To engage students and meet institutional goals, higher education leaders need to leverage the institutional knowledge of their staff and their professional competencies. Evidence based decision-making provides a stepping-stone to strategic staffing practices. Strategically developing and retaining staff members moves the conversation from foundational evidence to policy and practices. This meta-analysis provides a case study for the development process of a "career ladder" borne in institutional evidence and strategically implemented through leadership and policy development. Five steps are identified in the achievement institutional recognition and sustainability for key personnel in Academic Advising. Step 1: empower institutional leaders; Step 2: recruit change leaders; Step 3: link strategic plan outcomes to larger institutional culture and policy; Step 4: engage strategic stakeholders; and Step 5: assess policy implementation and outcomes (different processes). Practical implementation strategies for policy are discussed.