The Power of Radical Collaboration: A Holistic Approach to Corporate Partnerships
This session will explore how Vanderbilt University created a holistic model for strategic corporate engagement that is needs-based, mission-aligned, and enterprise in scope. Radical collaboration and an empowered team have enabled a new level of coordination across the myriad opportunities for corporate collaboration, encompassing philanthropy, student engagement, recruitment, employee training, technology transfer, R&D and innovation acceleration, procurement and business engagement, athletics, sponsorships, and so much more. Presenters will share the strategies leveraged to foster cross-campus coordination and meet the evolving needs of corporate partners. Key attributes of the Vanderbilt model are a concierge approach, account management of strategic relationships, collaboration accelerator events to catalyze engagement, a campuswide advisory team, a shared CRM and templated reports for enhanced communication, annual awards and recognition, and more. Through real-world examples, transferable concepts, and interactive discussion, participants will gain ideas for breaking down internal silos, engaging corporate partners, and building robust sustainable relationships. Whether you're looking to scale your efforts, enhance collaboration, or just hear about a different approach, this session will offer practical insights, discussion, and takeaways.