Hey folks! Pure Awesomeness here, and my goodness has it been a while since I’ve released a blog. If you’ve been sitting at your desk, staring aimlessly into the sky, wondering when I’m going to release my next blog…the wait is over! And wow, do I have a good one for you this time.
No, it’s nothing to do with anything technical, although I am long overdue for a blog on all things tech. So, watch this space! I might even see how advanced a certain piece of technology is and whether it can replicate the way I write.
Anyway, onto the main topic of this blog. I can’t believe it’s been 8 years since I boarded the Insentra train. Eight years! Eight years ago, on a rainy Monday morning (don’t ask me how I remember this), I walked into what used to be our old office in St. Leonards. Like a young teenager walking into his first class of Legal Studies (because you know, it’s every 14-year-old’s dream to become a lawyer…said no one ever), I sat at my new desk, with a giant 15” IBM laptop. With that laptop, there I was…trying to work out what my new role was going to be in this new team called FastTrack.
From then until now, all I can say is…what a ride it’s been!
Want to know more about my journey? You know what to do:
- Grab a cup of your favorite drink (I would normally suggest liquid gold aka coffee but heck, it’s beer o’clock somewhere in the world as you read this so go all out…responsibly, of course)
- Follow Insentra on LinkedIn, Insentragram, X and Facebook (all these social media platforms with their name changes remind me of another tech giant who keeps renaming their tech. If you know, you know.)
- Follow yours truly on LinkedIn. Every now and again, I post some informative stuff, if I do say so myself! *plugs his Top Tip Thursdays posts*
Now, buckle up as I take you through the day in the life of an Insentra crew member (or Insentron. And yes, we are all part of the crew on this train (we hate the term “employee” ).
So, Who Am I?
For those who don’t know me, my name is Hambik (AKA Pure Awesomeness, AKA Humbo, AKA Jumbo Humbo, AKA DeeJay Humbo—more on this another time). I’m one of the Senior Consultants here at Insentra, with my primary role over the last 8 years being in our FastTrack team. Being in FastTrack, you’re probably thinking my focus is just on FastTrack. Wrong! I’m actually involved in a number of other focus areas within the organization.
So, what does a day in my life look like? Well, it consists of delivering FastTrack services to customers, delivering and supporting Advisory engagements, delivering M365 projects, getting my hands dirty with workshops and discussions on all things Copilot, owning new tech solutions we take to market and lastly, creating content for our awesome Vibe team!
Yes, it sounds like a lot, but don’t let that alarm you. This role has given me countless opportunities to get upskilled across both technical and business areas and has allowed me to engage with customers and partners across all levels of business. Oh, it’s also helped me grow as an individual.
If you’re still wondering what FastTrack is, read this blog I wrote about what FastTrack is all about and how it works. You can also check out the Late Night Brew session with my beer drinking buddy from across the world, Robert “Buk” Buktenica.
A Senior Consultant’s Daily Routine
Even though every day is different here at Insentra, I thought I’d take the time to explain what an average day roughly looks like for me whilst onboard the Insentra train.
The day starts with me rolling out of bed and into my home office. Before I forget, we’re pretty much a 100% remote organization and every crew member works from home. The Sydney crew have the option to head into the city office and use one of the shared desks if they want a change in scenery or to catch up in person with other crew members. Other than that, WFH is the new norm for us now.
A day for me could be anywhere from a full days’ work on FastTrack work, to a mixture of FastTrack and other project deliverables. No two days are the same for me. You can be the judge of whether that’s a good or a bad thing, but I do know one thing for sure…I have zero time management skills! I’m still learning not to book back-to-back meetings. If you have any tips to address this, leave them in the comments section of your favorite social media platform where this masterpiece of a blog is published.
What does a typical day delivering FastTrack look like for me, you ask? First thing it involves is lots of meetings, and I enjoy them. But how can someone enjoy meetings? The FastTrack meetings allow me to get face-to-face (virtually) with a customer to understand what they’re trying to achieve with their M365 investment, so I can effectively put together a plan on how I can help them through this journey. The meetings also allow me to build rapport and trust with the customers I’m working with.
