S01-E25- Process Is Strategy: Gary Doucette on Culture, Change, and Continuous Improvement

Hosts Dana Sanderson and Bo Wandschneider sit down with Gary Doucette, former CIO of Acadia University, to explore what happens when a long-time technology leader steps into a new role as an executive advisor focused on process management and institutional transformation.

Gary reflects on leaving the CIO seat, shedding the weight of cybersecurity, and learning to lead without a team — relying instead on influence, trust, and deep listening. The conversation digs into why entrenched processes persist, how culture shapes (and often blocks) improvement, and why frameworks like Lean and ITIL matter less as dogma and more as shared language.

They unpack the realities of remote work, leadership gaps in higher ed, and the importance of slowing down to engage before speeding up to execute. Gary shares practical approaches for building buy‑in, reducing friction, and helping institutions connect operations to strategy in ways that outlast any single project.

The episode closes with what success looks like in a three‑year advisory role, why process work naturally gravitates toward IT, and Gary’s advice for new leaders navigating change in complex environments.

 

Book Reference:

Your Brain at Work - Strategies for Overcoming Distraction, Regaining Focus, and Working Smarter All Day Long by David Rock

Lean Higher Education: Increasing the Value and Performance of University Processes, Second Edition 

by W.K. Balzar