This weekend I was a spectator at two events:  the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), where I saw a world premiere of a Canadian movie, Murmur, and watched famous and not so famous people walk the red carpet. the US Open where I was one of millions watching from afar as 19 year old Bianca Andreescumade history…

Welcome Fall 2019! The start of a new fall semester is both energizing and overwhelming. How did we forget what it is like to have so MANY new students on campus? How did we forget how young and fresh they all look? How did we forget about the throngs that seem to carry us away…

Happy Anniversary - to me! Yes! As of tomorrow, August 20, 2019, I will have been a member of the McMaster community for a full two years. Wow, that went FAST...or maybe that is just logarithmic scaling at work? Or maybe it is true that time flies when you are having fun.  Regardless, a lot has…

Start with YES! Saying Yes brings great impact to our work environment. We held an IBM Design Thinking workshop on Friday with IBM facilitators and the process of ideation is very much about Yes...don't worry about limits, put the ideas out there and say Yes to the possibilities that result. The McMaster IT Strategic Plan is another example…

Good morning! I kicked off  August by heading north with my step children (Kate, Cam) to hunker down for a few days at a cottage on Clear Lake, just past Huntsville.We specifically sought out a cottage that was on water so that we could commune with it at all times and the weather was perfect…

Good morning! Are you feeling rested after the weekend? How did you sleep? Friday night for me was one of those nights where I just couldn't cool down and therefore didn't sleep all that well. That got me to thinking about sleep in general and how important and also elusive it can be. Just last…

Good morning What a glorious weekend of great summer weather! It is a great time to be outside enjoying nature. At the same time, summer is a time for books! The belief is that we are all lounging around on beaches or under trees, and we can read, read, read. And for many people that…

Good morning everyone What an amazing  weekend. The weather was hot, the sun was out and it feels like summer! I hiked the Rouge National Park and ate gelato so covered off two imperatives: nature and cold sweets. Hope you had some great experiences also. We in Higher Ed IT know that the summer months…

Good morning! And Happy July! I have been missing in action over the last few weeks, resulting in a decline in my regular updates. It was a very busy June (and parts of May) with travel and conferences. I am finished until the Fall semester now, and looking forward to reclaiming a routine once more.…

Good morning (apologies for the late posting of this blog) Did you know that there is an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Film Festival (EDIFF) happening this week? Indeed! It is being hosted by the UTS Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee and will take place in BSB 240 over EACH lunch hour this week - Bring…

Good morning, Colleagues I hope you all had a fantastic weekend. Happy belated Mother's Day those of you who are Mothers and/or provide the characteristics of a Mother by caring for someone important in your life. A few weeks ago I attended the McMaster TMG (The Management Group) Retreat. ”Leading Strategically Through Digital Transformation” was…

Good morning, colleagues I hope you had a great long weekend! I am thinking about comebacks today. In the past week I watched two ‘performances’ that could be classified as comeback moments, and I finished a biography that included a comeback event. All three got me to thinking about what it takes to be a…

Good morning, Colleagues Digital Transformation - have you heard that phrase lately? I am guessing you have - and if so, you might have been asking yourself, just what is it, anyway? Besides being the biggest catch phrase since 'bi-modal IT' and 'Big Data', digital transformation is being pursued by almost every organization. Just do…

Good morning colleagues It is the first day of April – and April Fool’s Day for those who choose to recognize it. I am sure there will be a few amusing activities happening around campus and beyond, so keep your guard up. Nature played a good joke on all of us yesterday… is that really…

Good morning, Colleagues Of conversations... Conversations are at the core of my professional life. When I meet someone new and I am asked what I do, I often respond with: “I talk for a living”. Many who know me will nod and agree that I do like to talk! And yes, I also disclose that…

Good morning, Colleagues Ah, books, how do I count the ways... Winter tends to be a time when people feel more inclined to snuggle up to a book - if they can stay awake during this time of hibernation. It is also the season for the CBC Canada Reads challenge, and the reading list has just…

Good morning everyone What a difference a week makes! Last week at this time I was in Miami for a long weekend of sun and fun, and I was also two days away from our big McMaster IT Strategic Plan Launch event on January 23. And now here I am in freezing Guelph/Hamilton (COLD) and…

Good morning everyone! I hope it was a great weekend - sunshine is a lovely thing. We are in a time of year when we are all impacted by the diminished sunshine, at a minimum we call it the winter blues, so even if it is cold, tip your head to the sunshine and take care.…

