Bytes of Experience : CIOs Unplugged

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/

In this episode Bo Wandschneider and Dana Sanderson talk with Brian Stewart, CIO at SFU, about Uniform, an administrative benchmarking system used in Canada, the UK and Australia, and how it helped the University of Alberta drive a major service consolidation and cost realignment. They discuss what Uniform measures, the nuance needed when using its data, how benchmarking informed a service‑hub operating model, and the key lesson: re‑engineer processes and reduce effort before cutting staff to achieve sustainable transformation.

In this episode, Gayleen Gray, CTO at McMaster University, joins us to unpack why blanket budget cuts undermine institutional resilience when IT is treated as a cost center. Drawing on Alex Usher’s insights, we explore digital transformation gaps, the rise of shadow IT, benchmarking strategies, and how smart investments in people and platforms can drive efficiency, trust, and long-term savings.   Resources:  "No One is Coming to Save Us”  June 12, 2024 🔗 Link to blog “Nobody is Coming to Save Us, But…” March 17, 2025 🔗 Link to blog “Where Canada Lies in Global Trends” (World of Higher Ed podcast) January 9, 2025 🔗 Podcast episode "Radical Candor"

Episode 7 welcomes CISO Isaac Straley to explore the evolving role of the CISO in higher education — from reporting lines and key relationships with CIOs, presidents, and budget offices to the human impact of breaches. Bo and Dana discuss practical leadership lessons, collaborative security models like CANSOC, and how security programs should enable research and campus life rather than simply impose controls. Key takeaways: prioritize people, translate technical controls into institutional outcomes, and build trust across campus to manage risk effectively. Isaac Straley | LinkedIn CanSSOC

In part two of their storytelling arc, Bo and Dana unpack the leadership lessons behind their most memorable IT projects. From trust-building in crisis to the art of triage and communication, they explore what it really takes to steer technology through chaos. With reflections on collaboration, resilience, and the occasional comic relief, this episode turns hard-won experience into practical wisdom for anyone leading tech in higher ed.  

In this episode Bo and Dana share unfiltered stories of major IT challenges and wins from their careers in higher education — from a risky Office 365 migration and a campus-wide ERP rollout (Project Beacon) to building a Data Resource Center and a resilient campus network through COVID and Hurricane Fiona. They highlight practical leadership lessons: communication and trust, listening to stakeholders, turning skeptics into allies, and focusing on student experience and process maturity. Expect candid insights on change management, collaboration across IT, libraries and research, and how persistence and transparency pay off.

In this episode of Bytes of Experience, Bo  and Dana  explore the cultural conflicts CIOs face in higher education—resistance to change, shared governance versus agility, misaligned priorities, reporting structures, security and innovation tensions, and uneven digital literacy. They share examples from campus life, discuss strategies for turning conflict into opportunity through cultural change and storytelling, and present a day‑in‑the‑life profile of Dr. Abby Lee, a CIO balancing diplomacy, strategy, and rapid context switching.

Bo Wandschneider and Dana Sanderson discuss the modern CIO’s challenges in higher education, exploring five themes: translation between tech and stakeholders, navigating institutional culture and shared governance, strategic influence beyond IT, emotional intelligence in leadership, and metrics, wins, and accountability. This is Part 1 of the episode series, highlighting storytelling, digital moments, building partnerships, trust during crises, and how to communicate wins; Part 2 will follow to cover cultural conflicts and a day-in-the-life CIO story.

Two recently retired CIOs, Bo Wandschneider and Dana Sanderson, reflect on decades of higher education IT evolution. They trace the journey from punch cards and mainframes to cloud platforms, discuss the tension between centralized and decentralized IT, and share lessons about culture, governance, funding, and strategic planning. The episode also tackles pressing pressure points—security, privacy, accessibility, sustainability, and the impact of AI—while offering leadership takeaways about perseverance, listening, and collaborative strategy.   Resources: Link to "The Crisis in Information Technology Support: Has Our Current Model Reached Its Limit "- Polley McClure

In the pilot episode of Bytes of Experience, retired higher-ed CIOs Bo Wandschneider and Dana Sanderson introduce themselves and share the journeys that brought them into university IT leadership. They reflect on pivotal career moments, the shift from technical expert to people-centered leader, and the evolving scope and pressures of the CIO role. The hosts explain the podcast’s purpose: candid, unfiltered conversations about IT strategy, governance, AI, financial challenges in higher education, and practical lessons for CIOs, IT teams, and institutional leaders—inviting listeners to learn, contribute topics, and stay connected to the community. Glen Hicks | LinkedIn Rewired not Retired Rewired Not Retired by Glen Hicks on Apple Books