explore the book →

Here There

Writing

“

## Just implement best practices.

What this sentence costs, and why AI is making it expensive.

The sentence I hear most often these days is, “Let’s implement AI now.” I always ask the same thing back. “Great. What use case do you have in mind?”

Coming December 2026All writing →

The Podcast

> “There’s a very real student journey that exists that we all show up to deliver on.”

Zack Perkins, co-founder and CEO of CollegeVine

- [**The Use Case No Other Higher Ed Leader Has Shared With Me**Allison Turcio, Siena University](https://youtu.be/PpJ5NfT4_aI)
- [**Enrollment Grew 55%. The Team Didn’t. Here’s How AI Closed the Gap**Steve Ostendorff, Molloy University](https://youtu.be/moMo-EuBjf8)

[All episodes →](https://www.youtube.com/@SparkandScalePodcast)

![Spark & Scale](data:image/webp;base64,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)

Speaking & Consulting

## Would you like your team to see the future a little more clearly?

I connect with audiences of every size, from a conference keynote to a small leadership group, to inspire and motivate them toward an AI-driven transformation that fits who they are, where they are.

[Start a conversation →](https://www.mickeybaines.com/speaking-consulting#start-a-conversation)

Where I’ve been and where I’m headed

- Nov 3**Build It Yourself**California State University, Chico
- Nov 5**Setting AI Priorities with CollegeVine**Private event
- Nov 12**Using AI to Find What Drives Campaigns**GURU 2026
- Dec**AI Dashboards for Higher Education**Webinar · Date TBD

Mickey Baines

© 2026 Mickey Baines · [Privacy](https://www.mickeybaines.com/privacy?hsLang=en)