---
title: "Ask the CEO: Ping Wei, MAEd, CAE"
id: "45038"
type: "post"
slug: "ask-the-ceo-ping-wei-maed-cae"
published_at: "2018-12-09T11:40:34+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-03-16T23:18:02+00:00"
url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/12/09/ask-the-ceo-ping-wei-maed-cae/"
markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2018/12/09/ask-the-ceo-ping-wei-maed-cae.md"
excerpt: "Ping Wei, MAEd, CAE, executive director of the Higher Education Consultants Association, answers questions from member Chuck Erickson, M.Ed."
taxonomy_category:
  - "Marketing / Communications"
taxonomy_post_tag:
  - "AssociationsNow"
  - "College Tours"
  - "Consulting"
  - "Established CEO"
  - "higher education"
  - "Leadership"
taxonomy_content_format:
  - "Article"
taxonomy_role:
  - "Association CEO / Executive Director"
taxonomy_persona:
  - "Executive Leadership"
---

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 » Ask the CEO: Ping Wei, MAEd, CAE

**What in this position has made you laugh and smile?**

HECA members, of course! It’s refreshing and rewarding to work with members who are so passionate about their profession. They have big hearts and great senses of humor—probably from working with high school students!

> Everyone is looking for innovative solutions to the rising cost of higher education, and IECs continue to help families find the best fit.

**Having toured several colleges and universities with HECA members, what have you learned? Anything surprising?**

Tours for HECA members are quite different from a typical college tour. Our members ask college representatives the most insightful questions that yield such useful information. They’re not the sort of questions students or parents would even know to ask. I’ve actually heard newer college reps say, “We were warned your group would ask the tough questions!”

We also have a lot of fun on the bus, which makes the tours both a learning and a bonding experience.

**What do you think is the biggest challenge facing higher education and independent educational consultants?**

College affordability has been and will continue to be a big challenge for colleges, families, and IECs. Everyone is looking for innovative solutions to the rising cost of higher education, and IECs continue to help families find the best fit. We’ve seen not just parents but also students asking about return on investment for various types of institutions.

[ASAE Staff](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/)

[More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/asae-staff/)

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