Bytes of Experience : CIOs Unplugged

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):
Commitment, Courage, Cognizance of Bias, Curiosity, Cultural Intelligence, and Collaboration — and how these traits show up in daily leadership practice.

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.
We also explore his shift from Deputy CIO to Strategic Advisor for Digital Innovation at Sheridan, where he focused on long‑term thinking, institutional differentiation, and revenue diversification. Richard shares lessons about influence without authority, the value of protected thinking time, and adapting to new tech stacks and national policies. His reflections offer grounded insights for anyone navigating change or leading digital strategy in higher education.

 

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.
Ridley shares candid insights into the cultural dynamics between libraries and IT, the importance of not fully merging the organizations, and the critical role of strong delegated leadership in making the model work. He also discusses the national context, including how library‑sector collaboration helped inspire the formation of CUCCIO. 
The conversation offers practical lessons for institutions considering similar models: focus on information rather than technology or collections, invest in leadership capacity at all levels, and recognize the deep cultural identities within both libraries and IT.

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.