Bytes of Experience : CIOs Unplugged

Two retired Canadian CIOs and guest Laurie McMullin trace the evolution of Canada’s digital research infrastructure—from servers under desks and fragmented funding to a national strategy led by the Digital Research Alliance of Canada (DRAC). Through advocacy, summits, and hard conversations, CIOs, librarians, VPRs, and funders reshaped how infrastructure is funded, secured, and shared across institutions.

Hosts Dana Sanderson and Bo Wandschneider reflect on the first 15 episodes of Bytes of Experience, distilling recurring themes like people-centered leadership, trust, change management, mentorship, security, and the intersection of technology and human connection.

They share memorable quotes, the "seven T's" of leadership (transparency, trust, translation, timing, tenacity, togetherness, temperament), lessons from guests about collaboration and governance, and practical takeaways about running a podcast and staying connected to the community.

In this episode of Bytes of Experience, Bo Wandschneider and Dana Sanderson talk with Martin Bernier, CIO at the University of Ottawa, about what happens when a faculty IT team joins forces with campus IT. Martin shares the story of integrating the Faculty of Medicine’s IT group into the enterprise fold—why the decision was made, how the process unfolded, and what others can learn from it.

But beyond structure and strategy, this conversation is about leadership with heart. Martin reflects on the importance of transparency, trust, timing, and people, showing how integration succeeds when leaders focus on relationships as much as reporting lines. From governance shifts to benchmarking data, and from friction points to new efficiencies, Martin’s story is a case study in leading with clarity, collaboration, and compassion.

Listeners will walk away with insights not just on IT integration, but on the kind of leadership that builds teams, inspires confidence, and makes change sustainable.

Bytes of Experience revisits CanSoC with guest Isaac Straley to explore how shared security works in practice. The episode digs into trust, real-time signal sharing, regional SOCs, equity across provinces, and how leadership can build a sustainable, collaborative cybersecurity model amid rising costs and AI-driven threats.

Listeners will hear practical examples, governance and technical challenges, and a call to stay committed to a vision of collective resilience for Canada’s post-secondary sector.

 

CanSSOC - https://canssoc.ca/ 

In this episode of Bytes of Experience, Bo and Dana sit down with David Shipley, CEO and Co‑Founder of Beauceron Security, to explore how leadership shapes cybersecurity culture in higher education. Shipley argues that building community and trust is the real work of leaders — the tools will follow. He also shares insights on where higher ed stands today in terms of security posture compared to other sectors, and why those who believe they’re “not a target” actually click 37% more often.

The conversation highlights:

• Why higher ed’s open culture demands leadership beyond technical controls
• How CIOs and executives can model behaviour that drives awareness and trust
• The role of governments and policy in supporting institutional leaders
• Lessons from phishing simulations and faculty pushback that reveal the human side of leadership

Shipley’s journey from university IT leader to entrepreneur underscores a powerful message: cybersecurity is a leadership challenge, not just a technical one.

COO Maroquine Aziz joins Dana and Bo to explore leadership beyond the IT silo—where systems thinking meets strategic vision. From her dual background in computer science and business, Maro shares how transformational leadership thrives on cross-functional partnerships, trust, and the ability to translate between tech and business.

This episode dives into:

• What digital transformation really means (hint: it’s not just new tools)
• Making AI a driver of change, not a side experiment
• Operational excellence as a mindset, not a metric
• Rethinking KPIs to include purpose, people, and platforms
• Navigating CIO–COO tension with radical candor and shared goals

Whether you're a CIO, COO, or aspiring leader, this conversation offers practical insights on building trust, driving change, and earning your seat at the strategic table.

The Speed of Trust

TopFractionalExecs

About Maroquine Aziz:

Maroquine is a seasoned transformation leader and COO with a track record of driving strategic change across complex organizations. As Founder of TopFractionalExecs, she provides agile, high-impact executive support to help companies stabilize, scale, and navigate critical moments of change. Her expertise spans organizational transformation, process optimization, and change management—blending strategic insight with hands-on execution.

You're listening to Bytes of Experience with Dana Sanderson and Bo Wandschneider, joined by Lori McMullen, the inaugural ED of CUCCIO. In this episode Lori traces CUCCIO’s origins, growth, and role as a national forum for Canadian university CIOs.

They discuss early challenges and wins—cloud adoption, cybersecurity, joint procurement—and CUCCIO’s evolution from a peer support group to a collective advocacy voice, including how it helped CIOs navigate crises like COVID-19.

 

CUCCIO History by Rick Bunt

Keith McWhirter, a retired higher ed IT leader and coach, discusses closing the gap between technology and people by focusing on communication, engagement, and the ‘translator’ role that connects the server room to the boardroom.

The episode covers shared leadership, transparency, overcoming a culture of fear around new features, lessons from COVID collaboration, and Keith’s next chapter as a no-fly-zone nomad and career coach.

Resources

Where to find Keith:

 

www.linkedin.com/in/keithmcwhirter

www.youtube.com/@NoFlyZoneNomads

www.youtube.com/@CanadianCareerCoach

 

Simon Sinek book link:

https://simonsinek.com/books/start-with-why/