Cross boundaries. Defy odds.
Expert navigation for your leadership journey.
Founder and CEO
First generation college student to college president
Carolyn Stefanco, Ph.D. will help you navigate your leadership journey.
Exploration
Carolyn Stefanco is a woman who has defied the odds in her career and is passionate about helping others explore new professional heights.
Carolyn was inspired by Jeanne Baret, who is recognized as the first woman to circumnavigate the globe. Baret posed as a man and served as a member of the French Navy between 1766 and 1769. She crossed boundaries of gender and geography, and her curious and adventurous spirit helped her to greatly exceed the expectations of her times.
Services
Executive Coaching
Support for accomplished professionals to achieve greater success in current roles
Guide to higher levels of leadership in all sectors
Global Engagement
Perspective and guidance to flourish in the post-COVID world
Partnerships for 21st century global education
Board Development
Strategies for effective leadership in unprecedented times
Advice and introductions to diversify board membership
“Carolyn Stefanco is a passionate educator, an accomplished scholar, an able administrator, and a seasoned leader. She complements these experiences with the skills of an empathetic listener and a clear thinker to provide wise counsel and meaningful feedback to support others in their personal and professional growth.”
— Dr. Rock Jones, President, Ohio Wesleyan University
Endorsements
“As a new college president, I cannot imagine completing my first 100 days without Carolyn as my executive coach. She has been invaluable to me on this journey.”
—Dr. Susanna Baxter, President, LaGrange College
“Carolyn is very gifted in her approach toward problem solving, and truly supports and helps to advance those for whom she serves as an executive coach.”
—Dr. Gretchel L. Hathaway, Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Franklin and Marshall College
“Carolyn is a champion of effective governance, diversity initiatives and recruitment efforts to expand membership of our association beyond North America.”
—Dr. Cynthia Cherrey, President & CEO, International Leadership Association
Helen Gurley Brown Foundation Genius Award Recipient
In recognition of Dr. Stefanco’s “visionary leadership” in higher education and “inspiring and transformative work”
“We are equally impressed with your dedication to ensuring that Saint Rose keeps up to date with our increasingly global and interconnected world, which has already resulted in several partnerships with institutions abroad and the creation of a new Center for International Programs. Your professional career has taken you across the country, and we firmly believe that you understand the unique challenges faced by different segments of our country when it comes to accessing higher education.”
Thought Leadership
President Speaks: Creating leadership pathways for women in higher ed
As a woman president, I have an amazing platform to help today's women students become tomorrow's higher education leaders, and to participate in national efforts to advance women's equality, such as the American Council on Education's Moving the Needle initiative.
Reimagining international student recruitment in the age of COVID-19
International student enrollment has been challenged since well before the COVID-19 global pandemic brought the traditional higher education recruitment cycle to a halt in mid-March.