Leading with Clarity: How Servant Leadership is Transforming CU Denver

What if the clarity you seek as a leader is already walking the halls of your campus?

In this inspiring episode of Start the Week with Wisdom, co-hosts Bridget Burns and Sarah Custer sit down with Chancellor Kenneth “Ken” Christensen of the University of Colorado Denver, a leader who proves that service, collaboration, and a student-first mindset can transform an entire institution.

Ken shares the unexpected moments that shaped his journey from a first-generation college student in New Mexico to becoming a nationally recognized leader in higher education. From his engineering roots to groundbreaking innovations in access and student success, Ken reveals the values and strategies that are uniting CU Denver’s campus in a time of great complexity.

You’ll hear about his leadership philosophy, the lessons learned from his grandfather, and why walking across campus is his secret to staying grounded. This isn’t just another talk about change in higher ed, it’s a masterclass in clarity, purpose, and courageous transformation.

Five Key Takeaways:

Clarity drives change: In times of uncertainty, leaders must simplify and focus on what matters most, students.

Student-centric leadership works: Reorienting a campus around student success can unite even the most divided stakeholders.

Innovating with access in mind: Ken’s Coursera initiative showed how performance-based admissions can open doors for adult learners.

Ground-level engagement matters: Visibility and relational leadership foster trust and purpose.

Shared mission fuels momentum: When everyone rallies around a single purpose, real collaboration happens.

"If there’s ever a moment for us to find some unity of purpose internally to help drive change, it’s now." - Chancellor Ken Christensen

Don’t keep this wisdom to yourself, subscribe, share the episode with your team, or take 5 minutes today to journal what clarity of purpose means in your own leadership.

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This week's episode is sponsored by Mainstay, a student retention and engagement tool where you can increase student and staff engagement with the only platform consistently proven to boost engagement, retention, and wellbeing. To learn more about Mainstay, click here.