From Reinvention to Refinement
For years, Chriztopher Johnson ran orientation like a startup. New team. New rules. Constant rebuild. But last summer, something changed. The program — renamed First Flight — was finally in a place to grow instead of start over.
“We were a one-story program, and now we’re a skyscraper. This year, I get to polish instead of rebuild.”
Chriztopher shares how rebranding orientation gave him the platform to finally stop reinventing and start refining.
Orientation Is How You Deliver Students to Day One
The goal isn’t to wow students. It’s to support them. Chriztopher shifted his philosophy from “figure it out” to “we’ve got you.”
“Our students don’t need to prove they’re ready. They need to know we’re ready for them.”
Chriztopher reframes orientation as a delivery system — not a gatekeeping event.
Buy-In Buys You Time
Last year, decisions were still being made in May. This year, thanks to early cross-campus commitment, Chriztopher had space to think, design, and lead.
“You create time by preparing early. I started sketching ideas in September and brought my team in by November.”
How early preparation and partner alignment turned chaos into clarity — and created room for innovation.
Your Team Is Your Culture
Orientation is not a solo act — it’s a team story. Chriztopher builds teams with intention, seeking energy, communication strengths, and cross-skill synergy.
“You don’t need to shine the most. You need people who can do what you can’t.”
Why recruiting for complementarity — not conformity — builds stronger, more dynamic programs.
Leadership Means Showing Up — Every Week
Weekly 1:1s. Biweekly team meetings. A whiteboard with three goals per day. Chriztopher doesn’t just “check in.” He builds rhythm, resilience, and trust.
“When you stop showing up, people notice. And when you do show up — regularly — they start shining.”
Chriztopher shares how meeting rhythms and real conversations build lasting synergy across teams.
Creativity Isn’t a Bonus — It’s the Blueprint
From Harry Potter-inspired “houses” to personalized onboarding spaces, Chriztopher infuses creativity into the structure of orientation.
“I drew inspiration from my nerdery — and it worked. It gave students something to connect to.”
Chriztopher explains how small creative risks built belonging before students even stepped on campus.
The Myth: Orientation Is Simple
Orientation isn’t transactional. It’s transformational — if institutions stop underestimating it.
“People don’t see how impactful orientation can be. But it sets the tone for the whole experience.”
Chriztopher debunks the myth that orientation is “just a program” — and shows how it becomes a moment of cultural onboarding.
The One Thing He’d Say to His Past Self? Be Present.
“I don’t think I stayed in that moment long enough.”
Chriztopher remembers a single image: his team on a stage in their polos, unified, ready, joyful. And he wishes he had paused longer to feel it.
A reflection on presence, leadership growth, and honoring the moments that shape us.
Orientation Professionals Can Innovate
You don’t need a new title. You don’t need a new system. You need space, intention, and permission to create.
“I used to think no one wanted to hear what I had to say. Now I know impact isn’t a title — it’s what you choose to share.”
Chriztopher’s closing insight — and a reminder that what you build quietly might influence someone else’s boldest leap.
The Platform That Made It Possible
Great leadership needs the right infrastructure to match.
“I found VisualZen — and it changed everything.”
Chriztopher shares how discovering VisualZen gave him the scaffolding to design, customize, and innovate — without getting buried in technical limitations.
