Hi, friends, and welcome back to the College Essay Guy podcast. This episode is a fireside chat with Angel Pérez, the CEO of NACAC (the National Association for College Admission Counseling), someone who was named by Forbes as the most influential voice in college admissions.

Not long ago, Angel was discussing in an interview his book The Hottest Seat on Campus: A Roadmap for Mastering Leadership in College Admission, and he mentioned that if he could add one more chapter to his book, he'd write it on navigating ambiguity. This is a topic that has interested me for the last couple years as well, so asked Angel if we could just write that chapter aloud, together, on the podcast. And he agreed.

In part one we start in a more personal place, starting from how navigating ambiguity is something we've each been doing since we were very young. Then we chat about what it's been like for Angel leading a non-profit during times of great uncertainty, how crucial it is to make the decision that allows you to sleep at night, and the importance of developing the capacity to sit with discomfort.

Then in part two we get into practical tips and resources — from slowing down when things speed up — to conducting "pre-mortems" when planning. We hope these are tools you can make use of, whether that's in your office, at home, or wherever you are being called to lead.

If you haven't met Angel Pérez, he is CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). In this role, he represents more than 25,000 admission and counseling professionals worldwide committed to postsecondary access and success. Angel strives to build an educational ecosystem that better represents today's society. Prior to joining NACAC in July of 2020, Dr. Pérez served in secondary and higher education leadership positions across America, most recently, as Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success at Trinity College in Connecticut. Angel is a self-described recovered over-achiever, an advocate for counselors everywhere, and a dear friend.

We hope you enjoy the episode.

Play-by-Play:

02:27 – What memories does Angel have around uncertainty and navigating ambiguity?
04:52 – What were some of Angel's anchors growing up, and what did Angel orient around when there was so much uncertainty?
07:41 – How did caretaking show up in Angel's world growing up?
11:07 – How does Angel's childhood caretaker role show up in his work today?
13:44 – What have been the gifts of Angel's ability to read a room?
17:33 – Who were the early influences that put Angel on the path to becoming CEO of NACAC?
21:30 – What was going on behind the scenes for Angel during a moment of great uncertainty in the profession, and what did that experience teach?
26:26 – What helped Angel get through that time of uncertainty?
28:41 – What would Angel have done differently during the first year as CEO of NACAC?
33:56 – How does Angel decide how much to share with a team, and how transparent should a leader be?
36:40 – How does Angel relate to being liked when making big decisions as a leader?
42:06 – How does a leader's identity change as organizations and circumstances evolve?
44:40 – How has Ethan's role evolved as College Essay Guy grew from a team of one to a team of twenty?
50:10 – How does knowing an institution will outlast its leader change what it means to lead?
52:50 – What does Angel hope persists in the organization and the profession long after his tenure?
54:39 – What message does Angel want to leave for leaders?

Resources:

719: Tools for Navigating Ambiguity in Times of Uncertainty: A Conversation with NACAC CEO Angel Perez

The College Essay Guy Podcast: A Practical Guide to College Admissions

719: Tools for Navigating Ambiguity in Times of Uncertainty: A Conversation with NACAC CEO Angel Perez