Candid Conversations on Leadership

Chris and Candice discuss the benefits of attending professional conferences with a focus on the most recent EDUCAUSE Annual Conference. We dive into Brené Brown's keynote chat, the top issues facing higher ed, how to get the most out of a conference experience, and the importance of engaging with your professional community.

EDUCAUSE (https://www.educause.edu/) is a nonprofit association and the largest community of technology, academic, industry, and campus leaders advancing higher education through the use of IT.

Candice and Chris are IT leaders at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and collectively have more than 50 years of experience working in higher education. Candice is currently the Senior Director of IT Partners at the College of Applied Health Sciences and Chris is the Chief Information Officer and Senior Director of IT Partners at the Gies College of Business.

Chris and Candice dive into the concept of feedback and how it’s a critical ingredient in healthy teams and organizations. Feedback is a gift to give and to receive when it is specific, timely, and delivered and received through a lens of growth and improvement. We talk about this feedback framework and model it in action.

Available on other podcast platforms at https://candidconversations.link/episode-8-building-a-culture-of-feedback/

Candice and Chris are IT leaders at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and collectively have more than 50 years of experience working in higher education. Candice is currently the Director of IT Partners at the College of Applied Health Sciences and Chris is the Chief Information Officer and Senior Director of IT Partners at the Gies College of Business.

Candice and Chris take Candid Conversations on Leadership on the road with a live event at the University of Illinois IT Pro Forum on November 12, 2024. They answer a variety of questions from the UofI IT Community focused on leadership, resilience, stakeholder management, professional growth, mentorship, and coaching.

Candice and Chris are IT leaders at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and collectively have more than 50 years of experience working in higher education. Candice is currently the Director of IT Partners at the College of Applied Health Sciences and Chris is the Chief Information Officer and Senior Director of IT Partners at the Gies College of Business.

Chris and Candice discuss the art of interviewing. We share our own experiences interviewing for jobs as well as what we look for when hiring. The conversation also includes a number of tips you can use during the interview process.

Candice and Chris are IT leaders at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and collectively have more than 50 years of experience working in higher education. Candice is currently the Director of IT Partners at the College of Applied Health Sciences and Chris is the Chief Information Officer and Senior Director of IT Partners at the Gies College of Business.

In this inspiring and practical episode, hosts Chris and Candice explore the powerful idea that anyone, regardless of their title or formal position, can be a leader. Drawing on the famous line from Ratatouille—"Everyone can cook"—they pivot to the belief that "Everyone can lead." Leadership, as they define it, isn’t about authority or hierarchy, but about influencing others toward a common goal. Through personal anecdotes and examples from their professional and community experiences, the conversation underscores how initiative, energy, and relationship-building are at the heart of true leadership.

Candice shares her experience launching a peer coaching and mentorship program through the Women in Technology group—a grassroots effort that continues to thrive each fall. This example illustrates how seeing a gap and choosing to act is often all it takes to lead. Chris adds a compelling story about stepping into the role of Cubmaster for a local scouting troop despite initial insecurities, ultimately discovering a rewarding opportunity for personal growth and community impact. Other examples include forming communities of practice, spearheading campus-wide technology transitions, and leading by example—even in the simple act of picking up litter to inspire others.

The episode also delves into “kinetic leadership,” a concept that celebrates the ability to get things moving and model the energy and behavior you want to see in others. Both hosts discuss the importance of soft skills like storytelling, listening, and the “presumption of yes” when working toward solutions in sometimes risk-averse environments. They candidly reflect on their own challenges—Candice working to become a better listener and Chris pushing himself to initiate new relationships—highlighting that leadership is a continuous learning process.

Chris introduces a useful framework for building trust and influence: the Four I’s—Initiate, Inquire, Invest, and Influence. These elements, they explain, are foundational for gaining the credibility and trust needed to lead effectively. The episode concludes on a high note with a recent example of collaborative leadership during the global CrowdStrike incident. Across their campus, individuals stepped up, leaned in, and worked together without complaint to restore essential IT services—an unforgettable real-world example of leading from where you are.

Candice and Chris are IT leaders at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and collectively have more than 50 years of experience working in higher education. Candice is currently the Senior Director of IT Partners at the College of Applied Health Sciences and Chris is the Chief Information Officer and Senior Director of IT Partners at the Gies College of Business.

