Name: Keith Howell
Job Title: Associate Solutions Architect
I complete architectural designs and documents, tender responses and work on project implementations for a wide range of technologies designed to deliver and manage applications, data, and desktop delivery.
Tell us about the road that led you to Presidio?
To be honest, I’ve always loved technology. My mam brought her work computer home when I was 12 years old (yes, hybrid working was even a thing back then – and that was a looooong time ago!).
Unfortunately for her, she let 12 year old me near it! I crashed it several times and I learned during the repeated crashes not only how I broke it (and what never to do again), but also how to fix it, its limits, and how everything (hardware and software) was put together.
Since then, anything and everything IT has always interested me. I love figuring out how everything works from the ground up and how systems are all tied together. So when the Leaving Cert came along, most of my friends were still confused, trying to figure out what to do with their lives but I knew! I applied straight for an IT course in ITB and got in, and after I got my degree, I started straight away with Presidio (formerly Maxima / Zinopy / Trilogy / Arkphire) back in September 2012 and never looked back.
What is your favourite part of the job?
Everything to be honest. It has never failed to keep me entertained. Over the course of my career, I’ve worked in almost every part of the company, from IT to Management to Sales to Marketing (never Accounting though!). I love learning and people, so I always enjoyed rocking up to peoples desks and playing - seeing who they are, what they do, how they work and if I could help them in any way.
At the moment, I’m working in a technical role so I’m loving the research of all the emerging (and existing) technologies and playing with them. I also work with a fantastic team so when I need inspiration or a boost, I call my work besties and we throw ideas for service/deployment/tech improvements back and forth. So much fun!
What are the most challenging aspects of your role?I guess for me that would be that initial learning curve, you know when you start fresh faced at something new that you’ve never explored before. There’s usually a period of a few weeks where it feels like an overload of information and you just plough through until the understanding comes in. It’s challenging but in a nice way. I’ve gained a good few skills along the way – technical, management, sales, people, even a bit of art!
What does your typical day look like?If I am working on a project that has a definite start/end time I wake up, have a small breakfast, hit the gym and sauna, then back home for a quick snack then logon and start my day. I work beside my fridge so I snack throughout the day (hence the need for the gym!). After work, I make dinner and go for a walk. If I am not working on a project (e.g. presales/documentation/research etc.), I have basically the same day but swap the hours around so I go for my walk then start my working day and if I’m not feeling super super lazy after work, gym then dinner. If I’m lazy, the gym is replaced with Netflix/sauna.
Do you have any advice to those interested in a similar role?Figure out what you love and go do it! Always try your best at everything, you’ll find new things you’ve never even thought could be fun, and learn loads along the way. Those two things together, you’ll be happy for life and go further than you ever dreamed possible!
