Dr. Anthony Lee, President and CEO of Westcliff University, and Matt Zaun discuss the founding of Westcliff University and Dr. Lee's leadership skills. They cover topics like taking over a university, the power of perseverance, and innovative approaches to supporting international students.
Strategic storytelling can be applied to leadership, sales, and marketing to influence and engage others.
Hiring the right staff, pursuing accreditation, and focusing on the mission of making quality education accessible were key steps in Westcliff University's success.
Deep dives
The Power of Storytelling
Stories have the ability to cut through the noise and make an impact. They provide a way to convey messages effectively in a world filled with constant messages and distractions. Strategic storytelling can be applied to various areas such as leadership, sales, and marketing to influence and engage others.
Scaling Innovation and Leadership
Dr. Anthony Lee, the president and CEO of West Clif University, discusses his journey of taking the university from its inception to its current success of having 6,000 students. Key steps included hiring the right staff, pursuing accreditation, and focusing on the mission of making quality education affordable and accessible to students worldwide.
Maintaining Focus and Humility
Dr. Lee emphasizes the importance of staying grounded and focused on the immediate tasks while working towards long-term goals. He draws inspiration from the analogy of a marathon, breaking down the journey into milestones and celebrating each achievement. Dr. Lee attributes his humility to his upbringing, influenced by his immigrant father's perseverance and his own experiences in athletics.
SUMMARY: In this episode, Dr. Anthony Lee and Matt Zaun talk about the founding of Westcliff University and where Dr. Lee learned his leadership skills.
DR. ANTHONY LEE BIO: Dr. Lee is the President and CEO of Westcliff University and has led the institution through incredible growth for the last 16 years. Under his leadership, Westcliff’s colleges have experienced commendable progress as they continue to welcome some of their strongest and largest incoming classes.
As a distinguished leader with a demonstrated history of excellence, Dr. Lee plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of higher education. His outstanding educational background has significantly influenced his visionary outlook: He holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership specializing in higher education administration from the prestigious University of Southern California Rossier School of Education. Additionally, he possesses a Master of Business Administration from the University of California, Los Angeles Anderson School of Management, where he focused on strategy and entrepreneurship. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics from the University of California, Irvine.
Dr. Lee is in high demand as a nationwide speaker at conferences and seminars and is a two-time nominee for the esteemed Orange County Business Journal Innovator of the Year award.
His leadership has profoundly impacted students and faculty worldwide, solidifying Westcliff’s status as a global higher education leader. His unwavering commitment to fostering equitable access to education for all exemplifies his philanthropic spirit and deep dedication to community engagement.
MATT ZAUN BIO: Matt is an award-winning speaker and storyteller who empowers organizations to attract more clients through the art of strategic storytelling. Matt’s past engagements have catalyzed radical sales increases for over 300 organizations that range from financial institutions to the health and wellness industry.
Matt shares his expertise in persuasion with executives, sales professionals, and entrepreneurs, who he coaches on the art of influence and how to leverage this for profits and impact.