Sabina Posadziejewski on Shaping Canada’s Tech Future
- Overcoming the loss of her mother and taking responsibility for her younger brother.
- Pursuing education and independence despite challenging circumstances.
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Overview
In this episode of The Brand Called You (TBCY), host Stephen Ibaraki sits down with Sabina Posadziejewski, CEO of the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS), to discuss her remarkable 40-plus-year journey in IT, the evolution of professional standards, and CIPS’s vision for the future.
Sabina shares her personal story of perseverance, her people-centred leadership philosophy, and the pivotal role CIPS continues to play in advancing the IT profession in Canada and internationally.
01:22 – What personal and professional experiences shaped Sabina’s journey?
- Overcoming the loss of her mother and taking responsibility for her younger brother.
- Pursuing education and independence despite challenging circumstances.
- Choosing computer science over linguistics and singing for its long-term career potential.
- Completing an Executive MBA amid significant personal and professional challenges.
- Developing the resilience, adaptability, and work ethic that shaped her leadership.
06:02 – How did Sabina’s upbringing and early exposure to computing influence her career?
- Learning about her mother’s work as one of Canada’s early IBM operators, working with punch cards.
- Being encouraged by her father to pursue education and financial independence.
- Exploring computers, languages, and singing during high school.
- Choosing computer science as a practical career path and a tribute to her mother.
- Overcoming challenges in mathematics through determination and perseverance.
07:32 – What formative experiences shaped Sabina’s leadership across the public and private sectors?
- Gaining experience with Cognos and IBM and learning from North American and European technology cultures.
- Taking on an early management role at Finlay Forest Industries and mentoring future IT leaders.
- Contributing to the legal recognition of the Information Systems Professional (ISP) designation in Alberta.
- Earning a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Alberta.
- Continuing to contribute to CIPS, including through her work representing Alberta.
12:11 – How did Sabina contribute to international publications and conference leadership?
- Chairing and co-chairing e-government security initiatives for the IFIP World Congress.
- Co-editing conference proceedings on security in e-services.
- Promoting international collaboration on technology standards and ethics.
- Highlighting the rapid pace of technological change and the need for robust safeguards to protect society.
20:02 – What distinguished Sabina’s executive leadership in federal and provincial government?
- Leading IT modernization as CIO of Western Economic Diversification Canada.
- Integrating multiple distributed IT functions into a unified departmental structure.
- Directing the establishment and expansion of Shared Services Canada in Western and Northern Canada.
- Managing large-scale organizational transformation affecting hundreds of employees.
- Leading major technology transformation initiatives for Alberta’s People, Families and Communities portfolio, supporting services for vulnerable citizens.
- Learning the importance of employee engagement, communication, and listening during periods of change.
34:20 – What is Bodacious Excellence, and how does it reflect Sabina’s leadership philosophy?
- Establishing a professional identity centred on service and measurable quality.
- Combining strategic assessment, governance, IT service management, and change management.
- Emphasizing energy, attention to detail, mentorship, and leading by example.
41:03 – What are Sabina’s priorities and vision for CIPS?
- Increasing membership, participation, and engagement.
- Building sustainable revenue through sponsorships and partnerships.
- Expanding professional development opportunities and events, both online and in person.
- Strengthening the value of professional IT designations, including ISP and ITCP.
- Connecting with businesses and the next generation of IT professionals.
- Encouraging collaboration and input from members across Canada.
RESOURCES
Learn more about Sabina Posadziejewski on LinkedIn.
ENJOYED THIS PODCAST?
Sabina’s decision to pursue an Executive MBA at Queen’s University became a turning point in her life. While navigating single parenthood, job loss, stress, and grief, she discovered the strength to persevere and rebuild.
As Sabina reflects:
“I went to the bottom of the barrel and was able to become resilient and believe that I can do anything.”
Her journey reminds us that resilience, continuous learning, and determination can help us overcome challenges and discover new possibilities.
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Thanks for listening!
Profile
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Sabina Posadziejewski is the CEO of the Canadian Information Processing Society (CIPS).
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Brings over 40 years of experience in IT, contributing to the evolution of the technology profession.
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Champions people-centred leadership, perseverance, and professional standards in the IT industry.
