Derek
@derekwmiller.com
Father, husband, gamer, & technology guru.
Leadership is not a job title. If you are moving forward and no one is following, you are not leading, you are just walking. Influence is earned through trust, consistency, and listening, not position. #Leadership #ITLeadership
#itleadership #leadershipdevelopment #technologyleadership #higheredit #k12it #professionalgrowth #nced #servantleadership | Derek Miller
The Position Myth: Leadership Is Not a Job Title
One of the most common myths I still see in IT, especially in higher education and K-12 environments, is the belief that leadership only starts once y...
www.linkedin.com
January 8, 2026 at 12:37 AM
Leadership is not a job title. If you are moving forward and no one is following, you are not leading, you are just walking. Influence is earned through trust, consistency, and listening, not position. #Leadership #ITLeadership
Unexpected grants and donations are a good problem to have, but they test leadership. The challenge shifts from finding money to stewarding it wisely. Avoid shiny tools, plan for sustainability, and invest where impact lasts. How do you prepare?
#NCED
#NCED
#itleadership #technologyleadership #strategicleadership #executiveleadership #leadershipdevelopment | Derek Miller
When Opportunity Creates a New Kind of Leadership Challenge
As IT leaders, we are used to working within constraints.
We identify needs, set goals, build plans, and then do the hard work of alignin...
www.linkedin.com
January 3, 2026 at 1:40 AM
Unexpected grants and donations are a good problem to have, but they test leadership. The challenge shifts from finding money to stewarding it wisely. Avoid shiny tools, plan for sustainability, and invest where impact lasts. How do you prepare?
#NCED
#NCED
Windows 11 is leveling up accessibility with built-in tools like Live Captions across apps and audio, Magnifier, Color Filters, and Narrator. These features empower learners now and carry into the workforce without relying on niche tools. How are you teaching and using these? #NCED #Accessibility
#nced #accessibility #edtech #itleadership #inclusivedesign #digitalequity | Derek Miller
Accessibility That Empowers: Why Windows 11 Matters in Education and the Workforce
Windows 11 accessibility is one of those areas where quiet innovation is creating real impact, yet it often flies un...
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December 31, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Windows 11 is leveling up accessibility with built-in tools like Live Captions across apps and audio, Magnifier, Color Filters, and Narrator. These features empower learners now and carry into the workforce without relying on niche tools. How are you teaching and using these? #NCED #Accessibility
Two clocks. One strategy.
As we head into a new calendar year, education leaders are also racing toward a June fiscal finish line. What we deliver in the next six months should support the culture and direction we’re building for 2026 and beyond.
#NCED
As we head into a new calendar year, education leaders are also racing toward a June fiscal finish line. What we deliver in the next six months should support the culture and direction we’re building for 2026 and beyond.
#NCED
#nced #higheredit #itleadership #educationalleadership #strategicplanning #fiscalresponsibility #changemanagement #highereducation | Derek Miller
Two Clocks. One Strategy.
This week always feels a little different as a leader.
The calendar is nudging us toward 2026 and long-range thinking, while the fiscal year is quietly reminding us that we...
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December 26, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Two clocks. One strategy.
As we head into a new calendar year, education leaders are also racing toward a June fiscal finish line. What we deliver in the next six months should support the culture and direction we’re building for 2026 and beyond.
#NCED
As we head into a new calendar year, education leaders are also racing toward a June fiscal finish line. What we deliver in the next six months should support the culture and direction we’re building for 2026 and beyond.
#NCED
We call it “self-service,” but too often it just shifts friction to the user. Rigid portals, silent denials, and endless resubmits replace common sense and human resolution. Technology should solve problems, not deflect them. #NCED
#itleadership #highered #digitaltransformation #userexperience #edtech #processimprovement #nced | Derek Miller
The Myth of “Self-Service” in Education and IT
We often describe portals, forms, and workflows as self-service. The assumption is that technology makes things faster, easier, and more efficient.