You’re probably wondering how a customer becomes a FastTrack customer. Well, aren’t you glad I wrote this blog because I’m about to tell you…This happens in a few ways:
- The customer fills out a request for assistance form for FastTrack. Once reviewed by Microsoft, the customer gets assigned to Insentra, depending on what technology they need assistance with
- A partner introduces us to the customer directly
- Microsoft account team members introduce us to customers directly
Either way, once a customer is onboarded and Insentra is assigned as the FastTrack Partner, that customer then gets a whole heap of knowledge pumped into their cerebrums by yours truly, Pure Awesomeness. This knowledge is what sets them up for success on their M365 transformation journey.
Everything I deliver through FastTrack is done remotely and with zero access to the customer’s environment. It’s all remote guidance and advice, and it’s basically across everything M365 – from messaging and security to compliance and everything in between. Sure, there are features and capabilities across M365 that fall outside of the FastTrack scope, but these expectations are set with the customer at the very beginning of the engagement so there are no surprises.
So, what am I doing with my time when I’m not in FastTrack meetings? I’m talking to other clients and delivering or providing support across our Advisory engagements, plus delivering M365 projects. I can predict what your next question is going to be, which, “What’s advisory?” Did I get that right?
I won’t go into the details of what Advisory service is but think of it like this: you can’t build a house without the required architectural drawings and blueprints. The same rule applies to the ever-changing world of IT. You can’t meet a primary objective without a solid plan or roadmap in place that breaks down all the requirements.
Basically, it just means I’m in more workshops with various levels of business, which is great because I get to exercise skills outside of my usual field of expertise. We plan out client’s requirements and how to reach their objectives (pretty much a FastTrack discussion) but with the end-deliverable being their strategic roadmap. In short: I was born for this role!
Insentra Culture: My Reason for Staying
Insentra is just an awesome place to be, and it’s the culture that makes this organization stand out from the rest.
When I walked through those carriage doors 8 years ago, I had no idea what was in store for me or whether this was the right decision. Fast forward to eight years later and it’s a decision I absolutely do not regret, and I haven’t looked back since.
Don’t get me wrong, some days are more challenging than others and may require some additional effort to get the job done or deliver on your commitment, but the entire time that’s happening, you’ve got the support of your fellow crew and the organization. You’re never left to fight a battle on your own.
Speaking of battles, one of the great things about working at Insentra is the number system before the start of any internal meeting consisting of three or more participants. Before the meeting starts, we go around the room and ask everyone to give us two numbers from one to 10. The first is your personal number and the second your professional one.
If you’re a 7 or less, your team will check in to see if there is anything they can do to help you. You have the option to freely talk about your problems with no fear of judgment, but if you don’t feel comfortable sharing, that lets everyone else know that this crew member has low numbers today, so they will try and support you as best they can.
This number system is a true testament to Insentra’s One Team, One Dream (OTOD) mantra. Your fellow crew members are there for you if you want to talk, as we value looking after one another. We strive to support our fellow crew members to show we truly care for each other as individuals and not just as people we happen to work with. This kind of culture not only keeps morale high, but it also ensures that the Insentra train continues moving along smoothly.
There are many other great things about Insentra that I could spend days and days writing about, but we would up with a 150-page blog. So, I’ll save these great things for when you join the train instead.
Join the Insentra Crew
That’s a wrap! If you’ve applied for a spot on the Insentra train and have made it to the end of the interview process, but are on the fence as to whether Insentra is the right place for you, take it from a veteran who’s been in the IT industry for 20+ years.
I’ve worked for a number of organizations that would like to think the Train Story would apply to them. However, Insentra is genuinely the first company I’ve worked for who “walk the walk” and don’t just “talk the talk!”. The opportunities for learning and growth are endless and your fellow crew members aren’t just colleagues, they’re life-long mates.
If you want to try your luck and join the crew, check out our Careers page for positions that fit your skillset and career goals.
Until next time, Pure Awesomeness signing off!
“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt
