Since 2009 we’ve been successful in growing to a team of 30+ people, who support hundreds of companies with five-star IT help. Glenn Gould, our Operations Director leads our front-line teams to deliver managed IT support in a way that is honest, up-front and unpretentious.
We wanted to give you a better understanding of the people we have behind the screens of IT Champion, so we asked some key people ten questions to help uncover the personalities, experience and knowledge that powers our success.
Today is about getting to know our Operations Director.
Tell us about your role at IT Champion
I started a few months after the business launched and I run the business with Matt with a focus on the operation and delivery side.
How long have you worked for IT Champion
Since Jan 2011, so coming up 12 years.
What does a typical day look like
Monday to Wednesday is fast-paced with a mixture of stress, excitement and lots of coffee. I try to get all of my ‘frog jobs’ done first thing when I feel more energised and productive. Thursday and Friday are far more relaxed, catching-up on less urgent tasks and any admin bits.
What got you into IT and particularly your expertise in leading operation teams
It was something I always enjoyed at school and college and when I started with IT Champion I knew working within the MSP industry was something for me. I like fast-paced environments and working under pressure. I also enjoyed maths which I believe ties in well with IT support, and problem-solving with a systematic approach.
What would you say are the most commonly under used elements in an organisation’s IT and why
MS Teams for all-staff and departmental communication and collaboration. Since we moved to Teams for internal communication as opposed to putting everything in email, it’s been a game changer for how we operate. Things are easier to see, find and communicate with individuals and groups/teams.
What would you say are the most commonly under used elements in an organisation’s IT and why
SharePoint has transformed the way businesses access, create and collaborate their data.
In the time you’ve been developing Modern Workplace solutions for small to medium businesses what development has made the largest impact on an organisation
I wouldn’t say there’s one in particular as I feel they all have made a large impact. For a Modern Workplace project to be successful, there needs to be a driving factor or something that needs fixing with the current system to use as the end goal of the new solution. Since COVID-19, remote working has been a regular request for most businesses and a Modern workplace can easily achieve this whilst enhancing how you currently work. Transforming how businesses work and enabling them to be able to work from home as if they were sitting in the Office in my opinion creates the largest positive impact currently.
When thinking about the rapid changes in office life where do you think technology is best placed to enable secure working and employee productivity
A combination of device management, conditional access, and anti-virus allows users to work anywhere with the same level of protection as they may have had from working in the office full time.
Where can a Modern Workplace solution impact the most (cost, time, productivity, resilience)
A Modern workplace enables your people to do their best work from anywhere. Empowering your teams to be productive and secure as they transition into the world of hybrid working. Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams help our people stay connected with colleagues and interact with online meetings from home or the office. We use our own modern workplace solution to simplify day-to-day activities, business processes and routine tasks by automating and integrating them through our IT ecosystem. We’ve helped organisations maximise the benefits embedded in their M365 licences which has meant they can do more with less.
What’s next in the development of a modern workplace – what new features are just around the corner
Introducing organisations to the Sentinel for next-generation cyber security and how to unlock the productivity benefits of Power Apps and automation.
What’s the one piece of advice you would give to an organisation unsure where to start when creating and implementing a modern workplace solution
Fully understanding what the MS ecosystem can offer and ensure it’s built to your business’s needs. The modern workplace does not look the same for each business. Each business should have the opportunity to paint its own Modern Workplace picture.