In ...
www.linkedin.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:05 AM
We call it “self-service,” but too often it just shifts friction to the user. Rigid portals, silent denials, and endless resubmits replace common sense and human resolution. Technology should solve problems, not deflect them. #NCED
Layer Eight is the real layer above the OSI model. It is where budgets, state contracts, politics, timing, perception, and fairness influence decisions more than technology itself. Leaders must balance what is best, what is allowed, and what is wanted. That is where projects succeed. #NCED
Mastering Layer Eight: The Real Layer Above the OSI Model
We all learned the OSI model early in our careers. Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, Session, Presentation, and Application. Seven… | ...
Mastering Layer Eight: The Real Layer Above the OSI Model
We all learned the OSI model early in our careers. Physical, Data Link, Network, Transport, Session, Presentation, and Application. Seven lay...
www.linkedin.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Layer Eight is the real layer above the OSI model. It is where budgets, state contracts, politics, timing, perception, and fairness influence decisions more than technology itself. Leaders must balance what is best, what is allowed, and what is wanted. That is where projects succeed. #NCED
Cyber criminals love the holidays. Fake invoices, compromised mailboxes, and delayed responses spike when staff are on vacation. How do you monitor after hours, who has authority to act, and what is your continuity plan if accounts are hit. Interested in how others handle this. #NCED
#cybersecurity #businesscontinuityplanning #riskmanagement #nced | Derek Miller
It is that time of year again when the shift in focus during the holidays becomes the ideal window for cyber criminals to take action. The increase in fake invoices, vendor impersonation, rushed payme...
www.linkedin.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Cyber criminals love the holidays. Fake invoices, compromised mailboxes, and delayed responses spike when staff are on vacation. How do you monitor after hours, who has authority to act, and what is your continuity plan if accounts are hit. Interested in how others handle this. #NCED
WebGPU is changing the game. The browser is becoming the new high performance terminal for education. Simulations, 3D labs, data dashboards, and on device AI are now possible without installs. How do you see this shaping digital learning at your campus?
#WebGPU #NCED
#WebGPU #NCED
WebGPU
Over the past few months I have been watching something interesting take shape in the technology world. It is one of those shifts that sneaks up on people because it does not come wrapped in… ...
WebGPU
Over the past few months I have been watching something interesting take shape in the technology world. It is one of those shifts that sneaks up on people because it does not come wrapped in a...
www.linkedin.com
November 28, 2025 at 3:45 AM
AI is becoming a daily tool, but authenticity still matters. The real question is how we use AI. Does it sharpen our thinking or replace our responsibility? Leaders need clarity, fairness, and intention. How do you balance authenticity with AI in your work?
Authenticity in the Age of AI
The rapid rise of AI has reshaped how we work, how we communicate, and how we measure value inside an organization. As leaders, we are being asked to strike a balance… |...
Authenticity in the Age of AI
The rapid rise of AI has reshaped how we work, how we communicate, and how we measure value inside an organization. As leaders, we are being asked to strike a balance be...
www.linkedin.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM
AI is becoming a daily tool, but authenticity still matters. The real question is how we use AI. Does it sharpen our thinking or replace our responsibility? Leaders need clarity, fairness, and intention. How do you balance authenticity with AI in your work?
Many tech projects stall because non IT leaders pull back early and miss their chance to shape the vision. Asking better questions builds clarity, reduces tension, and creates sustainable systems. Curiosity beats titles every time. What questions should leaders ask first?
#higheredit #itleadership #digitaltransformation #nced #itsolutions #techstrategy #leadershipdevelopment | Derek Miller
Teaching Non IT Leaders To Ask Better Questions
One of the most misunderstood parts of modern IT leadership is that every meaningful technology project depends on the people outside of IT just as muc...
www.linkedin.com
November 21, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Many tech projects stall because non IT leaders pull back early and miss their chance to shape the vision. Asking better questions builds clarity, reduces tension, and creates sustainable systems. Curiosity beats titles every time. What questions should leaders ask first?