In this powerful and deeply personal episode, hosts Chris and Candice engage in a heartfelt discussion on the true meaning and impact of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in both professional and personal settings. Sparked by recent news about DEI team layoffs at a major tech company, the conversation unfolds as a necessary reminder that DEI is more than a corporate buzzword—it is a practice, a responsibility, and a cultural shift that must be actively cultivated and protected.

Candice, a DEI advocate and member of a Women in Technology leadership group, offers clear and compelling definitions of diversity, equity, and inclusion. She explains how each concept is interdependent, likening them to threads in a quilt—one cannot exist meaningfully without the others. Chris adds his perspective by sharing practical shorthand and workplace metaphors to make the ideas more accessible, including the well-known visual of different-height individuals trying to see over a fence, illustrating the difference between equality and equity.

The episode delves into the importance of intentionality in organizational change, with both hosts recalling their experience working to diversify IT leadership councils on campus. These efforts led to measurable improvements in representation and culture, underscoring how inclusive voices can drive systemic change. Chris highlights how his own IT team at the Gies College of Business evolved from being male-dominated to having gender-balanced leadership—progress made possible by rethinking hiring practices, including simplifying job requirements to open doors to more candidates.

But this conversation doesn’t shy away from the emotional labor and challenges involved in DEI work. Candice shares powerful stories about the microaggressions she and her children have faced, emphasizing the need to empower marginalized voices rather than tokenizing them. The discussion on allyship centers on actionable steps—how leaders can amplify voices in meetings, address exclusionary behaviors, and pivot from “rescuing” individuals to advocating for cultural transformation.

In a particularly vulnerable moment, Chris reflects on his own fears of “saying the wrong thing” as a white man in DEI spaces. Candice responds with grace, highlighting the importance of making mistakes, learning, and growing. The episode ends with mutual reflections on intersectionality and the desire to be seen as whole individuals—not merely representatives of a demographic group.

This conversation is a compelling reminder that DEI is not about checking boxes, but about fostering empathy, listening deeply, and committing to long-term, systemic change.

Note: Near the end of the podcast, Chris brings up the concept of intersectionality. For more information on this important topic, please see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViDtnfQ9FHc and https://www.ted.com/talks/kimberle_crenshaw_the_urgency_of_intersectionality

Candice Solomon-Strutz and Chris Tidrick are IT leaders at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and collectively have more than 50 years of experience working in higher education. Candice is currently the Senior Director of IT Partners at the College of Applied Health Sciences and Chris is the Chief Information Officer and Senior Director of IT Partners at the Gies College of Business.

In this episode of Candid Conversations on Leadership, co-hosts Candice and Chris delve into a deeply resonant and often overlooked topic in leadership: self-care. With humor, vulnerability, and practical insights, they unpack how taking care of oneself is not a luxury but a leadership necessity. Candice introduces her unique self-care framework, DERPAT—a mnemonic for Diet, Exercise, Relaxation, People, Attitude, and Time—and walks listeners through how each component supports her well-being, both personally and professionally.

Candice shares how her physical health journey, especially with a partial lung, has shaped her intentional commitment to practices like Taekwondo, structured relaxation, and boundary-setting with the people in her life. She emphasizes that self-care isn't passive; it’s about choosing the right people to be around, maintaining a resilient attitude, and managing time according to personal energy rhythms. Chris resonates with these principles and expands the conversation with his philosophy of "work-life equilibrium," challenging the conventional notion of balance. He believes integrating work and life thoughtfully leads to more purpose-driven days.

Chris also reveals how a recent health scare pushed him to rethink how he cares for his body. From staying hydrated and eating more functionally to rediscovering the therapeutic joy of gardening, he shares how these changes have helped him find mental clarity and physical stability. The episode takes a compelling turn as both hosts explore the difference between getting motivated and staying motivated, especially when personal health and leadership responsibilities collide.

Throughout their exchange, Candice and Chris remind listeners that self-care isn’t just about bubble baths and downtime—it’s a dynamic and intentional act of leadership. They close the episode by inviting listeners to reflect on their own self-care practices and share their insights, building a community where leadership and well-being can thrive together.

