Bytes of Experience : CIOs Unplugged

In this episode of Bytes of Experience, Bo and Dana talk with Michael Barr, CIO at the University of Saskatchewan, about what it really takes to lead IT across very different institutional cultures — from a polytechnic, to a non‑U15 university, to a major U15 research institution.

Michael brings a rare comparative perspective shaped by years at SAIT, MacEwan, and now USask. We explore how priorities shift across sectors, why pace and “clock speed” matter, and how community expectations — from faculty to industry partners — shape leadership practice. Michael also shares candid reflections on politics, governance, vendor strategy, burnout, and the mental shift required when moving between environments.

From the six‑hour weekly commute that fuels his thinking time to the realities of supporting hundreds of specialized learning spaces, Michael offers grounded insights for CIOs navigating scale, complexity, and cultural friction.

Topics include: • How leadership pressures differ across polytechnic, non‑U15, and U15 institutions • Why polytechnics operate at a faster “clock speed” • Community expectations and cultural differences between trades‑based and research‑based environments • Vendor strategy, staffing, and operational constraints across sectors • Governance, politics, and the art of influencing senates, unions, and deans • The mental cost of always being “on” — and how pace shapes leadership • What CIOs can learn from working in radically different institutional models

Book Recommendation:

Workflow Modeling: Tools for Process Improvement and Applications Development by Alec Sharpe.

In this episode of Bytes of Experience, Bo Wandschneider and Dana Sanderson sit down with Pete Bombacci, founder of GenWell, Canada’s human connection movement. Pete shares the powerful origin story behind GenWell — the 2003 Northeast blackout — when millions lost power and rediscovered something essential: each other. As he recalls, “When all the distractions are turned off… we need to connect with each other” .
The conversation explores why human connection is not just a personal need but a societal and organizational imperative. Pete outlines the evidence linking social connection to reduced risks of heart disease, dementia, diabetes, and burnout, and highlights how workplaces benefit through higher productivity, trust, collaboration, and retention. As he notes, “Increased productivity by over 20% when we have a culture of human connection” .
The trio digs into the realities of hybrid work, distributed teams, and the erosion of social capital. Pete explains why proximity alone doesn’t create connection — intentionality does. Leaders must move beyond “my door is always open” and instead curate shared experiences, build rituals, and model connection themselves. “Proximity is not the solution. It’s actually building a curated plan around activations to build human interaction” .
They also unpack the misunderstood nature of loneliness — a subjective, universal human experience — and why organizations must stop waiting for “warning signs” and instead build proactive cultures of connection. “Let’s stop trying to identify the people that are feeling that way. Let’s start building the proactive way of building the culture of human connection” .
The episode closes with rapid‑fire insights on habits that build connection, myths leaders should abandon, and the simple practices that help teams thrive.
This is a timely, energizing conversation for anyone leading people, shaping culture, or simply trying to build a more connected life.

In this episode of Bytes of Experience,  we sit down with Sandeep Sidhu, CIO at Emily Carr University of Art + Design, to explore how leadership networks shape careers, confidence, and the ability to lead through uncertainty.
Sandeep shares her unconventional path into the CIO role — beginning with a six‑month secondment from SFU during the height of COVID — and how mentorship, community, and the courage to “test drive” leadership opened doors she once doubted she could walk through.
Drawing on her deep involvement in CUCCIO, the Leadership Development Program, EDUCAUSE, BCNet, and provincial committees, Sandeep reflects on how these networks provide wisdom, identity‑building, and the kind of informal mentorship that can change a career trajectory.
The conversation turns to the realities facing Canadian higher education: financial pressures, constrained budgets, and the challenge of balancing innovation with institutional survival. Sandeep offers a grounded but optimistic view — emphasizing stewardship, strategic simplification, trust-building, and the responsibility leaders have to create hope for their teams.
This episode is a masterclass in leadership grounded in humility, networks, and purpose — and a reminder that the CIO role is as much about people as it is about technology.

 

Book References:

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey

Living a Life That Matters by Harold Kushner

The Road Not Taken - - Robert Frost

This episode of Bytes of Experience explores how Canadian universities are developing the next generation of IT and information‑security leaders through CUCCIO’s Leadership Development Program (LDP) and the Information Security Leadership Development Program (ISLDP). Hosts Bo Wandschneider and Dana Sanderson welcome Bob Cook and Gayleen Gray, who helped design and lead these programs.

 

Together, they unpack how the programs work:

• Year‑long cohort model blending online learning with in‑person sessions
• Focus on leadership, not technology
• Exposure to CIOs, governance, budgeting, culture, and strategic planning
• Mentorship and community‑building across institutions
• Practical assignments including presentations coached by practicing CIOs

They also explore why understanding university governance, culture, academic freedom, and bicameral/tricameral systems is essential for anyone aspiring to IT leadership in higher education.

