Let’s talk tactics!

Host Brian Piper sits down with Dayana Kibilds, VP of Strategy at Ologie, to explore AI’s growing role in email marketing campaigns. Dayana shares why AI was a driving force behind her book, Mailed It, and how institutions can use AI effectively — without sacrificing strategy or authenticity. She also discusses the challenges of training AI models, the evolution of custom GPTs, and the persistent stigma around AI in higher ed.

In this episode, we get tactical about what actually works in email marketing for enrollment, advancement, and alumni engagement. From crafting subject lines that get clicks to making emails feel more personal (without being creepy), Ashley and Dayana share practical, real-world strategies to improve open rates, engagement, and conversions.

In this episode, Ashley (Cornell's Advancement Marketing Sr. Director) and Day (VP of Strategy at Ologie) share rare insights into their remarkable higher education marketing careers. Discover how this self-described "package deal" transformed from colleagues to collaborators, breaking rules and creating opportunities within established institutions.

On the Education Marketing Leader podcast, we covered why email should feel more like a coffee chat than a billboard, how AI is reshaping deliverability, and why it’s time to ditch the “email blast” mindset. Plus, we broke down reader behavior, subject line best practices, and the real story behind open rates.

An illuminating conversation with Dayana Kibilds, co-author of Mailed It!: A Guide to Crafting Emails that Build Relationships and Get Results. Join us as Dayana breaks down the secrets of effective email communication and shares practical strategies for crafting messages that truly resonate with student audiences. Get ready for a masterclass in email marketing!

In this episode, Jaime and Day Kibilds, VP for Strategy at Ologie, explore Ologie’s study on the parents of Gen Alpha, exploring the implications for higher education marketers and institutions. This episode examines the defining traits of Gen Alpha, the pivotal role of technology in their lives, and the profound impact of their parents on their educational choices.

In this bonus edition of The Pulse, Mallory is joined by Dayana Kibilds, host of Talking Tactics and VP at Ologie, and Ashley Budd, Senior Marketing Director at Cornell University, to discuss their new book, "Mailed It." They explore the vital role of email marketing in higher education, share practical insights on building trust and empathy with subscribers, and provide actionable tips for creating engaging email content that gets results.

In this episode, Ashley and Dayana discuss their new book "Mailed It" and share insights on effective email marketing strategies for higher education. They provide practical tips on crafting emails that engage readers and drive results.

Day shares her American visa story, her search for a higher ed job as an immigrant, and how colleges and universities can invest in a better talent experience for international faculty and staff.

Dayana Kibilds gives her personal and professional perspectives on navigating international recruitment. As a former international student and staff, and now advising institutions on best practices in enrollment marketing.

In this episode, you’ll hear from Ashley Budd (Cornell University) and Dayana Kibilds (Ologie). Ashley and Day are a powerhouse of knowledge and enthusiasm about email marketing and optimization. They’ll take you through some of what they learned and how you can make use of it.

February 2024

Day joins Dustin to reflect on her amazing inaugural season of Talking Tactics and discuss what is to come in the year ahead. She also talks about her work at Ologie and teases her upcoming book all about email.

January 2024

From Mexico to Germany, Day’s career and homes have spanned the globe. And in this episode, we chat about them all. We’ll talk about making deliberate career choices and how she once left her job without a plan, how email is the ugly duckling of any communications or marketing mix, how her podcast Talking Tactics fills the gap she saw in higher ed, and a bit about how she is utilizing LinkedIn these days.

January 2024

Day’s experience as an international student who had difficulties enrolling in a U.S.-based university, combined with her extensive background as an admissions professional, qualifies her to illuminate the challenges many students face, particularly those unfamiliar with academic jargon. Day emphasized the need for empathy in the application process, advocating for simplicity over complexity in web content.

July 2023

Ashley and Day are co-authors of a new book that is forthcoming about emails. Writing effective emails that people actually want to read and respond to and take action from. If you’ve ever wanted to know how to optimize your institution’s email newsletter to alumni, or emails to prospective students… and how to meet those people where they’re at with empathy and personality and clarity… You’ve come to the right place.

June 2023

Here’s the thing… true success in enrollment is a combination of consistent, focused, manageable efforts. And that is what this podcast is all about: Talking Tactics!

April 2023

In this episode we speak to Dayana Kibilds, Strategy Director at Ologie, about different barriers to higher education beyond sheer cost and into areas of communication. How hard is it to even know how to apply if you don't read at a graduate level already? We get into the very assumptions baked into higher ed, why it isn't always a great idea to emulate the big players in a space, and how major demographic shifts should also be shifting our approach to recruiting students yet somehow...aren't.

February 2023

Join Day and Allison as they explore the impact of higher education marketing on equity and access. Get actionable tips to improve your marketing strategy and make information about college more accessible. Spoiler alert: Day and Allison also give permission to do something that every higher ed marketer secretly wants to do (you’ll have to listen to find out what!).

September 2022

Dr. Liz Gross from Campus Sonar and Dayana Kibilds from Ologie discuss how institutions can identify and remedy the pain points in the Admissions process for prospective students and families.

July 2022

As content strategists and designers we do our best to create experiences that inform and empower our users. Unfortunately, we sometimes fall short of perfect, human-centered, user-focused design practice. Two of our most common failings occur when we bombard our users with excessive cognitive load and impose on them unnecessary emotional labor. David Dylan Thomas and Dayana Kibilds are having an ongoing dialog about these important topics and let me eavesdrop on their conversation.