Leaders share big visions, but teams need clarity to deliver. S.M.A.R.T goals turn ideas into outcomes that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound. They stop drift, reduce guesswork, and keep projects aligned with what the college truly needs. How do you scope your goals?
#leadership #higheredit #projectmanagement #smartgoals #nced #itstrategy | Derek Miller
Turning leadership vision into outcomes that actually get delivered
A lot of projects stall because the original vision sounds good in a meeting but never becomes something you can execute. Leaders t...
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November 14, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Leaders share big visions, but teams need clarity to deliver. S.M.A.R.T goals turn ideas into outcomes that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound. They stop drift, reduce guesswork, and keep projects aligned with what the college truly needs. How do you scope your goals?
When AI starts thinking for you, trust becomes the real issue. Agentic AI can now act, not just assist. But are we ready for systems that fix, learn, and decide without us? How much control should we give the machine? #AI #AgenticAI #Automation #TechTrends #Leadership #Innovation #NCED
#ai #agenticai #automation #itleadership #highered #digitaltransformation #innovation #techtrends #trustinai #smartautomation #futureofwork #cloudcomputing #microsoftai #highereducationtech | Derek Mi...
When AI Starts Thinking for You
For years, we’ve talked about automation like it was the finish line. You build the workflow, write the script, and let it repeat. But now we’re entering something new...
www.linkedin.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:11 AM
When AI starts thinking for you, trust becomes the real issue. Agentic AI can now act, not just assist. But are we ready for systems that fix, learn, and decide without us? How much control should we give the machine? #AI #AgenticAI #Automation #TechTrends #Leadership #Innovation #NCED
The holiday break shouldn’t become another IT sprint. Rest is a maintenance window too. If our systems are always maintained but our people never are, we’re not building stability, we’re building burnout.
#Leadership #HigherEd #ITCulture #WorkLifeBalance #NCED
#Leadership #HigherEd #ITCulture #WorkLifeBalance #NCED
#leadership #highered #itleadership #workculture #innovation #peoplefirst #holidayseason #employeewellbeing #highereducation #nced #edtech #teamculture #technologyleadership | Derek Miller
The Holiday Sprint
For many in higher ed IT, the holiday break has quietly become the perfect time to take on big projects. The campus is quiet, service interruptions are rare, and the ticket queue s...
www.linkedin.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:42 PM
The holiday break shouldn’t become another IT sprint. Rest is a maintenance window too. If our systems are always maintained but our people never are, we’re not building stability, we’re building burnout.
#Leadership #HigherEd #ITCulture #WorkLifeBalance #NCED
#Leadership #HigherEd #ITCulture #WorkLifeBalance #NCED
Balanced professional tone:
Stop saying “user error.” Every mistake is a design clue, not a person to blame. When IT shifts from fault-finding to problem-solving, trust and innovation follow. #Leadership #IT #NCED
Stop saying “user error.” Every mistake is a design clue, not a person to blame. When IT shifts from fault-finding to problem-solving, trust and innovation follow. #Leadership #IT #NCED
Why You Should Stop Saying 'User Error'
The phrase “user error” has been part of IT culture for decades. It is quick, convenient, and often used to explain why something went wrong when the… ...
Why You Should Stop Saying 'User Error'
The phrase “user error” has been part of IT culture for decades. It is quick, convenient, and often used to explain why something went wrong when the technolog...
www.linkedin.com
October 28, 2025 at 5:01 AM
Balanced professional tone:
Stop saying “user error.” Every mistake is a design clue, not a person to blame. When IT shifts from fault-finding to problem-solving, trust and innovation follow. #Leadership #IT #NCED
Stop saying “user error.” Every mistake is a design clue, not a person to blame. When IT shifts from fault-finding to problem-solving, trust and innovation follow. #Leadership #IT #NCED
Five generations of students demand more than systems—they demand empathy. Higher ed IT must design experiences that meet each learner where they are, blending digital and human support. Modernization isn’t enough; our goal is humanization, seeing every student, every time.
