This article was originally published on 5 April 2023.
You can read the original article on the 6point6 website here.
Josh discusses the positive experience of aligning clients’ operational requirements with technological solutions and reveals why his role as a Solution Architect at 6point6 brings him the ultimate job satisfaction.
What I do
I design technology solutions responsive to clients’ needs, aligning them with their strategy and business objectives. Affecting real transformation in this space means making sure that the solutions we architect are meaningful and enabling – so if the primary focus isn’t on achieving the right business outcomes or addressing our customer’s pain points, the conversation is wrong.
The problems I deal with are complex and at times can seem intractable. This makes my work both challenging but also highly satisfying as I am focused on delivering efficiencies and impactful solutions. The solution is to begin with business strategy, identify what the gaps and barriers are, and engage stakeholders to design the right solutions to make change happen.
I started out at 6point6 as a Junior Architect back in 2020 and speedily worked my way to my current role. Thinking differently is encouraged here, and everyone wants to help one another achieve their best. Creating resilient technology and business ecosystems for our clients requires experience, expert insights and technical leadership. 6point6 encourages a good balance of enabling me to innovate while also ensuring careful stewardship of often high-profile projects.
A day in my working life
One of the things I love about my job is that every day is different. Variety keeps me motivated and driven to find the best solutions for my clients. I have to wear many hats – from being a business analyst thinking about user experience to developing proof of concept and being really hands-on with some development work.
I work closely with the planning team to come up with enabling solutions which deliver maximum value for our clients. Technology cannot be used as a one-size-fits-all remedy to complex problems, so I work in partnership with clients to help them develop sound business processes to drive transformational change and unlock business benefit. My role requires a lot of juggling different opinions and at times working with conflicting objectives. Around 90% of my day involves listening and engaging with clients, meaning that people skills are just as crucial as technical know-how.
I wind down at the end of a busy day or week with some simple pleasures - running, walking my dog and playing the guitar. I am a big fan of Metal and Hard Rock and draw my musical inspiration from the legendary guitarist Marty Friedman. I would love to be in a band, but none of my friends share a common musical interest - so for now I’m a solo act!
My career highlights
I get a buzz out of solving complex problems, which deliver cost savings for our customers. I remember being an architect on a multi-million high-profile transition project and getting immense satisfaction from successfully delivering the technology solution through to completion while also generating great savings.
What stands out to me as a Solution Architect is the difference I can make on a daily basis. I enjoy looking at the bigger picture, helping clients to streamline their business efficiency while also devising long-term digital solutions. You need the right environment to be an effective Solution Architect and 6point6 stands out as being truly people-centric. They invest time and effort in developing me and giving me opportunities to fulfil my potential. The benefits package is also a great plus!
Solution Architecture is one the best jobs in the world because…
Solution Architects play a pivotal role in designing a healthy technology ecosystem that is future proof. We do this by supporting organisations to take full advantage of the right technologies and tools to help them address their greatest business challenges, unlocking cost savings and realising efficiencies.
Every day new frameworks, languages and tools are born – so making the right choice is critical. Equally, organisations are having to operate in an increasingly uncertain and complex environment. It’s exciting to be in a role where I can help support our clients through this complexity by architecting solutions to some of their greatest challenges.
Josh Barry, Solution Architect
From his early career in software engineering, Josh has accrued a wealth of experience in solution design and business change, enabling him to digitally transform services by implementing the right solutions to solve his customer’s toughest technical problems. Outside of work, Josh enjoys travelling, walking his dog, and playing the guitar.
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