In this episode of Bytes of Experience, Bo and Dana talk with Michael Barr, CIO at the University of Saskatchewan, about what it really takes to lead IT across very different institutional cultures — from a polytechnic, to a non‑U15 university, to a major U15 research institution. Michael brings a rare comparative perspective shaped by years at SAIT, MacEwan, and now USask. We explore how priorities shift across sectors, why pace and “clock speed” matter, and how community expectations — from faculty to industry partners — shape leadership practice. Michael also shares candid reflections on politics, governance, vendor strategy, burnout, and the mental shift required when moving between environments. From the six‑hour weekly commute that fuels his thinking time to the realities of supporting hundreds of specialized learning spaces, Michael offers grounded insights for CIOs navigating scale, complexity, and cultural friction. Topics include: • How leadership pressures differ across polytechnic, non‑U15, and U15 institutions • Why polytechnics operate at a faster “clock speed” • Community expectations and cultural differences between trades‑based and research‑based environments • Vendor strategy, staffing, and operational constraints across sectors • Governance, politics, and the art of influencing senates, unions, and deans • The mental cost of always being “on” — and how pace shapes leadership • What CIOs can learn from working in radically different institutional models Book Recommendation: Workflow Modeling: Tools for Process Improvement and Applications Development by Alec Sharpe.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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