In 2024, I completed the CAUDIT Managers program, which provided a fresh perspective on leadership and strategic delivery. Putting those lessons to the ultimate test in 2025, I volunteered for a daunting challenge: migrating our University fleet from Windows 10 to Windows 11 ahead of its end-of-life deadline.

This was a high-stakes, complex undertaking. Rather than relying on external contractors or a dedicated PMO, I took a leap of faith to lead the migration internally while balancing my existing BAU responsibilities. The results were significant: by leveraging management frameworks and leadership principles learned through CAUDIT, we delivered the project successfully, on time, and—crucially—under budget, saving the University substantial costs.

This session moves beyond the technical specifications of a rollout to tell a story of resourcefulness and "learning by doing." I will share the real-world challenges of managing a massive project alongside a daily workload, the importance of stakeholder engagement in a tertiary environment, and the retrospective lessons learned from a journey that was far from perfect but ultimately successful.

Attendees will gain insights into:

• Applying CAUDIT Managers program principles to high-pressure, institutional project delivery.
• Strategies for in-sourcing complex migrations to achieve significant cost efficiencies.
• Navigating the delicate balance between strategic project leadership and operational continuity.

This presentation demonstrates how management training empowers ICT professionals to step out of their comfort zones and lead the sector’s most critical projects from within.