ALP: The Admissions Leadership Podcast

Rick Bailey on the importance of coherence, relevance, and organizing your work around your core values

Ken Anselment Season 8 Episode 7

Richard Harrison Bailey—the RHB behind RHB—joins the ALP to discuss the principle of Coherence; the virtuous cycle of relevance, relationships and revenue for colleges; the difference between market position and brand; and how the values of truth, beauty, love and justice animate the core values and, to this day, guide the work of the firm he and his business partner (and spouse), Tammy Bailey, formed in 1991. 

Rapid Descent

  1. Walkout song: Carmina Burana: I. O Fortuna
  2. Best recent read: Yale Needs Women by Anne Gardiner Perkins
  3. Eager to read next: Who Killed Truth? A History of Evidence by Jill Lepore
  4. Podcast: IngenioUs with Melissa Morriss-Olson
  5. Favorite thing to make in the kitchen:  A completely improvised birthday meal for his kids. If you’ve let go of passion in the kitchen, you’ve lost the meal.
  6. For notes: I’m a pencil person, currently using a Zebra #2 pencil with retractable lead.and Blackwing pencil.
  7. Memorable bit of advice: From David C. Baker: “Narrow does not equal small.” The more narrow you become in your position, the deeper you will be able to go in your expertise. And the deeper you are in your expertise, the more you will know, and the more you will bypass or surpass the competition.
  8. Bucket list: Open a little bar on the coast of Spain and serve Rioja. I'll have about 3 customers who are always there.


The ALP is supported by RHB. Music arranged by Ryan Anselment