The Best You - A Coaching Podcast: Personal Growth Through Real Conversations · Gary Gillan

Leading and Innovation with Cherie Bowker

·42 min

Sherry Bowker, Dean of SADT at Southern Alberta Institute for Technology, discusses her 25+ year journey in education and current role in tech leadership. Despite being naturally shy (took waitressing to learn to speak), she's had an intrinsic drive to teach since age 9. Her arc moves from designer to educator to administrator. She discusses why she took the dean role—testing if she could lead effectively, and finding that genuine care for faculty/students creates a culture where people want to work hard together. Core philosophy: leadership means being the foundation that holds others up, not stepping on people to climb. She contrasts two types of leaders: those who elevate collaborative teams, and those in it for themselves. Key insight: mentors who fight for you matter—they change everything. Current position at SADT offers this culture—collaborative, supportive, innovative.

As heard by us

A grounded leadership conversation that values trust and institutional health over ego.

A dean stepping into a new tech and education role makes for a practical conversation about what leadership is for. The episode keeps coming back to trust, context, and the work of making an organization stronger without flattening the people inside it.

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Why you'd press play

A reflective look at leadership in education and tech.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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