Good morning, Colleagues For many of you, this is the beginning of the semester. I hope you had a relaxing holiday and are feeling refreshed and ready for the exciting semester ahead of us. I decided to take a social media break over the holidays. I removed Twitter, Facebook and Instagram from both of my…

Good morning, colleagues A very Happy New Year wish for you! I hope you had a fantastic holiday break. I know for some the holiday continues through this week. If that is the case, enjoy! And for those of you who are here, welcome back and thank you! The way I see IT...a new approach…

Good morning! This is the LAST message I will be sending for 2018! I cannot believe it. The calendar year has gone so very fast and December appears to be even faster than the rest - not a terribly big surprise given that we will be off for a third of it. What I learned…

Good morning colleagues It feels like the holiday season has begun: I attended the UTS Holiday season kick off last Monday, and the VP Admin Holiday Open House on Friday am. My tree is decorated, my urns are filled with greenery, my door wears a wreath. My stepchildren (Cam and Kate - adults to be…

Good Monday Morning We have an astronaut on his way to the Space Station this morning! The Soyuz rocket with David Saint-Jacques on board is in flight!  What a great way to start the week. What I learned last week: I attended two MacBuy project related activities last week: 1) the MacBuy Town Hall which…

It is the LAST week of November and I am in the throes of wintry contradictions: I have been in a few snowstorms already (up north, out east!) and didn't like it one bit; I have broken out my super-duper winter coat and love wearing it as it is light and warm; I am glad…

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend. Sunshine, cooler temps, and snow in Guelph. As a reaction to the now, I finally brought in my lawn furniture (yikes) and have my snow shovel at the ready. Hope you are mentally prepared for winter, too! What I learned last week: I met with Norm…

Good morning Daylight Savings Time. An extra hour of sleep (so they say). And relentlessly controversial with many countries debating its future. For someone like me, an early riser, it has its (sun) ups. However I am also guaranteed that I will be mostly driving home in the dark, which is always a bit of a downer.…

Good morning! I saw snow on the weekend - not a lot of it, but it was there all the same. I will have my snow tires on as of October 31, at which time I will accept whatever comes from the sky (hopefully NOT cats and dogs). And I am guessing that what will…

Good Monday Morning! It is municipal election day for many of us - I hope we all find time to VOTE today. Without much effort I found the 2018 Ontario Municipal Elections results website so you can keep it handy for the aftermath of your own voting efforts. What I learned last week: At last! I am…

Good morning everyone The leaves are hitting their prime colouring now and I am pleased that I got to spend some time outdoors on the weekend enjoying the sunshine and the colours. I was in Kingston, and by coincidence was able to watch our Women's Rugby team take on the Queen's Gaels in their semi…

Good morning colleagues I hope you had a fantastic long weekend, celebrating Thanksgiving with your family and friends. There is so much for us to be thankful for - taking time to feel grateful can make the ordinary extraordinary in all aspects of our lives. What I learned last week Most of last week I…

Good morning from Ottawa I am here for the CANARIE National Summit, preceded by meetings today at the CANARIE head office. I arrived here on Friday night to join a few of my university friends to cheer on Carleton University Ravens at the annual Panda Game against the Ottawa University GeeGees (stands for Grey and…

Good morning everyone! This will be a brief update for you all. I am fresh off my vacation and unfortunately flight issues resulted in my return a day later than expected - swallowing any of my usual work prep time yesterday so I haven't had time to get myself sorted out fully. What I learned…

Good morning Colleagues Where did all the warm weather go?! Yesterday, I walked around my house wearing layers of clothes and even put on socks. I never wear socks this early in the fall! Stay warm and dry today, everyone. What I learned last week On Tuesday, I presented a draft version of the McMaster…

Good morning Colleagues Welcome back from the long weekend, and for some of you, summer vacation. It is HERE! The new semester begins. My weekend highlight: a ride in a good friend's Model 3 Tesla! Sadly I was so excited I didn't get a picture. The car is very cool. Salim Ismail's book, Exponential Organizations…

Good morning colleagues! The students are back and it is Welcome Week here at McMaster! Enjoy the increased tempo and excitement - and please remember to smile and help our students to feel welcome (even if the line ups, few parking spaces and foot traffic impacts you!). We are here to support them, after all. …

Good morning everyone I hope it was a wonderful weekend for you all. What I learned last week As I think you all know (maybe you don't in which case you will now!) I am working on a McMaster IT Strategic Plan. It has been an invigorating and engaging activity, resulting in my continued optimism…

