The Hamlin School for Girls’ Admission Director’s collaborative leadership style creates wins for all.

By Mary Barry

Great leaders aren’t always front and center. And Lisa Lau Aquino knows that leaders don’t have to set themselves apart by title or responsibility. “There can only be one president, but there are many ways to lead,” says the AISAP member and the inaugural recipient of its Andy Noel Leadership Award for Excellence in Advancing the Admission and Enrollment Management Profession. Embracing this unique view allows Aquino to make a difference from every vantage point while inspiring colleagues to contribute to common causes from exactly where they are.

This self-described introvert has been instrumental in transforming the way admission directors serve their stakeholders in her region. Aquino is the director of admissions for the Hamlin School for Girls and is a founding member and past president of the Bay Area Directors of Admissions, a nonprofit organization that unites admissions professionals to benefit their industry, students, and families in the competitive San Francisco independent school market.

Aquino’s demonstrated ability to lead by empowering students and admission professionals is why she was singled out to receive the 2016 Andy Noel Leadership Award.

Named for Andy Noel, a beloved member of the admission professional community who lost his life to cancer in 2015, the Andy Noel Leadership Award was established to honor Noel and to highlight his ability to lead other colleagues in developing and sharing best practices in the profession. Noel, who served as associate director of admissions and director of financial aid at Choate Rosemary Hall for 15 years, was also an avid hockey fan and youth hockey coach. He was once described as a man who “passed the puck” both on and off the ice—meaning he knew that sharing one’s knowledge, understanding, and experience, and not always being the one to score the goal builds stronger individuals and teams.

Like Noel, Aquino also inspires and builds up those around her; some describe her as an admission leader “force.”  Wanda Holland Greene, head of Hamlin School, says, “We all admire Lisa because of her deeply held and boldly lived ethical values, her tireless work ethic, and her steadfast commitment to access and inclusion.” Aquino feels her service to students, and their families have offered her the best opportunities to lead, through which she is passing the puck in her own way.   

Aquino herself is a product of great leadership. Powerful figures at the Hamlin School for Girls, including her late predecessor, Pat DeNazza; the former head of Hamlin School, Coreen R. Hester; and the current Head of School, Wanda Holland Greene. All have mentored Aquino and helped her grow. But her best teacher by far is the 154-year old Hamlin School for Girls itself. Not only has she spent her professional career there, she is also an alumna.

“At Hamlin, we educate our girls to meet the challenges of their times—it is part of our mission,” says Aquino. “We want our students to be the girl in the red dress; to stand out, step up and take on issues that are important to them. Every decision we make is with our students in mind.”

She began her Hamlin career as a science teacher before finding her true calling in admissions. After discovering just how much she loved sharing the school’s innovative approach to learning, high academic standards, and supportive environment, she made the move to admissions with Hester’s encouragement.

Aquino views relationship-building as her primary responsibility, even with families who are not admitted to the school. “Why do we do this work? Because we want to help families find the right fit for their children,” she says.  With “fit” in mind, Aquino and the admission staff often help families who are not admitted to Hamlin find a seat at another school.

Although Aquino was proud of her profession and the difference admissions makes to schools and students, she had been troubled by the lack of industry best practices, ethical standards, and longed for opportunities to problem-solve with other professionals in admissions.

A few colleagues began talking about the possibility of a professional organization, but getting admission directors to set aside competitive interests to share ideas and establish best practices and standards wouldn’t be easy.

That didn’t deter Aquino. As counter-intuitive as this communal approach appeared, it made perfect sense to her. “It’s about meeting our commitment to finding the best fit for all students and establishing best practice and ethical standards for our profession,” she says.

In 2015, the Bay Area Directors of Admissions (BADA) was formed with Aquino as president. Today, its membership includes 72 independent schools. Yet, as rewarding as the experience of leading BADA has been, Aquino decided to step down at the end of her second term as president in May 2017. “It’s time for someone else to lead,” she says.

One of the advances through the organization that Aquino is most proud of is establishing common mail dates among member schools, making it easier for prospective families. Arranging common screening days—a morning visit at one school and an afternoon visit at another—makes enrollment decisions easier for families to manage.

According to BADA member, Benjamin Harrison of the Adda Clevenger School, under Aquino’s leadership, the organization has advanced exponentially.

“I can’t understate the challenge of bringing together so many schools … to collaborate, cooperate and present a united and professional front toward the larger school and parent communities,” says Harrison. “It’s Lisa’s leadership and vision that have made this possible: her ability to find common ground for compromise; her insistence that we keep the focus on the needs of our most important stakeholders, the students and families we serve; and her vision of BADA as an example of how school professionals can and should work together.”

Establishing BADA started with the hope that a cooperative organization for admissions professionals could exist, but Aquino cautions that we should not rely completely on faith. “Hope is not a strategic plan,” she says. “To be successful, you have to have a plan in place.” It would also help to have Lisa Lau Aquino in your corner—and her vision that allows everyone to collaborate, lead and win. 

“Stop worrying about what-ifs.” Instead, identify the worst possible outcome—create ways to avoid or overcome it. That way, you can let the worry go and move forward.

“Seek out ideas before you create a plan.” Get everyone’s ideas on the table, talk them out and create an actionable plan that you can follow together.

“Be nimble enough to pivot mid-stream.” Be aware of what’s occurring at every step of your plan—if something doesn’t feel right, be agile enough to change direction.

“If you care about it, take it on.” Be the girl in the red dress—step up, embrace it and make the world a better place.