2023 New Business Officers (NBO) Program

You’re a new chief business officer—so now what? Many first-time CBOs find that there are items in their portfolios that they are not familiar with. Others may have ascended from one of the functions that now reports to them in this new role. How does one “let go?” Who are key partners who will help you be successful? In this session, seasoned business officers will share what was missing from their “toolkits” when they started and how they dealt with the unexpected. Successes and learning opportunities will also be explored when participants break into groups to discuss their major challenges or surprises on the job thus far.

CBOs must have strong relationships with, and an understanding of, the challenges faced by colleagues on the president’s cabinet. These partnerships are crucial for your success as a business officer, the success of your institution, and ultimately the success of its students. How do you resolve disagreements and prevent future conflicts? Hear from other members of the cabinet on what they need from CBOs and walk away with a better understanding of how you can be a successful partner.

CBOs have a unique relationship with their presidents and boards. For many new CBOs, this may be their first time working with a board of directors and experiences can vary between public and private institutions. Panelists will share how to efficiently communicate information to boards and presidents. Additionally, the panel will examine how CBOs can work with the president and other senior staff to enable business model discussions and institutional strategic planning. Explore how to make these relationships more effective and mutually supportive. 

One of the common “blind spots” for a new CBO is the facilities operation at their campus. Experts will speak about critical areas that chief business officers must know about facilities operations, such as capital planning, key metrics, space myths, and sustainability issues. How much are your buildings costing you? What is the ”health” profile of your facilities and utilities infrastructure? Understanding industry standards and best practices will help you become a more effective CBO.

The relationship between the chief academic officer and the chief business officer has become even more critical to ensure effective leadership of colleges and universities. The CAO and CBO—together—must develop and execute a clear strategy, align priorities and resources, and innovate. Hear from CBOs and provosts on how they have focused on student success and the economic challenges facing their institutions. 

Business officers’ jobs have become more complex in recent years; in addition to being responsible for their institution’s financial health, business officers have a critical role in supporting institutional outcomes. Understanding how to leverage data—financial data as well as other types of data—can help business officers make more evidence-based decisions for their colleges and universities.

What happens when you return to your campus? Which issues do you tackle first? Alumni from recent years will share how they put what they learned at NBO to use on their campuses. Participants will gather in small groups to discuss their plans for action.