Show Notes
Season two of Bytes of Experience kicks off with a quick preview of what’s ahead. After a summer pause, Bo and Dana return energized and ready to dive into another year of honest, thoughtful conversations about leadership, technology, governance, and the realities facing higher education today.
They reflect on the start of the academic year — including the annual march of first‑year students past Bo’s house (“a sodled river of fresh tricolor heading to the stadium” ) — and talk about the themes shaping their thinking as they plan season two. From the financial pressures facing institutions, to the messy human side of leadership, to the accelerating impact of AI on campuses, to cybersecurity and the emerging conversation around sovereign cloud, they outline the topics they’re eager to explore with guests who are living these challenges firsthand.
Bo and Dana return with a quick preview of season two — what they learned last year, what’s changed, and what’s coming next. They touch on leadership, financial pressures, AI’s accelerating impact, and the constant reality of cybersecurity, setting the stage for a season of honest, grounded conversations about what’s really happening in higher ed.
More from Bytes of Experience : CIOs Unplugged
Bo and Dana talk with Dr. Jeffrey Gardiner about his groundbreaking research on why cybersecurity teams still experience major breaches despite strong tools, training, and budgets. Jeff explains how the profession uses the language of risk without actually practicing risk management, why leaders assume skills that aren’t there, and how “epistemic compression” undermines decision‑making. A practical, accessible conversation for CIOs, CISOs, and anyone responsible for organizational resilience.
Bo and Dana talk with Jill Kowalchuk from the University of Calgary about the realities of leading Research IT. Jill shares insights on collaboration, security, funding, and the growing demands placed on digital research infrastructure across Canadian campuses.
Bo and Dana wrap up Season 1 by reflecting on the themes that defined their conversations — trust, culture, crisis leadership, governance, and the deeply human side of IT. They share what surprised them, what they learned, and why their guests’ honesty and vulnerability made the season so special. A warm, grateful look back at the people and stories that shaped their first year — and a hint of what’s coming in Season 2.
Bo and Dana talk with Deloitte’s Mark DiNello and Manj Kanwal about the CIO Transition Lab — a structured approach to helping new tech leaders navigate their first 180 days. They explore why CIO transitions are uniquely hard, how to balance listening with action, and why time, talent, and relationships matter more than ever. A practical, candid look at what it really takes to land the CIO role successfully.
Bo and Dana talk with Axel Schulz from CANARIE about the evolution of shared cybersecurity services in Canada’s research and education network. Axel breaks down the strategic pillars, the rise of threat‑intel collaboration, and why higher ed’s decentralized culture makes partnership essential.