Episode 128-Dr. Martha Saunders on Preparing the Workforce of the Future-Building My Legacy with Loi

Welcome to Episode 128 of Building My Legacy.

In this podcast, we talk with Dr. Martha Saunders, president of the University of West Florida, about the need for innovation in education to prepare college graduates to fill the jobs of the future. Dr. Saunders shares with us how the University of Florida, by being the most agile of the Florida state universities, has been recognized as one of the country’s best colleges to work for, has become a model for their student offerings and, in her words, is “the university of the next big thing.” By leveraging regional resources and listening — to staff members, students and people on the outside — Dr. Saunders and her team have developed innovative programs that have been recognized across the country.

Dr. Saunders explains that the University is focused on “a strong handoff” to the next level of their graduates’ lives. Innovation like this is a requirement if we are to build the workforce of tomorrow — the employees who will help your organization succeed in the future.

So if you want to know:

– The real value of a college degree
– How a “frontier spirit” can empower employees to make decisions
– Why professional development should be more than conferences and meetings
– Where you should look for ideas — even if they’re “pie in the sky”
– Why inclusion matters


About Dr. Martha Saunders

The sixth president of the University of West Florida, Dr. Martha Saunders has more than 30 years’ experience in higher education, having served in academic and leadership roles at universities in Florida, Georgia, Wisconsin and Mississippi. Her area of academic expertise is in public relations and crisis communication for which she has won numerous awards, including two Public Relations Society of America’s coveted Silver Anvils. As an entrepreneurial leader, Dr. Saunders is passionate about creating innovative solutions to deal with the dynamic challenges facing higher education.