HeyJaredROI University: A Higher Ed Marketing Show
ROI University is the podcast for higher-ed marketers ready to lead meaningful change. Hosted by Rustam Irani, this solo series helps you unlock higher enrollment, deeper student connection, and the internal clarity to do your boldest work.
- Indexed episodes, last 90 days
- 7
- Latest publication
- Sep 23, 2026
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- Earliest in this view
- Jul 7, 2026
Latest episodes
Is the Marketing Funnel Dead? Trust, Creators, and AI in Higher Ed Marketing (opens the original)
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The marketing funnel isn't dead — it's just getting renamed. In this episode we dig into how discovery is fragmenting across new channels while the buyer journey still moves through familiar stages, and why trust, creators, and real student stories increasingly shape how people choose a program. We also look at how marketing doesn't stop at enrollment (advocacy extends the whole lifecycle), and get practical about using AI tools like ChatGPT and Claude for reporting and data analysis — with the
One Source of Truth: Aligning Marketing and Admissions on the Numbers That Matter (opens the original)
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Why do marketing and admissions rarely agree on the numbers — and which view should actually drive the budget? In this episode we unpack the two valid lenses on enrollment performance (cohort vs. period reporting), why source-level tracking and speed are non-negotiable in modern enrollment marketing, and how attribution gets even messier in the LLM era. We also walk through Pennant as a shared reporting layer that stitches CRM, ad spend, and campaign data together — with a live example of how th
Reddit's ChatGPT Citation Drop: What It Means for Higher Ed (opens the original)
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Need marketing help? Visit: https://www.rgiconsulting.net/ Marketing Dashboard: https://www.pennantdash.com/ A recent report showed a sharp drop in ChatGPT citing Reddit — and for higher-ed marketers, that shift raises real questions about where discovery is happening and how to invest. In this episode we unpack what the citation drop likely means for source selection inside LLMs, whether Reddit still deserves a seat at the higher-ed marketing table, and how schools should actually be using the
Introducing Co-Host Chris Sheppard: AI, Higher Ed Marketing, and the Launch of Pennant (opens the original)
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In this episode, Rustam Irani introduces Chris Sheppard as the new co-host of ROI University and shares how the show is evolving into a more conversational exploration of marketing, data, analytics, AI, and innovation in higher education. Rustam and Chris discuss why human storytelling matters even more as AI-generated content becomes commonplace, including a standout piece of direct mail from Macalester College that broke through the noise. They also introduce Pennant, a new venture they co-fou
The Hidden 20% (opens the original)
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Affiliate and directory sites are often dismissed by higher ed marketers — but should they be? In this episode we unpack why these channels have historically driven meaningful traffic for schools, what tracking data reveals about their real influence on inquiries and enrollment, and why performance-pressured marketers tend to overlook them. We walk through what modern affiliate and directory partnerships actually look like in practice, how prospective students use these sites during their resear
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