Our lover of techy gadgets shares his insight on the balancing act of IT management, the game releases on his radar, and what makes Genba a great place to work…
First things first…. What game releases have caught your eye since joining Genba last year?
Far Cry 5, because I love a first-person shooter, and Ubisoft build some great open world games.
Player Unknown’s Battlegrounds became really big in 2018, it’s a great tactical shooter which really delivers on suspense.
Coming up this year is The Outer Worlds by Obsidian. I am a big fan of open world RPGs like Skyrim and Fallout, and I’m really looking forward to seeing a new franchise in this genre hit the market.
Tell us a bit about what you do at Genba Digital and the challenges often faced in your role.
As Product & IT Manager, I’m responsible for bringing together and coordinating technical projects for Genba. It’s an exciting time right now as we are in the process of developing a brand-new platform, incorporating best in class solutions which will allow us to collaborate with our clients in ever more sophisticated ways. I also manage the company IT estate, ensuring our infrastructure is enabling us to be agile and adaptable as our company grows. Balancing projects with multiple stakeholders and multiple third-party vendors can be a bit tricky; it’s important to avoid email tennis, bringing everyone together to find a solution.
Did you always want to work in IT? What parts would you say you’re good at?
I have worked in tech and IT for over 11 years in several different industries, covering software support, infrastructure management and project implementation. I really enjoy seeking out new technology and finding ways to make it beneficial to a company, so a career in tech was a natural fit for me. Things move quickly in a forward-thinking organisation like Genba Digital. I think I’m pretty good at balancing what needs to be achieved urgently in the short term, while keeping focus on the bigger picture and making sure that future requirements are provisioned for.
In your meet-the-team tagline it says you’re a ‘lover of new techy things’. If you were only allowed one gadget for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
I am a big fan of smart home automation and consumer technology that improves everyday life. If I had to pick only one, it might be an obvious answer but I’d have to say my phone. I use it for practically everything these days, I probably get too much screen time if I’m honest, but they’re the ultimate gadget, aren’t they?
What do you think is the perfect recipe for a great work environment?
Collaboration is one of our core values, and I think its one of the most important. When different departments and people with different skillsets work together on a project, the end result is always better for it, with focus being paid to areas which may have otherwise been overlooked. I think collaboration can also help build a good sense of community; something that is essential for a young and growing company.
Lastly, tell us what you think are the best things about working at Genba.
I have been a gamer most of my life and working in the gaming industry has always been an ambition of mine. Having your career centered around something you are passionate about makes for great job satisfaction! I really enjoy the fact that our work helps bring some great titles to market. I also love working for a tech ‘startup’ as I get to be a part of some game-changing projects and watch the company grow with the addition of great people and an evolving work environment.
And of course, being able to bring dogs into the office is a great perk! It means I can bring my cockapoo, Dexter, to Genba HQ sometimes. He loves the attention and provides a bit of ‘dog therapy’ for the rest of the office.