The conversation highlights how the programs support succession planning, broaden participants’ perspectives, and help them decide whether CIO leadership is truly the right path. Many graduates have gone on to CIO roles; others have discovered they prefer different leadership trajectories — both considered successful outcomes.

Book Recommendations:

Think Again - The Power of Knowing What you Don't Know : by Adam Grant

Dealing with Darwin by Geoffrey Moore

 

 

In this episode of Bytes of Experience, Bo Wandschneider and Dana Sanderson sit down with Nela Petkovic, CIO at Wilfrid Laurier University and a national leader in cybersecurity inclusion. Nella shares her career journey from systems analyst to CIO, reflecting on the importance of stretching yourself, building diverse teams, and creating space for others to lead.

The conversation explores how inclusion strengthens cybersecurity, why collaboration across institutions matters, and how initiatives like Inclusion in Cybersecurity Canada (ICC) and ONCHEC are reshaping the sector. Nella discusses the power of mentorship, the role of representation, and the cultural shifts happening as more women step into CIO and CISO roles across Canada.

We also dive into project initiation, governance, trust, and the slow, intentional work of building communities that feel ownership over institutional priorities. Whether you're a leader, aspiring leader, or someone passionate about cybersecurity culture, this episode offers practical insights and inspiring stories from across the Canadian higher‑ed landscape.

Book Reference:

Everything is Tuberculosis by Shawn Green

Inclusion in Cybersecurity Canada

In this episode of Bytes of Experience, Bo Wandschneider and Dana Sanderson sit down with Kevin Paul, Director of Cybersecurity at Cybera, whose unconventional path—from computer science to SWAT operator to cybercrime investigator—now shapes how he leads cybersecurity strategy for Alberta’s research and education sector.

Kevin shares how policing gave him a rare, full‑spectrum view of cyber incidents: from threat actors on the dark web to the victims dealing with real‑world consequences. That experience now informs how he approaches triage, speed of response, and the importance of collaboration in higher education.

The conversation explores:

• Why triage and rapid decision‑making
  • —core policing skills—are essential in cybersecurity operations.
• The realities of higher‑ed governance, and why pre‑agreed authority and practice matter during fast‑moving incidents.
• Nation‑state and foreign‑actor risks, including how legitimate student credentials sometimes become initial access points.
• Why the perimeter is dead, and why detection and automated response are now the real battleground.
• Cybera’s shared SOC initiative, built directly from member CIO priorities.
• A groundbreaking partnership with Australia’s ARNet, enabling a follow‑the‑sun SOC model and shared detection IP across continents.
• How this work ties into national efforts like CANSOC, and why Canada needs a unified future-state vision for cybersecurity.
• Why people and processes—not platforms—are the real gold in cybersecurity.

This episode is a deep dive into the future of shared security, global collaboration, and the evolving threat landscape facing higher education.

Book Mentioned:
Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss 

In this episode of Bytes of Experience, Bo and Dana sit down with long‑time colleague and leadership strategist Megan Kirwin for a deep exploration of what leadership in higher education really demands today. Megan reflects on her early days working with Mike Ridley, Bo, and the Guelph team, and how those formative experiences shaped her belief that leadership is fundamentally about presence, curiosity, and humanity.

Across two decades working with universities nationwide, Megan has seen cultures transform — and crumble — based on how leaders show up. She shares why the most effective leaders blend vision and perseverance with humility, vulnerability, and a genuine desire to understand others. Drawing on her work in positive psychology and the now‑well‑established research on vulnerability popularized by Brené Brown, Megan explains why conscious leadership is no longer optional in today’s stressed and reactive higher‑ed environment.

The conversation ranges from 360‑degree feedback and performance development, to trust‑building, to the fragility of organizational culture, to the legacy leaders leave in every micro‑moment. Megan also reflects on the wisdom passed down from her father — including the idea that leadership is really stewardship, walking beside rather than ahead.

This is a rich, reflective, and practical episode for anyone navigating leadership, culture, or change in higher education.

Refernces:

Dare to Lead: Brené Brown 

Concious Friends Podcast

Kirwin Group

This episode explores Scarborough’s extraordinary diversity and how it shaped one hospital leaders approach to inclusion, belonging, and employee experience. Michele, a former Executive VP at Scarborough Health Network, walks through the creation of Communities of Inclusion (COIs), the organization’s first employer brand (“SHN… where the world comes to work”), and the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion strategy that connected workplace culture with patient care.

She also breaks down the six “C‑words” of inclusive leadership (from Deloitte’s model):
Commitment, Courage, Cognizance of Bias, Curiosity, Cultural Intelligence, and Collaboration — and how these traits show up in daily leadership practice.

Michele also references the LEADS leadership capability framework (Lead Self, Engage Others, Achieve Results, Develop Coalitions, System Transformation) and shares insights from the ICD‑DEP103 program at Rotman, where she and Bo first met.

This episode is a masterclass in people‑centred leadership — in healthcare, higher ed, or any sector where culture is the real engine of performance.

Book Refernce:

Diffusion of Innovation by Everett M Rogers