Episode Details

LeAnn Hughes, Senior VP of Enrollment & Marketing at Valparaiso University, shares how she built a human-centered leadership philosophy after losing her father at 15 — and how that personal journey shapes the way she leads teams, reaches people in need, and navigates the tension between technology and genuine human connection. 

In this conversation, you'll learn: 

✅ The "high touch, high tech" framework for reaching more people without losing the personal relationship that makes them stay 

✅ Why communicating that resources exist isn't enough — and what proactive, "intrusive" outreach actually looks like in practice 

✅ How to lead with humility and confidence at the same time — and why the leaders who do both build the most loyal, resilient teams This episode is for mission-driven leaders who believe that the people they serve deserve to feel seen — and who are trying to scale that feeling without losing it. 

👤 ABOUT LEANN HUGHES: 

LeAnn Hughes is the Senior VP of Enrollment & Marketing at Valparaiso University, where she leads strategic enrollment management and communications for a nationally recognized liberal arts institution. With a career spanning higher education, chambers of commerce, and corporate training, LeAnn has spent over 25 years mastering the art of reaching people at the moment they need guidance most. She rose from Marketing Director to VP of Enrollment Management at her prior institution over 12 years before joining Valparaiso — and she brings a human-first philosophy to every strategic decision she makes. 

🔗 Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leann-hughes-1268b114/ 

🔗 Organization Website: https://www.valpo.edu 

🎙️ ABOUT HART & HUSTLE: 

Hart & Hustle brings you weekly conversations with mission-driven leaders solving real problems in healthcare, education, and community services. Every week, host Efrain Lozada sits down with nonprofit executives, operations directors, and innovators to uncover practical strategies you can implement in your organization. Subscribe for weekly insights on nonprofit leadership, operations, and scaling mission impact. 

🔗 CONNECT WITH US: 

FRANSiS™ Website: https://fransis.ai 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fromfransis 

#MissionDrivenLeadership #NonprofitLeadership #HighTouchHighTech