Good morning We are in the 'dog days of summer'. I have always believed that to be August more generally, however it appears that it really runs from July to August and isn't necessarily tied to the weather as much as the stars! I hope you all embraced the amazing weather most of this past…

Good morning There was an unusually large full moon (blood moon) over the weekend, and in many places around the world a lunar eclipse. It rained in Guelph so no sightings for me - hoping some of you caught a glimpse. What I have been up to since my last update Strategic Planning activities: I…

Good morning! I returned to work from my week on PEI Wednesday of last week. PEI is an excellent location for a week of relaxation - sunshine, beaches, seafood, music and wonderful sightseeing - if you have not been to PEI I do highly recommend it. My Mom and I stayed in Charlottetown and we…

Happy Monday everyone! Have you heard of the Big Chute marine railway? I hadn't before this weekend. I was on a boat in the Port Severn area so able to see this amazing feat of engineering in action -  it was really fascinating - check it out! What I learned last week It was a short…

Good morning, everyone Happy belated Canada Day to you all. I hope it was a wonderful weekend. It definitely felt like summer. What I learned last week: I joined in on the University of Guelph presentations on their O365 roll out which Sue McKinlay hosted last Monday. There was really good material about the planning,…

Good Monday morning! Hoping everyone had a great weekend. I returned from BC on Sunday. CanHEIT finished up on Thursday and then I stayed on with friends until yesterday. It was cooler but still a nice place to spend a few days. I wish I could tell you I did all sorts of great west coast…

Good day! I am at CanHEIT and as a result missed my usual send date for my weekly message. It is absolutely lovely here at Simon Fraser University - and the weather is great, too. There are a few of us here from Mac: Joj, Rob, Gerry, Carmalita, Paula, Sue, Doris, Richard, Ken Moyle from…

Good morning! Here is a quick run down of the week that has passed and the week to come: What I learned last week A substantial amount of my time last week was invested in the McMaster IT Strategic Planning sessions for the IT community. We had 4 x 2 hour sessions and they were…

Good morning! June ...  I love the way the spring/summer semester feels so long at the beginning with all its promise of productivity and activity, and then it just goes by so quickly! What I learned last week Picking up my aforementioned internal tensions between the gift of time and the fact that there never…

Good morning colleagues What great weekend weather! I am hopeful that you all enjoyed a bit (or a lot) of time outdoors. This email gets a #longread warning! A reminder that these updates are posted on my website as well, usually the same day they are sent out. What I learned last week: As you…

Good morning everyone from Sunny Sudbury I am here for the OHEIT conference until Wednesday night - I will be back in the office on Thursday. I came up a day early to hang out with a friend of mine and had an amazing time wandering around Ramsey Lake, where Laurentian University sits (see pic…

Good morning I hope everyone had a great weekend! What I learned last week I was in San Diego for part of the week. While I was there, the Internet2 Global Summit conference was in full swing. Although I wasn't an attendee, I managed to find opportunities to connect with a few of my colleagues…

Good morning everyone, I am in sunny sunny San Diego (or as one of my USC colleagues calls it: Sandy Eggo). This is a city I love and have had the good fortune to visit on a number of vacations. Something for everyone - my favourite things are the ocean and fish tacos. I am…

Good morning everyone Some of you know that I have been shopping for a new car - well I bought one this weekend! I am the proud owner of a 2018 Honda Civic Sport Touring Hatchback. I pick it up on Wednesday. You can see a few pics attached. :) What I learned last week…

Good morning Spring at last! Crocuses, birds (including a mallard duck pair), a slow moving fly (just one), people wearing shorts(!), the first BBQ hamburgers of the season, my stepdaughter Kate moving back in, and other signs of spring were noticed around my home this weekend. I hope you had your own spring awakening. What…

Good morning everyone I hope you had a safe weekend. The weather was pretty nasty. A good weekend to stay indoors and hope for warmer temps. The campus was closed all weekend as a result of the weather as you are likely aware. I want to thank some of our team members who get involved…

Good morning everyone I hope you all had a great weekend. It wasn't exactly spring (snow on Friday night here in Guelph) however the Masters golf tournament was on, and over the years that has come to signify the start of a new golf season, and therefore spring/summer. Not sure things are mapping out quite…

Welcome to April. I have a crocus popping up in my yard, and I am going to schedule to have the winter tires on my car removed in the next week or two, very different but sure signs of spring! What I learned last week I attended the Gartner CIO Leadership Forum in Hollywood Florida…

