Jonathan Woods - Strategic architect

Contact Jonathan

How did you get where you are today?

My initial qualification was in electronic engineering, after which I entered the electronics service industry. During the 1990s, for example, I spotted the opportunity to use PCs to help schedule electronic repairs and manage stock control. But soon after this, my career moved permanently into IT, and in particular, into large systems (such as IBM's AS/400), used to manage the whole business.

Since moving into the business partner community, I've relished the opportunity to get involved in all aspects of IT infrastructure, and have worked for a number of companies over the last 12 years, in areas such as high availability, storage consolidation, systems management and virtualisation across Wintel, Linux/Unix and IBM System i platforms.

What are you working on right now?

I'm currently working on the design of a highly available infrastructure for a content management solution that uses IBM storage, System p, System x, and blade centre technologies. This architecture encompasses the client's strategy for replication, failover, and the support of a user community based partially in India.

Who or what has been the greatest influence on your career to date?

Becoming involved with Tivoli's Enterprise Systems Management product. Although I don't work much with this product now, it forced me to become comfortable working with many different platforms and operating systems.

Who in business do you most admire ‑ and why?

A friend of mine who was unimpressed with the product his current employer manufactured. His current employer wouldn't listen to his ideas for the product, so he left the company and set up in business developing his own product. The demand for his product now exceeds that for his former employer's product!

What aspect of your job do you find most satisfying?

The opportunity to cut through manufacturer's marketing messages and perform real product comparisons, whilst keeping an eye on cost and real business benefit.

What has been your most valuable lesson learnt?

The technically best answer to a problem is typically not the right answer. Human factors have a far more important role in decision-making.

Which are you favourite websites and blogs?

Has to be Google and Wikipedia.

How do you spend your downtime? Where? With who?

A perfect summer's day would be power-boating on the Solent on a calm sea with my family. I would then probably have to spend all winter just maintaining the boat.

What lifetime ambition have you yet to achieve?

Paying off my mortgage.

Tell us one thing that most people don't know about you...

My first job was working as a roadie for the band Genesis, repairing robotic lighting equipment on a European/US tour. The highlight of the tour was travelling from Paris to New York on Concorde as a charter flight.