Next Stages Next Steps
Hosted by HERS and co-facilitated by Academic Search, Inc., a long-standing partner of HERS and leader in the executive search field, NSNS was created to help women and people who are gender diverse secure executive-level leadership positions in higher education. The latest research by CUPA-HR shows that women hold approximately 30% of executive positions at the nation’s colleges and universities.1 Next Stages Next Steps is our answer to that equity gap.
Land that Executive-Level Leadership Position. Effect Greater Change.
Next Stages Next Steps, Jan 2027
Location:
- Rollins College, Winter Park, FL
Dates & Times:
- January 28 - 31, 2027
- Concludes Sunday, January 31 by noon ET
*All participants are required to stay at the hotel contracted by HERS with check-in by Thursday, January 28, and check-out on Sunday, January 31.
Shortly after the registration deadline, HERS will reach out to the entire group with exact room block details and special discount codes. We guarantee the group rate and room availability. This special rate will be shared with attendees once registration closes. Many of our past participants highly recommend arriving a day early or staying an extra day to fully experience and enjoy everything the location has to offer! Don't miss the opportunity to make the most out of your stay.
Program fee:¹
- 9$2,600*
HERS will be in touch with the full cohort shortly after the payment deadline.
¹ HERS is a nonprofit organization. The Program Fee helps defray our technology and program facilitator expenses, as well as various administrative costs. Please review our GuideStar profile for further information about our financials and nonprofit status.
Please consult our virtual workshop and virtual program series cancellation and refund policy.
DEADLINES:
- Registration Deadline: December 11, 2026
- Payment Deadline: December 18, 2026
Please click here to review our Next Stages, Next Steps Cancellation and Refund Policy.
Event Info
Our career workshop is designed to equip leaders applying to leadership positions with the insight, skills, and practice needed to navigate the often challenging academic search process. To date, we have helped nearly 60% of our participants secure senior leadership roles, with more on the cusp. Join us for our next workshop and get ready to achieve your own career ambitions.
What makes Next Stages Next Steps unique is the cohort of similarly motivated participants you will be joining. Long after the workshop wraps up, alums can tap into their cohort for networking, feedback on job application materials, and inspiration.
Don’t Self-Select out of the Running for a Executive-Level Leadership Position
Don’t fool yourself into believing you’re just not qualified enough for the role. You may have heard the oft-quoted stat that men apply to jobs when they meet 60% of the qualifications, while women only apply when they meet nearly 100% (Hewlett Packard). Academic Search, Inc. says, in their experience, that it’s closer to 40-45% for men and 85-95% for women.² This gap does not reflect a lack of confidence on the part of women, but a misunderstanding of how the hiring process works.
[Women don’t] see the hiring process as one where advocacy, relationships, or a creative approach to framing one’s expertise could overcome not having the skills and experiences outlined in the job qualifications.”
– Tara Mohr of Harvard Business Review³
The Next Stages Next Steps workshop is about mastering the art of positioning yourself as an exceptionally strong candidate, even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications. If you’re ready to take your leadership to the highest level, HERS is excited to provide all the practical knowledge you need to secure that leadership promotion.
¹Bichsel, J., & McChesney, J. (2017, February). Gender Pay Gap in Higher Ed Administration. Retrieved from https://www.cupahr.org/wp-content/uploads/cupahr_research_brief_1.pdf
²Reported promotion statistics are based on exit surveys of all Next Stages Next Steps workshop participants from October 2016–January 2020. The last survey was administered in April of 2020 with an average response rate of 51%.
³Mohr, T. S. (2018, March 2). Why Women Don’t Apply for Jobs Unless They’re 100% Qualified. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2014/08/why-women-dont-apply-for-jobs-unless-theyre-100-qualified
Need more info?
Join us for a free virtual information session to learn more about Next Stages Next Steps (NSNS). Hosted by HERS and co-facilitated by Academic Search, Inc., this info session will help you learn more about the program and see if it’s the right fit for you.
RSVP today to save your spot, and if you can’t attend live, register anyway! We’ll send you the recording.
Curriculum
Leadership search processes are significantly different and more demanding than other hiring processes, not least because they are often conducted by an outside search firm. We have partnered with Academic Search, Inc.—a long-standing partner of HERS and leader in the executive search field—to give workshop participants an insiders’ look at how the leadership search process works, what each leadership role entails, as well as peer and group coaching to ensure their candidacy’s serious consideration.
What participants learn
Gain a clear understanding of the higher ed executive search process from start to finish and feel well-equipped to navigate the process
Who should attend?
Next Stages Next Steps invites leaders who are actively or considering applying to executive-level leadership roles, including deanships, presidencies, vice presidencies, provost roles, and comparable leadership positions at colleges and universities. The ideal candidate for the program has at least 10 years of experience in higher education and is ready to participate in search processes for an executive role typically conducted by outside search firms.
How Next Stages Next Steps supports our mission
One of the barriers to achieving equity in higher education is the executive search process, which can deter or deny opportunities to otherwise qualified candidates who do not know how to position themselves as ready for senior leadership positions. By removing career barriers for women and gender-diverse leaders, HERS drives leadership equity throughout the higher education sector, transforming institutions and the students they serve.