Bytes of Experience : CIOs Unplugged

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

In this episode Richard Godsmark joins us to reflect on his career across Canadian colleges, Canadian universities, and now the Australian higher education system. He compares how governance, funding models, culture, and decision‑making differ across these environments, offering a rare cross‑border view of how higher ed systems actually function. From committee‑driven universities to policy‑driven colleges to Australia’s nationally unified model, Richard highlights how these structures shape leadership, pace of change, and the role of IT.
We also explore his shift from Deputy CIO to Strategic Advisor for Digital Innovation at Sheridan, where he focused on long‑term thinking, institutional differentiation, and revenue diversification. Richard shares lessons about influence without authority, the value of protected thinking time, and adapting to new tech stacks and national policies. His reflections offer grounded insights for anyone navigating change or leading digital strategy in higher education.

 

Books referenced:

After On -  Rob Reid

Off to Be the Wizard - Scott Meyer

We are Legion (We are Bob) - Dennis E. Taylor

Robopocalypse - Daniel H. Wilson

Hustle and Float: Reclaim Your Creativity and Thrive in a World Obsessed with Work - Rahaf Harfoush

 

In this episode we explore the University of Guelph’s bold experiment in unifying library and IT leadership under one role — a model far more common internationally than in Canada. Mike Ridley, Chief Librarian Emeritus and former CIO, reflects on the decade he spent navigating this hybrid portfolio and the strategic intent behind it: elevating information as a core institutional asset, strengthening collaboration, and giving IT a meaningful voice at the senior table.
Ridley shares candid insights into the cultural dynamics between libraries and IT, the importance of not fully merging the organizations, and the critical role of strong delegated leadership in making the model work. He also discusses the national context, including how library‑sector collaboration helped inspire the formation of CUCCIO. 
The conversation offers practical lessons for institutions considering similar models: focus on information rather than technology or collections, invest in leadership capacity at all levels, and recognize the deep cultural identities within both libraries and IT.

Book References:

Moby Dick, by H. Melville

The Idea of a University - by JH Newman

 

In this episode of Bytes of Experience, we sit down with Jason Oliver, CIO at Western University, to explore what it means to lead higher ed IT across borders. Jason shares his journey from the UK to Canada, reflecting on sector similarities, cultural surprises, and the critical role of community in shaping student experience. From navigating financial pressures to modernizing governance and uncovering institutional blind spots, Jason offers candid insights into his first year at Western — and why he sees it as a 10-year transformation. Whether you're in tech leadership or just curious about how universities adapt, this episode delivers thoughtful reflections and practical wisdom.

In this episode of Bytes of Experience, hosts Bo and Dana speak with Kevin Magee about how CIOs earn trust at the boardroom table, what boards want to see, and how CIOs and CISOs should coordinate their message.

Kevin shares practical steps—show up, frame IT as digital transformation, use clear risk metrics (like probability of material impact), and do pre-conversations with board champions—to move conversations from technical detail to strategic decision-making.

 

Book Reference:

Never Split the Difference - Chris Voss

Welcome to Bytes of Experience with Bo Wandschneider and Dana Sanderson. In this episode Alex Matos, Internal Auditor at the University of Toronto, shares his journey into higher‑ed audit and explains how auditors and CIOs can work together to enable institutional strategy while managing IT and cybersecurity risks.

The discussion covers board oversight and IT governance, the evolving role of internal audit as a trusted partner, the need for technical skills on boards and audit teams, national benchmarking initiatives, and practical advice for building trust and aligning priorities.

 

Book References:

Quiet Leadership - Winning Hearts and Minds  - Carlo Ancelotti 

Bo Wandschneider and Dana Sanderson sit down with Mark Humphries, the new CIO at the University of Alberta, to explore leadership during major institutional change. They cover governance models, project initiation, consolidation into university-wide services, and the practical challenges of app rationalization and infrastructure at scale.

Mark draws on his experience at multiple universities and the Royal College of Physicians to emphasize the human side of IT: building relationships, earning trust, listening first, and shaping culture to enable sustainable transformation.

Resources:

University of Alberta Technology  With Purpose

University of Alberta - Continuous Administrative Service Improvement Program

Book references:

How Big Things Get Done

Reset

The Five  Dysfunctions of a Team 

In this episode, Bo and Dana sit down with Marc Denoncourt to trace his path from campus CIO to board director — and why he pursued the Chartered Director designation. Marc explains how governance training reshaped his leadership approach, helping him frame technology as a business strategy, engage boards at the right altitude, and build trust through transparency and partnership.

The conversation digs into what boards really want to hear (strategy, finance, and risk), how CIOs can translate technical work into institutional outcomes, and why student‑focused digital services consistently capture board attention. Marc also shares cross‑sector lessons from aerospace, banking, and media, illustrating how technology becomes a competitive differentiator in every industry — including higher education.

Practical takeaways include treating cybersecurity as managed risk, using clear visuals to explain technical debt, elevating IT through dedicated board committees, and three actions for CIOs: be a business partner, lead cross‑institution efforts, and invest in governance training to strengthen board relationships and strategic influence.