In this episode, we explore the art and science of negotiation through the frameworks of Chester Karrass and Chris Voss, examining how structure, empathy, and silence shape outcomes. The discussion unpacks the three core engagement styles: Assertive, Accommodator, and Analyst, and how recognizing each can transform conflict into collaboration. By learning to balance logic with emotion and to use silence as a strategic tool, leaders can build credibility, deepen trust, and turn negotiation into a practice of awareness and respect.

Based on Substack article:

https://dispatchesinternetpioneer.substack.com/p/know-your-negotiation-style

Energetic Business Background Music by LolaMoore -- https://freesound.org/s/754966/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

In this episode, we explore how four major disruptions, the dot-com collapse, the Great Recession, the pandemic, and the unraveling of federal higher ed policy, have shaped a generation of CIOs in higher education. What begins as resilience can quietly become a mindset of perpetual caution, where innovation is seen as risky and vision gives way to survival. Drawing on lived experience, we unpack the subtle toll this takes on institutional imagination and offer practical ways IT leaders can balance stewardship with strategic boldness. It’s a conversation about weathering storms, without forgetting how to fly.

Based on Substack article:

https://dispatchesinternetpioneer.substack.com/p/the-weathering-effect-how-four-disruptions

Energetic Business Background Music by LolaMoore -- https://freesound.org/s/754966/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

In this episode, we explore why negotiation isn’t just a helpful skill for CIOs, it’s a defining one. Drawing on lessons from the dot-com crash, The New CIO Leader, and two decades of real-world leadership, we unpack how the best IT leaders use negotiation to build credibility, align expectations with resources, and earn the trust of their institutional partners. From the “Credibility Cycle” to the danger of becoming the “no police,” this conversation reframes negotiation as the core discipline that turns technologists into trusted enterprise leaders.

Based on Substack article:

https://dispatchesinternetpioneer.substack.com/p/negotiation-is-a-leadership-skill

Energetic Business Background Music by LolaMoore -- https://freesound.org/s/754966/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

This episode explores one of the most overlooked dynamics in today’s workplace: the widespread, hidden use of generative AI. As tools like ChatGPT and Copilot quietly reshape how work gets done, many employees are using them without disclosure, concerned about judgment, policy violations, or reputational harm. The result is a growing trust gap inside organizations, where the methods behind the work remain invisible and accountability becomes harder to enforce. The episode examines why this concealment is structural rather than personal, showing how vague policies, limited training, and cultural stigma are encouraging silence. It also outlines the risks, from compliance breakdowns to weakened team dynamics, and offers a clear challenge to leaders: shift the focus from managing tools to building a culture where transparency, trust, and responsible AI use are the norm.

Based on Substack article:

https://dispatchesinternetpioneer.substack.com/p/everyones-using-genai-few-admit-it

Energetic Business Background Music by LolaMoore -- https://freesound.org/s/754966/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

In this episode, we explore what it truly means to be an ideal university CIO today, far beyond managing systems or fixing Wi-Fi. We discuss how the CIO has evolved into a strategic executive and cultural architect, responsible for aligning technology with mission, simplifying work, building trust, and guiding institutions through continual disruption. Drawing on real-world lessons and field-tested insights, we unpack what boards should look for, what candidates should hold firm to, and why this work demands clarity, courage, and deep alignment. Whether you’re a higher ed leader, an aspiring CIO, or someone fascinated by the intersection of technology and culture, this conversation offers a candid, inspiring guide to leadership that shapes the future.

Based on Substack article:

https://dispatchesinternetpioneer.substack.com/p/a-field-guide-to-hiring-the-ideal

Energetic Business Background Music by LolaMoore -- https://freesound.org/s/754966/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

What happens when the backbone of your IT infrastructure suddenly costs dramatically more? Broadcom’s overhaul of VMware pricing has left CIOs scrambling, caught between the risks of staying put and the costs of moving on. This episode unpacks the VMware dilemma: why the product is still indispensable for business continuity, why swapping it for another platform only trades one dependency for another, and why the real way out is a SaaS future.

Based on Substack article:

https://dispatchesinternetpioneer.substack.com/p/understanding-the-case-for-vmware

Energetic Business Background Music by LolaMoore -- https://freesound.org/s/754966/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

Hiring IT staff in higher education is harder than ever, but not for the reasons most people think. In this episode, we unpack why chasing mid-career “plug-and-play” hires is a trap that drains budgets, creates salary compression, and fuels churn; and why the only sustainable strategy is to hire at the entry level, promote from within, and build real pipelines of talent. We walk through five rules for making better hires, explore the five core competencies that matter more than any technical skill, and share practical interview questions and development practices that help leaders cultivate teams that thrive, grow, and stay.

Based on Substack article:

https://dispatchesinternetpioneer.substack.com/p/why-your-it-hiring-fails-and-how

Energetic Business Background Music by LolaMoore -- https://freesound.org/s/754966/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

In this episode, we unpack why ERP implementations, especially projects like Workday, are far more than system upgrades. They’re crucibles for leadership. We share the skills every future leader builds during an ERP rollout, from narrative intelligence to governance fluency, and explain how these high-stress, high-stakes projects accelerate personal and professional growth. Whether you’re in IT, finance, HR, or academic leadership, this is a conversation about how to lead real change and become the kind of leader institutions need next.

Based on Substack article:

https://dispatchesinternetpioneer.substack.com/p/a-professional-and-personal-development

Energetic Business Background Music by LolaMoore -- https://freesound.org/s/754966/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

This episode explores the subtle ways conversations shift from collaboration to confrontation, breaking down the five rungs of the negotiation escalation ladder. We discuss how to recognize each move, from quiet bargaining and extreme anchors to appeals to authority and personal attacks, and share practical strategies to stay grounded and protect relationships under pressure. You’ll learn how to respond with calm clarity instead of impulse, use tactical empathy to defuse tension, and preserve trust even when emotions run high. Whether you’re managing a tough deal or navigating delicate internal dynamics, this conversation offers a practical guide for leading with patience, awareness, and lasting credibility.

Based on Substack article:

Energetic Business Background Music by LolaMoore -- https://freesound.org/s/754966/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

In this episode, we explore what it really takes to build an AI-infused university, going beyond buzzwords to the infrastructure, people, and processes that make it possible. Drawing on a three-tiered approach to research computing, from powerful desktop workstations to flexible cloud resources to the central high-performance computing cluster, we discuss how universities can balance investments for maximum impact. We look at why embedding faculty leadership into these decisions is critical, and how aligning compute, expertise, and workflow can turn AI ambitions into real research breakthroughs.

Based on Substack article:

https://dispatchesinternetpioneer.substack.com/p/building-the-ai-infused-university

Energetic Business Background Music by LolaMoore -- https://freesound.org/s/754966/ -- License: Attribution 4.0