Universities at the Boundary | Meric Gertler
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Sensemaking and Placemaking.
In June 2025, Meric Gertler completed a 12-year term as President of the University of Toronto.
I had the privilege and good fortune to first meet and work with Meric Gertler in 2007 when he was then the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto. What stood out most was his curious, thoughtful, and deeply empathetic approach to leadership.
Now, 18 years later, I thoroughly enjoyed our "Messy" conversation. A great deal of it explores how sensemaking is a crucial but often unrecognised function of university presidents, involving engaging with communities in all its definitions, interpreting signals, global trends and events to help their institutions understand their role in addressing societal challenges.
We cover lots more ground in our conversation:
• Why sensemaking is a non-delegable responsibility of senior leaders
• How universities build (or lose) legitimacy and public trust
• What higher education truly owes society
• Universities as engines of access, inclusion, and opportunity
• The challenge of fostering real debate & “disagree welling”
• Leading through the pandemic
• Navigating geopolitical disruption and social media fragmentation
• How U of T became a global leader in sustainability
• Lessons about mobilising change in complex systems
• Practical leadership lessons on delegation, listening, and sustaining yourself in demanding roles
This episode is a powerful reflection on leadership at the boundary: between institutions and society, certainty and ambiguity, responsibility and possibility.
If you’re navigating complexity, questioning institutional purpose, or trying to lead with integrity in uncertain times, this conversation will stay with you.
If you like it, please subscribe and share it with a colleague or friend!
In June 2025, Meric Gertler completed a 12-year term as President of the University of Toronto.
I had the privilege and good fortune to first meet and work with Meric Gertler in 2007 when he was then the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science at the University of Toronto. What stood out most was his curious, thoughtful, and deeply empathetic approach to leadership.
Now, 18 years later, I thoroughly enjoyed our "Messy" conversation. A great deal of it explores how sensemaking is a crucial but often unrecognised function of university presidents, involving engaging with communities in all its definitions, interpreting signals, global trends and events to help their institutions understand their role in addressing societal challenges.
We cover lots more ground in our conversation:
• Why sensemaking is a non-delegable responsibility of senior leaders
• How universities build (or lose) legitimacy and public trust
• What higher education truly owes society
• Universities as engines of access, inclusion, and opportunity
• The challenge of fostering real debate & “disagree welling”
• Leading through the pandemic
• Navigating geopolitical disruption and social media fragmentation
• How U of T became a global leader in sustainability
• Lessons about mobilising change in complex systems
• Practical leadership lessons on delegation, listening, and sustaining yourself in demanding roles
This episode is a powerful reflection on leadership at the boundary: between institutions and society, certainty and ambiguity, responsibility and possibility.
If you’re navigating complexity, questioning institutional purpose, or trying to lead with integrity in uncertain times, this conversation will stay with you.
If you like it, please subscribe and share it with a colleague or friend!
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction and the Importance of Sense-Making in Leadership
- 01:07 Gertler's Origin Story and Family Influence
- 03:27 The Formative Impact of Cross-Sector Experience
- 06:51 Defining Sensemaking and Its Critical Role for Leaders
- 07:46 The Hidden Work of Leadership and Global Awareness
- 12:14 Placemaking and Community Building Through Sensemaking
- 14:38 Transforming University Identity Through City-Building
- 17:45 Historical Consistency in University's Societal Role
- 19:03 Universities as Engines of Diversity and Inclusion
- 23:58 What Universities Owe Society: Access and Opportunity
- 26:30 Universities' Responsibility for Effective Debate and Discussion
- 28:30 The Pandemic's Impact on Discourse and Interaction
- 31:46 Universities' Community Engagement Obligations
- 33:53 The Absence of Traditional Strategic Planning at U of T
- 35:11 The Emergence of Sustainability as a Central Priority
- 38:48 Discovering U of T's Massive Carbon Footprint
- 40:08 Creating the Presidential Advisory Committee and Comprehensive Strategy
- 41:45 Sustainability Pathways and Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- 42:45 Remarkable Transformation in Sustainability Rankings and Emissions
- 45:08 Global Interest and Leadership in University Sustainability
- 46:00 Navigating a Decade of Global Change and Uncertainty
- 48:03 Doubling Down on Sensemaking During Crisis
- 50:42 Advice for Future University Presidents: Global Leadership Role
- 52:38 The Expanding Agenda and Need for Self-Reflection
- 54:57 Maintaining Perspective and Energy in Demanding Leadership Roles
- 57:10 Closing Reflections on University Leadership
