Align Strategy and Investments to Drive
Institutional Success
Kari Branjord
Vice President, Strategic Portfolio Management Practice Lead
kari@higher.digital
Bio
“Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) is about rapid yet informed decision making that brings the institution along with it, incorporating change management principles as necessary. This is about setting our beloved industry of higher ed up to thrive in this new world order.”
Colleen Baker
Co-Founder & Chief Operations Officer
colleen@higher.digital
Bio
Blog | White Paper | Webinar
33%
More Likely to Succeed
Institutions using portfolio management practices are 38% more likely to achieve their strategic objectives (Source: PMI)
Drive alignment. Unlock potential.
25%
Faster Decision-Making
Higher education leaders cut decision-making time by 25% with integrated data and project management tools. (Source: EDUCAUSE)
Simplify complexity. Achieve student-centered success.
20%
More Efficient Resource Allocations
Organizations using portfolio management software improve resource allocation efficiency by up to 20%. (Source: Gartner)
Make every initiative count. Focus on students.
What is Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM)?
Higher Digital’s Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) approach provides a structured framework to help institutions align, prioritize, execute, and optimize strategic initiatives for lasting impact.
Supported by (SEA)results, our purpose-built solution that brings SPM to life and weaves itself into your operating cadence, you will have instant access to your portfolio health, be able to gather input from the campus community, and take the emotion out of decision-making.
Because we understand institutional culture, we focus on the operational element of SPM as well as the people impact with our built for higher education enterprise change management approach.
With SPM, higher education leaders can confidently harness the power of their community, drive transformation, allocate resources effectively, and achieve measurable success.
Campus-Wide Engagement through SPM:
- empowers presidents and cabinet members to align investments with strategic goals, ensuring every initiative supports the institution’s long-term vision and mission
- equips CIOs and IT leaders with tools to align technology investments with institutional goals, ensuring measurable success in digital transformation initiatives
- supports Portfolio Management Office (PMO) leaders in aligning project portfolios with institutional goals, ensuring resources are allocated to the most impactful initiatives.
- offers faculty and staff increased transparency and engagement in strategic initiatives that directly impact student and institutional success.
Embrace Strategic Portfolio Management with Higher Digital
Ensure every initiative, investment, and resource directly supports your institution’s long-term vision and mission.
Is your institution struggling to prioritize and execute strategic initiatives?
If competing priorities, limited resources, or a lack of visibility are slowing your institution’s progress, you’re not alone. Many higher education leaders face challenges such as:
- Unclear strategic priorities leading to stalled or misaligned initiatives.
- Limited visibility into project performance, making it difficult to measure impact.
- Inefficient resource allocation that delays key initiatives and strains budgets.
- Siloed decision-making that prevents cross-functional collaboration and innovation.
- Difficulty adapting to change, leaving institutions unprepared for evolving student and institutional needs.
Higher Digital’s Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) framework helps institutions break down these barriers, align investments with strategic goals, and drive sustainable transformation.