Good morning, everyone As I send this out, I am in sunny Florida (OK it IS warm, too), attending the Gartner CIO Leadership Forum. It's a jam packed agenda with a a combination of workshops, round tables, Analyst 1:1s and some really great Keynotes. You will notice that Lisa Bodell is speaking - I just…

Good morning everyone   What I learned last week: We had a campus power outage on Saturday night, FYI, in the event you see any irregularities on your desktop or systems that you support. Please do escalate if there are any lasting issues or concerns. It lasted from around 10:30 PM until 3:00 AM. Thanks…

Good morning! I hope you all have a SPRING in your step after the clocks moved forward on the weekend. They say it only takes a day or two to recover from the change - but I will leave that up to you! It will definitely feel good to have more light later into the evenings. What…

Good afternoon everyone I am a bit late with my weekly update as a result of a flight cancellation. I am currently stuck in the Prairies after a weekend away, but hopefully flying out this afternoon for an evening arrival in TO.  As we all know, travel is not always a predictable experience. I rarely…

Good morning The end of the Olympics, the end of winter (maybe?), the end of another weekend. And onto a great week ahead for everyone. What I learned last week Short weeks sometimes feel LONG! Perhaps from cramming too much in, even despite some cancelled meetings. Maybe not enough coffee with our BSB coffee shop…

Good morning everyone I hope you had a great long weekend. I spent some of my time up in Collingwood. It was a nice weather weekend for outdoor activities - and for doing a lot of relaxing and Olympics watching, too! What I learned last week: The Silhouette, our student newspaper, reported on a recent…

What I learned last week: The latter part of my week was taken up with the CUCCIO Winter 2018 meeting - February 7 -9. We had close to 60 participants at the University Club over three days. As mentioned in last week's update, we had an array of guest speakers: Alex Usher (HESA); Jim Ghadbaine(CANARIE);…

Good morning everyone Hoping you all had a good weekend. I have succumbed to one of those lovely (not) colds that are going around so won't be into the office today. Trying to spare you all the germs. I am taking expired cold medicine and drinking lots of tea - I will be back! What…

Good morning! Winter is back! Since I am an early riser, I was thinking the other morning how odd it seems that the mornings are darker even though the days are getting longer. But of course, someone has explained this...albeit back in 2016. You just have to adjust the time a bit for our location…

Good morning, I was on campus on Saturday with my Mother, Anna - she has never been to McMaster and it was a beautiful day to tour her around and buy her some swag, and get the compulsory picture with Senator McMaster.  She enjoyed it and so did I. What I learned last week: I…

Good morning everyone I noticed that my Subject line last week had the wrong YEAR in it - 2017 instead of 2018. Perhaps I was still getting adjusted to this new number, but have corrected it in this week's subject line. It is fair to say that the year and the semester are now in full swing.…

Happy New Year to all of you - welcome back! I hope you had a fantastic break. It was cold, and unfortunately for some, there was unexpected work (thank you to those of you involved for the extra effort), however, I am optimistic that you carved out time for family, friends and some personal reflection…

Good morning This is our last work week of 2017. And, therefore, the last of my weekly messages for 2017.  Given that we had our All Staff meeting and lunch last week, and on top of that there were a number of other lunches and holiday activities, I can say quite honestly that I am…

Good morning, It is the week before the week before the holiday break! The semester is rapidly coming to a close. This week is jam-packed with Holiday events. Pace yourselves. :) What I learned last week: I had a great meeting with Chukky Ibe, President of the McMaster Students Union and John McGowan the MSU…

Good morning, Welcome, December! It appears that winter is waiting to make a big entrance. Still no snow? I spent the weekend in Montreal and there was no snow there, either. They have a lot of outdoor exhibits and activities to celebrate the winter season, however. One fun activity I had a chance to do…

Good morning, I hope you had a great weekend. I spent time outside on Saturday, walking in the woods north of Guelph, and also walking a Labyrinth on a private property owned my the family of a friend of mine. I learned from someone who led me in the process that this is a form…

Good morning, This is lucky week 13 in my McMaster journey and I also pass the official 3 month mark on Tuesday. I am so pleased to be part of the McMaster team, and I want to thank all of you for your support. It is a pleasure to work with you. What I learned…

Good morning, I hope everyone had a great weekend. My updates for this week: What I learned last week: the biggest highlight of the week was the meeting Richard, Kevin and I had with Meghan Kirwin to discuss our leadership styles and our 'norms' for working together as a team. It was a great session…