In this episode of Candid Conversations, Chris and Candice sit down with Jen Anderson, Assistant Director of IT at the School of Information Sciences, and Lauren Gray, Data Analyst and Decision Support and Strategy Lead at Gies College of Business. Both guests are 2025 alumni from the University of Illinois IT Leadership Workshop, a three-month leadership development program for IT and IT-adjacent leaders on campus, and they reflect on how the experience changed the way they think about leadership, communication, and growth.

Jen and Lauren discuss what motivated them to join ITLW, the leadership gaps they hoped to address, and the biggest challenges they faced during the workshop. Both point to the group project as a defining experience, especially the challenge of working with peers who all brought leadership strengths to the table. Their conversation highlights the realities of collaboration, navigating different voices, and learning how to lead when no one person is officially in charge.

The episode also explores how both have applied what they learned in practical ways at work. Jen shares how she has become more intentional about communication, especially when working with remote employees and ensuring that important conversations do not stay trapped in hallway chats. Lauren talks about using feedback more deliberately, developing a client feedback survey, and continuing to seek input as she takes on new projects and responsibilities. Together, they reflect on the value of time management, self-awareness, delegation, and learning to lead with greater purpose.

The conversation closes with broader reflections on leadership, including common mistakes emerging leaders make, the importance of understanding culture before making big changes, and the difference between leadership and title. Jen and Lauren also offer advice for early-career professionals: build strong habits, say yes to growth opportunities, and stay open to discomfort because that is often where confidence develops. It is an honest, thoughtful, and encouraging episode about becoming a leader intentionally and learning to grow one step at a time.

Candice and Chris are IT leaders at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and collectively have more than 50 years of experience working in higher education. Candice is currently the Senior Director of IT Partners at the College of Applied Health Sciences and Chris is the Chief Information Officer and Senior Director of IT Partners at the Gies College of Business.

In this episode of Candid Conversations, Chris and Candice welcome Venetria K. Patton, the Harry E. Preble Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Dean Patton reflects on the leadership journey that brought her from faculty roles in English and African American studies to major administrative positions at Purdue University and the University of Illinois. She opens up about the early experiences that shaped her understanding of leadership, including serving on a graduate advisory committee and learning the value of having a seat at the table where decisions are made.

Patton also shares the influence of mentors and role models who modeled strong leadership through listening, thoughtfulness, and the ability to navigate conflict. Just as important, she explains how she learned from less effective leaders by observing what not to do. That perspective helped her develop a leadership philosophy centered on integrity, collaboration, and inclusive decision-making, with a focus on creating environments where people feel heard, valued, and empowered to contribute.

The conversation turns to her academic work and the challenge of balancing scholarship with the demands of being dean of the largest college on campus. Patton discusses her research on Black women writers and the Harlem Renaissance, along with the ongoing projects she continues to pursue while managing a packed administrative schedule. She also speaks about the college’s future, including online degree completion, AI, academic freedom, personalized education, and the need to help LAS stand out as a place of broad expertise and impact across many disciplines.

Later in the episode, Patton reflects on the habits that sustain her, from intentional work-life integration to protecting time for family, rest, and even a relaxing hair appointment. She also shares a surprising personal side: her background as a dancer, soccer player, coach, and referee, and how those experiences still shape her leadership today. The conversation closes with a thoughtful reminder that people should not postpone their lives in pursuit of work alone, and that balance, joy, and purpose matter now.

Candice and Chris are IT leaders at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and collectively have more than 50 years of experience working in higher education. Candice is currently the Senior Director of IT Partners at the College of Applied Health Sciences and Chris is the Chief Information Officer and Senior Director of IT Partners at the Gies College of Business.

In this episode, Chris and Candice go one-on-one for a candid conversation sparked by Chris’s recent Substack post, “Leading Through Our Fractures.” They open by grounding the moment in Black History Month, with Candice noting its significance and encouraging listeners to keep learning because Black history is American history. From there, the episode settles into a reflective, personal discussion about leadership, identity, and the real stories that shape how we show up at work.

Chris introduces the core idea behind “leading through our fractures”: the belief that leaders don’t become credible by appearing flawless—they become relatable by acknowledging what’s real. He connects this to the Japanese art of kintsugi, where broken pottery is repaired with gold, making the cracks part of the beauty rather than something to hide. Candice shares why this resonated so deeply: our flaws and missteps aren’t just baggage, they’re often the very things that make us uniquely grounded, empathetic, and effective—if we learn how to carry them with intention.

Together, they explore the tricky middle ground between being an authentic, vulnerable leader and oversharing in a way that becomes unsteady or inappropriate. Candice talks about learning where that line is by watching examples of what not to do, and by paying attention to feedback when she shares something personal in a way that helps others grow. They dig into empathy too—how it’s less about claiming you “know exactly how someone feels” and more about listening, asking questions, and letting your own experiences with challenge make you more compassionate without turning it into a comparison game.

The conversation gets personal as both reflect on how childhood experiences echo into adulthood leadership. Chris names the lingering impact of not being “picked” growing up, and how that quietly fueled a need for approval and expertise—until he learned to notice it and choose differently. He also brings in ideas from Positive Intelligence (and the notion of internal “saboteurs”), sharing how his own restlessness can push unnecessary change unless he checks his motives. They wrap on a lyrical note, referencing a line Candice highlighted—about broken pieces, scars, and harmony—underscoring the episode’s theme: when leaders embrace the cracks with honesty and boundaries, they don’t look weaker… they look more whole.

To read the article that inspired this epiosde, please visit https://thinkfeellead.substack.com/p/leading-through-our-fractures