Bytes of Experience : CIOs Unplugged

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:

• —core policing skills—are essential in cybersecurity operations.

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

Book Mentioned:

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):

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

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.

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.

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