About This Episode
In this episode, Ashish Fernando sits down with Bruce Kusch to reflect on his leadership journey across higher education and the lessons that have shaped his career. Drawing from decades of experience working with institutions, Bruce shares insights on mentorship, decision-making, and the evolving responsibilities of leaders in today’s higher ed landscape. He speaks candidly about the role models who influenced him, the moments that defined his path, and how institutions can cultivate leadership that balances tradition with transformation. This conversation offers a thoughtful look at what sustainable leadership means in higher education today and how the next generation of leaders can prepare for what lies ahead.
Host & Guest
Bruce Kusch
GuestBruce C. Kusch, Ph.D., MBA, is the 13th President of Ensign College, a role he has held since April 2017 after serving as the institution’s Chief Academic Officer. An experienced educator and executive, he brings a strong blend of private-sector leadership and academic expertise, along with extensive international experience in Asia and Mexico.
President Kusch began his higher education career at Brigham Young University–Idaho in 2002 as a business management faculty member, later serving as Associate Academic Vice President for Curriculum and Associate Dean of Online Programs. He also served as President of the Mexico Cuernavaca Mission. Prior to academia, he worked as a sales and marketing executive and management consultant for high-technology firms in the San Francisco Bay Area.
He holds a B.S. from University of Phoenix, an MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management, and a Ph.D. in Instructional Design from Idaho State University, where he received the Kole-McGuffey Prize for outstanding doctoral research.
Key Highlights:
1. President, Ensign College (since 2017)
2. Former academic leader at BYU–Idaho
3. 10+ years in higher education leadership
4. Background in high-tech sales, marketing, and strategic management
5. Ph.D. in Instructional Design and MBA
6. International and board-level leadership experience
Ashish Fernando Founder & CEO, EDMO
HostAshish Fernando is the visionary founder and CEO of EDMO, a revolutionary educational technology platform that's transforming how people learn and grow. With over 15 years of experience in education and technology, Ashish has dedicated his career to making quality education accessible to learners worldwide. Before founding EDMO, Ashish held leadership positions at several prominent EdTech companies and worked as an educational consultant for Fortune 500 companies. He holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a Master's in Computer Science from MIT. Ashish is a frequent speaker at educational conferences and has been featured in publications such as EdTech Magazine, Learning & Development Today, and TechCrunch. He's passionate about the intersection of technology and human potential, believing that the right tools can unlock extraordinary learning outcomes for everyone. Under his leadership, EDMO has grown to serve over 100,000 learners globally and has partnerships with leading educational institutions and corporations. Ashish continues to drive innovation in personalized learning, adaptive assessment, and educational analytics.
Key Achievements
1. Founded EDMO in 2019, now serving 100,000+ learners globally
2. Named 'EdTech Innovator of the Year' by Learning Technology Awards 2023
3. Featured speaker at Global Education Summit 2024
4. Published researcher in educational technology and learning analytics
5. Advisor to multiple EdTech startups and educational initiatives
Show Notes
- 1 0:00 – Leaving Silicon Valley for purpose in higher ed
- 2 0:31 – Welcome to Edu Unlocked & President Bruce Kusch
- 3 4:10 – From first-gen student to educator
- 4 6:42 – Finding “home” in Rexburg and BYU–Idaho
- 5 12:05 – Ensign’s mission: capability, faith, and trust
- 6 14:36 – A global campus and student transformation
- 7 21:03 – Ephraim’s journey: from orphan to valedictorian
- 8 27:26 – Mentorship and unlocking student potential
- 9 32:18 – Christmas Lost, Christmas Found
- 10 38:40 – Final reflections on leadership and compassion
Key Quotes
“I realized I wasn’t just changing careers—I was finding my calling.”
“Never underestimate the potential of a student in your care.”
“Education is about helping students see who they can become.”
Resources
Supercharge Your University CRM