#highered #leadership #digitaltransformation #userexperience #itleadership #edtech #customerexperience #studentsuccess #digitalinclusion #futureofeducation | Derek Miller
The Five Generations of Students and the Future of User Experience in Higher Ed
Have we really designed our systems for the people we serve, or just for the people who have always been here?
Higher ...
www.linkedin.com
October 11, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Five generations of students demand more than systems—they demand empathy. Higher ed IT must design experiences that meet each learner where they are, blending digital and human support. Modernization isn’t enough; our goal is humanization, seeing every student, every time.
The Power of Proximity
Growth happens in the rooms that challenge you. I’ve learned that if you’re the smartest person there, it’s time to find a new room. Surround yourself with people who think differently, push harder, and make you better. That’s where real leadership grows.
#NCED #LEADERSHIP
Growth happens in the rooms that challenge you. I’ve learned that if you’re the smartest person there, it’s time to find a new room. Surround yourself with people who think differently, push harder, and make you better. That’s where real leadership grows.
#NCED #LEADERSHIP
#leadership #growthmindset #learningculture #collaboration #professionaldevelopment #servantleadership #teamwork #continuousimprovement #highered #itleadership #nced | Derek Miller
The Power of Proximity
Have you ever stopped to think about who’s sitting around your table — not in title or rank, but in influence, perspective, and curiosity?
Over the years, I’ve learned that gr...
www.linkedin.com
October 8, 2025 at 11:15 PM
The Power of Proximity
Growth happens in the rooms that challenge you. I’ve learned that if you’re the smartest person there, it’s time to find a new room. Surround yourself with people who think differently, push harder, and make you better. That’s where real leadership grows.
#NCED #LEADERSHIP
Growth happens in the rooms that challenge you. I’ve learned that if you’re the smartest person there, it’s time to find a new room. Surround yourself with people who think differently, push harder, and make you better. That’s where real leadership grows.
#NCED #LEADERSHIP
10 minutes saved a day equals 60 hours a year. That is over $2,000 in value per employee. I call this R.O.S.E., return on scripting effort. With AI, we can R.A.I.S.E.—resilience, awareness, insight, strategy, execution. AI works best as a partner, not a yes man. #AI #ROSE #RAISE #NCED
#aitools #leadership #innovation #automation #scripting #technology #rose #raise #digitaltransformation #aileadership #productivity #criticalthinking | Derek Miller
Have you ever stopped to calculate how much value you gain from just 10 minutes saved each day?
At first, it doesn’t sound like much. But those 10 minutes a day add up to roughly 60 hours a year. For...
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October 4, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Business Continuity Planning isn’t about binders on a shelf. It’s about giving people confidence to act when things go wrong. Backups, quick reaction teams, and clear authority make the difference between chaos and resilience.
#BusinessContinuity #Resilience #ITLeadership #Preparedness #NCED
#BusinessContinuity #Resilience #ITLeadership #Preparedness #NCED
#businesscontinuity #leadership #higheredit #resilience #disasterrecovery #incidentresponse #cybersecurity #crisismanagement #itleadership #continuityplanning #riskmanagement #operationalexcellence… |...
Business Continuity Planning (BCP) is one of those subjects people acknowledge but rarely prioritize until a disruption happens. At that point everyone realizes how critical it is. A BCP is not a bind...
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October 1, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Business Continuity Planning isn’t about binders on a shelf. It’s about giving people confidence to act when things go wrong. Backups, quick reaction teams, and clear authority make the difference between chaos and resilience.
#BusinessContinuity #Resilience #ITLeadership #Preparedness #NCED
#BusinessContinuity #Resilience #ITLeadership #Preparedness #NCED
Leadership in this field often means balancing every role at once while making sure none of them fall.
#ITLeadership #Resilience #TechLeadership #BlueskyTech
#ITLeadership #Resilience #TechLeadership #BlueskyTech
#itleadership #resiliency | Derek Miller
Resilience Over Efficiency: Preparing IT Systems and Teams for the Unexpected
In technology, we often focus on how efficient we can make our systems. We trim down processes, automate wherever possibl...
