Higher ed IT isn’t just about technology—it’s about leadership, strategy, and navigating the unique challenges of institutional culture. And we’ve seen it all. Two retired Canadian Higher Ed CIOs—and CUCCIO CIO of the Year winners—Bo Wandschneider and Dana Sanderson—bring decades of experience tackling technology, governance, and innovation in Canadian universities. In Bytes of Experience: CIOs Unplugged, they cut through the noise to discuss real challenges, real solutions, and the realities of IT leadership. Expect deep insights, candid discussions, and plenty of humor—because IT isn’t always glamorous, but it’s always interesting. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to the field, join them for an unfiltered look at the digital evolution of higher ed IT.
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Higher ed IT isn’t just about technology—it’s about leadership, strategy, and navigating the unique challenges of institutional culture. And we’ve seen it all. Two retired Canadian Higher Ed CIOs—and CUCCIO CIO of the Year winners—Bo Wandschneider and Dana Sanderson—bring decades of experience tackling technology, governance, and innovation in Canadian universities. In Bytes of Experience: CIOs Unplugged, they cut through the noise to discuss real challenges, real solutions, and the realities of IT leadership. Expect deep insights, candid discussions, and plenty of humor—because IT isn’t always glamorous, but it’s always interesting. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to the field, join them for an unfiltered look at the digital evolution of higher ed IT.
Gayleen Gray joins us to explore why cutting IT is short-sighted—and how strategic investment, benchmarking, and digital transformation can build resilience and efficiency.
CISO Isaac Straley joins Bo and Dana to explore boardroom politics, incident response chaos, and the delicate art of risk translation. A candid look at security leadership in higher ed—with a glimpse into CanSSOC’s evolving role.
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.
Bo and Dana unpack cultural tensions in higher ed IT—change resistance, governance, and digital gaps—while profiling CIO Abby Lee’s daily balancing act of diplomacy, strategy, and storytelling.
Bo and Dana explore five CIO themes—tech translation, governance, influence, emotional intelligence, and accountability—plus stories on trust, partnerships, and digital wins. Part 2 will dive into cultural conflict and a CIO’s daily reality.
Bo and Dana reflect on decades of higher ed IT—from punch cards to cloud—sharing lessons on governance, funding, and strategy, plus insights on AI, security, accessibility, and leadership through change.
In the pilot, Bo and Dana share their paths to CIO leadership, reflecting on career pivots and the evolving role. They introduce the podcast’s mission: candid conversations on IT strategy, AI, governance, and leadership in higher ed.
Higher ed IT isn’t just about technology—it’s about leadership, strategy, and navigating the unique challenges of institutional culture. And we’ve seen it all. Two retired Canadian Higher Ed CIOs—and CUCCIO CIO of the Year winners—Bo Wandschneider and Dana Sanderson—bring decades of experience tackling technology, governance, and innovation in Canadian universities. In Bytes of Experience: CIOs Unplugged, they cut through the noise to discuss real challenges, real solutions, and the realities of IT leadership. Expect deep insights, candid discussions, and plenty of humor—because IT isn’t always glamorous, but it’s always interesting. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or new to the field, join them for an unfiltered look at the digital evolution of higher ed IT.
