🎤 Quotable Quote
“You have to earn the right to have those conversations.”
— Jason Van Nus
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🎧 This Week’s Guest: Jason Van Nus
Jason Van Nus calls himself a "gentle disruptor."
We think that's about right.
As the CEO of the new WIN Regional College and Career Academy, Jason isn't trying to throw out education.
He's trying to make it work better.
His belief is simple:
High school students aren't a workforce problem to solve someday.
They're a workforce solution today.
Too often, schools prepare students to pass tests. Jason wants students prepared to walk into a room, introduce themselves, explain their value, and leave with an opportunity.
Because technical skills may get you the interview.
But confidence gets you remembered.
💥 Leadership Rule of the Week
Earn the right to have hard conversations.
Jason believes servant leadership isn't about avoiding difficult conversations.
It's about building enough trust that people know those conversations come from a place of respect.
Whether you're coaching an employee, mentoring a student, or leading a team, honesty only works when people know you're on their side.
Leadership isn't about being nice.
It's about caring enough to tell the truth.
💡 Other Topics We Loved
• Why Jason proudly calls himself a "gentle disruptor"
• The difference between Career & Technical Education and elective classes
• How rural schools can expand opportunities through regional partnerships
• Why industry should invest in building tomorrow's workforce today
• The surprising success of the Reverse Career Fair
• Why students need opportunities to become comfortable being uncomfortable
One of our favorite stories?
Jason flipped the traditional career fair upside down.
Instead of employers sitting behind tables waiting for students to approach...
The students became the exhibitors. They built booths. They practiced telling their stories. They learned to explain their skills.
And employers walked the room asking questions.
The result?
Students gained confidence.
Employers stayed longer than expected.
And conversations became real instead of transactional.
Sometimes innovation isn't inventing something new.
It's simply flipping the room.
📺 Learn More
💼 Connect with Jason on LinkedIn
🏫 Learn more about WIN Regional College and Career Academy and their work expanding youth apprenticeships, work-based learning, and regional career pathways.
More leadership musings
🍪 Biscuits with the Boss:
Ask your team:
When was the last time you intentionally put yourself in an uncomfortable situation because you knew it would help you grow?
Then ask:
Are we creating enough safe opportunities for the people we lead to fail, learn, and try again?
Growth rarely happens inside our comfort zone.
🌎 This week in Here - There - Every F’ing where
"Everything will work out. It might not work out the way you expected, but it will work out." Ted couldn't be more right. We were expecting to head to the EduGrowth conference in California, but a broken ankle gave us a different plan. (He'll be ready for our next stop - Kansas City!)
Believe!
Nick & Marnie
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