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September 26, 2025 at 3:24 AM
Leadership in this field often means balancing every role at once while making sure none of them fall.
#ITLeadership #Resilience #TechLeadership #BlueskyTech
#ITLeadership #Resilience #TechLeadership #BlueskyTech
Today felt like being an octopus chef in a diner kitchen. Every tentacle on a different task, yet each got full focus. As leaders, do we carve out deep focus or embrace the chaos? How do you stay calm and avoid missed steps? #Leadership #Focus #Growth
Today I felt like a cartoon octopus who had just been hired as a chef in a diner’s kitchen. All eight tentacles were in motion at once: stirring, chopping, plating, answering questions, and making… | ...
Today I felt like a cartoon octopus who had just been hired as a chef in a diner’s kitchen. All eight tentacles were in motion at once: stirring, chopping, plating, answering questions, and making sur...
www.linkedin.com
September 23, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Today felt like being an octopus chef in a diner kitchen. Every tentacle on a different task, yet each got full focus. As leaders, do we carve out deep focus or embrace the chaos? How do you stay calm and avoid missed steps? #Leadership #Focus #Growth
Bringing AI to BI is more than tech. It’s about turning static reports into living conversations that help education leaders predict, prepare, and empower. Are you experimenting with AI in your BI tools?
#AI #BI #EdTech #HigherEd #Leadership
#AI #BI #EdTech #HigherEd #Leadership
#ai #businessintelligence #highered #edtech #datadriven | Derek Miller
When I talk about bringing AI to BI, I am really talking about more than plugging artificial intelligence into another piece of software. I am talking about rethinking the way we use information to le...
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September 18, 2025 at 5:19 PM
Bringing AI to BI is more than tech. It’s about turning static reports into living conversations that help education leaders predict, prepare, and empower. Are you experimenting with AI in your BI tools?
#AI #BI #EdTech #HigherEd #Leadership
#AI #BI #EdTech #HigherEd #Leadership
Kicking off #Entrinsicon2025 this week. Excited to dive into Informer 5 and learn how to migrate smarter, design better reports with templates, AI, and Magic Visuals. Looking forward to bringing back ideas that make our team more efficient.
#entrinsicon2025 | Derek Miller
Excited to be at Entrinsicon as things get underway. Over the next two days I’ll be focusing on how we can get the most out of our Informer 5 installation. My goal is to come back with a clearer path ...
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September 17, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Kicking off #Entrinsicon2025 this week. Excited to dive into Informer 5 and learn how to migrate smarter, design better reports with templates, AI, and Magic Visuals. Looking forward to bringing back ideas that make our team more efficient.
Back in the day I whitelisted domains without question. Since adopting Zero Trust in 2017, I scrutinize all traffic—even “trusted” vendors. Recently, that vigilance caught malicious files in vendor software. Trust no one, validate everything.
#ZeroTrust #CyberSecurity #IT #NCED
#ZeroTrust #CyberSecurity #IT #NCED
#zerotrust #cybersecurity #leadership #itstrategy #dataprotection #nced #highered #itleadership | Derek Miller
Early in my career, I took the path of least resistance. If a vendor asked me to whitelist their domain, I did it. If a business system rollout required sending over sensitive patron data, I complied ...
www.linkedin.com
September 16, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Back in the day I whitelisted domains without question. Since adopting Zero Trust in 2017, I scrutinize all traffic—even “trusted” vendors. Recently, that vigilance caught malicious files in vendor software. Trust no one, validate everything.
#ZeroTrust #CyberSecurity #IT #NCED
#ZeroTrust #CyberSecurity #IT #NCED
#Microsoft sunsetting A1 Plus seems like a huge money grab.
spongebob squarepants from spongebob squarepants is holding a box on his shoulder .
ALT: spongebob squarepants from spongebob squarepants is holding a box on his shoulder .
media.tenor.com
September 9, 2025 at 11:51 PM
#Microsoft sunsetting A1 Plus seems like a huge money grab.