Confessions of a Frequent Flyer, another 25,000 miles later

by Claire L. Brady, EdD

Last summer, I wrote a blog about the mechanics of frequent travel—packing cubes, loyalty programs, duplicate toiletries, and the systems that help me reclaim nearly three weeks of my life each year. A year later, those systems are still intact. I still refuse to check a bag. My $39 travel backpack remains one of the best investments I've ever made- and so is my $400 Away carry on luggage. I still unpack the moment I walk into a hotel room. And yes, I still believe duplicate phone chargers are worth every penny.

But another year—and another 25,000 miles—has reminded me that the logistics were never really the point.

Travel has become one of my greatest leadership teachers.

When people hear that I spend so much time on the road, they often imagine airports, hotel rooms, and delayed flights. That's certainly part of it. But what they don't see are the conversations happening around conference tables, over coffee before a retreat begins, or during the walk back from dinner after a long day of strategic planning.

Every campus has different challenges. Every institution has its own culture. Every leadership team is trying to solve a different puzzle.

And yet, after visiting well 100+ colleges and universities through Glass Half Full Consulting, I've been struck by how much they have in common. Leaders everywhere are trying to balance innovation with stability. They're wrestling with limited resources, changing student expectations, workforce challenges, AI, enrollment pressures, and an endless list of competing priorities. They're also deeply committed to their people. That's the part that doesn't make headlines.

I've learned that no campus has everything figured out—but every campus has something worth teaching. One institution has built an extraordinary culture of trust. Another has mastered cross-functional collaboration. A third has found creative ways to support students with limited resources.

Every trip leaves me with ideas I carry to the next campus. That's one of the greatest privileges of consulting. I don't just teach. I get to learn.

Travel has also reminded me that leadership isn't built in keynote sessions. It's built in the conversations before they start. It's the vice president who quietly asks, "Can I run something by you?" The director who lingers after a workshop because they're carrying something heavy. The cabinet member who admits, "We've been struggling with this for years." Those moments don't happen on Zoom. They happen because you're there.

Ironically, the more I travel, the less glamorous travel becomes. Airports are simply offices with better people watching. Hotel rooms become temporary workspaces. Rental cars become places to rehearse tomorrow's opening remarks.

The destination is almost never the point. The people are.

So yes, I'll continue optimizing my packing list and protecting my travel routines. Those habits buy me time, energy, and sanity. But what keeps me saying yes to another flight isn't the points or the upgrades. It's the privilege of spending time with leaders who care deeply about students, about their teams, and about building institutions that matter.

That's a trip worth taking every single time.

I head back out on the road this week for the first of my 2026-27 campus visits- including to my alma mater MSU. Please send good vibes and great travel karma!