Candice Solomon-Strutz and Chris Tidrick are IT leaders at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and collectively have more than 50 years of experience working in higher education. Candice is currently the Senior Director of IT Partners at the College of Applied Health Sciences and Chris is the Chief Information Officer and Senior Director of IT Partners at the Gies College of Business.

In this episode of Candid Conversations on Leadership, co-hosts Chris and Candice dive into the ever-relevant topic of prioritization, offering an honest and insightful look at how leaders can—and should—learn to let go of the right things. Drawing from personal experiences and organizational challenges, they unpack the delicate art of managing commitments, saying no with intention, and aligning daily actions with both personal values and strategic goals.

Candice, who shares that she has recently been on jury duty, frames the conversation with a refreshing perspective on how unexpected interruptions can become a gift—a moment to pause and reassess. Chris picks up the thread with a story about a keynote presentation he gave, where he introduced the idea that committing to the right “yes” often means saying “no” more often. Together, they explore the complexities of overcommitment, particularly in leadership roles where saying no can feel risky or counterproductive.

The discussion branches into both organizational and personal strategies. Chris discusses how to navigate “speaking truth to power” and how aligning work with clearly articulated goals can help filter out low-priority demands. Candice contributes her own powerful metaphor of juggling “crystal balls” and rubber ones, encouraging listeners to protect the aspects of life—like family and core values—that can’t be dropped without consequence. She outlines how values like lifelong learning, inclusion, and collaboration help her determine which tasks deserve her time and energy.

From tools like the Eisenhower Matrix to managing emotional responses to rejection or urgency, the episode is rich with practical advice. Both hosts also take time to reflect on their own struggles—Candice with letting go of conflict after a project is done, and Chris with procrastination disguised as productivity. They end the episode with a shared reminder: while no one is perfect, self-awareness and alignment with one’s values can help guide even the busiest leaders toward more meaningful focus.

Chris introduces the Eisenhower Matrix tool. More information is available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT89OZ7TNwc and https://asana.com/resources/eisenhower-matrix

Candice Solomon-Strutz and Chris Tidrick are IT leaders at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and collectively have more than 50 years of experience working in higher education. Candice is currently the Senior Director of IT Partners at the College of Applied Health Sciences and Chris is the Chief Information Officer and Senior Director of IT Partners at the Gies College of Business.

In the debut episode of Candid Conversations on Leadership, co-hosts Candice Solomon-Strutz and Chris Tidrick introduce themselves and reflect on the personal and professional journeys that shaped their leadership philosophies. Both long-standing leaders at the University of Illinois, they bring decades of experience in IT and higher education to the table, aiming to create an authentic, insightful podcast that pushes beyond formulaic leadership content.

Candice shares three deeply personal leadership lessons drawn from transformative life events. From surviving a collapsed lung and undergoing major surgery during her freshman year to facing isolation and stereotyping as one of the few Black women in her engineering classes, her stories highlight the importance of resilience, self-definition, and the power of relationships. Her advice to young leaders—embracing self-awareness and authenticity—resonates as she speaks about building community, finding inner strength, and defying external expectations.

Chris brings a complementary perspective, recounting how a spontaneous presentation about Pinterest launched him unexpectedly into leadership. He describes his evolution from instinctive leadership to more intentional and self-aware practice through formal development programs. Chris candidly shares how feedback about arrogance and intimidation pushed him to embrace vulnerability as a leadership strength. One of his most striking lessons centers on how his personal growth caused his CliftonStrengths results to shift over time—specifically, how his once-dominant "woo" strength (winning others over) diminished as he became more focused on enabling others' success over promoting his own.

Together, Candice and Chris set the tone for an open, reflective, and human-centered approach to leadership. Their mutual trust and willingness to explore their missteps, growth, and evolving perspectives promises a podcast filled with real talk, relatable challenges, and leadership insights grounded in lived experience. Future episodes will delve into topics like self-care, governance, and leadership in academic environments, offering thoughtful takeaways for leaders at all stages.Links:

The Power of Vulnerabilityhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCvmsMzlF7o Clifton Strengthshttps://www.gallup.com/cliftonstrengths/en/252137/home.aspx

Candice Solomon-Strutz and Chris Tidrick are IT leaders at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and collectively have more than 50 years of experience working in higher education. Candice is currently the Director of IT Partners at the College of Applied Health Sciences and Chris is the Chief Information Officer and Senior Director of IT Partners at the Gies College of Business.