Be the Disrupter: Modernizing IT with Purpose (with Andrew Moore)

Andrew Moore has spent more than 40 years in IT, and as Chief Information Officer at Colorado School of Mines, he's built a reputation for choosing disruption over the easy path. In this episode, Andrew shares his philosophy on the two types of CIOs — the ones who keep the lights on, and the ones who push for change — and how Mines' size and culture let IT move faster than most institutions. He also walks through how one simple frustration, not being able to connect to wifi between buildings, sparked a network overhaul that now reaches football stadiums, parking garages, and even a 100-year-old working mine.  It's a conversation about seeing the bigger picture, embracing your ability to effect change, and having the courage to move first. Andrew Moore, Chief Information Officer, Colorado School of Mines Andrew Moore became CIO at Colorado School of Mines in 2022, bringing IT and executive leadership experience from Chevron, Sun Microsystems, and Boulder Valley School District. He leads Mines' AI acceleration efforts and holds an MBA from the University of Colorado along with degrees in computer science and sociology. Andrew is also the mayor of Erie, Colorado. Connect with Andrew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewjmoore/  0:00 – Introduction & welcome  3:14 – Andrew's introduction: from Chevron and Sun Microsystems to Mines  6:52 – Two types of IT leaders: stability vs. disruption  9:08 – The wireless dead zone that started Mines' network overhaul  16:36 – How to bring disruptive ideas to life without losing the room  20:00 – Why equity drives Andrew's approach to connectivity and AI  25:06 – Competing with MIT and Stanford: Mines' AI-powered recruiting assistant  29:20 – Inside the Beck Venture Center, Labriola Innovation Hub, and McNeil Center  37:23 – The 30-hour workweek experiment  44:48 – Question from the Jar 🗨️ Mentioned in this episode:  → R1 research institution — Carnegie Classification for universities with the highest level of research activity: https://carnegieclassifications.acenet.edu/ → The Beck Venture Center — Mines' on-campus hub supporting student entrepreneurs, including a pitch room for venture capital: https://ventures.mines.edu/ → Labriola Innovation Hub — Mines' student makerspace with a metal shop, wood shop, and 3D printing: https://labriola.mines.edu/ → McNeil Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation — Mines' student-focused center for entrepreneurship education and venture support: https://mcneil.mines.edu/ → Edgar Mine — Mines' historic teaching mine near Idaho Springs, used for hands-on instruction: https://mining.mines.edu/edgar-experimental-mine/ → ConnectME — Andrew's internet-access equity program from his time at Boulder Valley School District: https://www.bvsd.org/departments/information-technology/connect-me → Duolingo: https://www.duolingo.com/ (yes, you can learn Klingon!) New episodes every other Wednesday. Connect with us: 🌐 highpointnetworks.com 📱 LinkedIn, Instagram & Facebook: @highpointnetworks Subscribe — Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube | And wherever you listen. Get to the Point is produced by High Point Networks for informational purposes only. Guests include High Point Networks professionals as well as subject matter experts from across the industry, each speaking from their own experience and expertise. Content shared is intended as general information and should be evaluated within the context of your specific organization and circumstances. Views expressed by outside guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of High Point Networks or its affiliates. High Point Networks assumes no liability for decisions or actions taken based on content discussed in this podcast.