Hi, I’m Harry Azariah, and I joined Daemon in April 2024 as a Principal Consultant within our Cloud Practice, tasked with helping to grow our Azure capability.
How did your career begin?
I studied Information Systems at Kingston University and decided that I wanted to do a placement year, I'd always had a strong interest in Technology so figured I'd try and make a career out of it. After countless interviews with different organisations, I managed to land a placement within the NHS as a IT Service Desk Analyst. What a great year that was; I even managed to secure a job back there when I finished my studies, rising through the ranks to become a 3rd Line Engineer when we parted ways eventually. My time there gave me great grounding (exposure to a wide range of technology and functional skills).
In December 2013, I transitioned from Internal IT to IT Consultancy and have never looked back. There are many things I love about working in this space, but if I had to pick one thing, it is the variety that comes with working with organisations across many different industries. It wasn't easy at first, but over the years, I'd say being in this field helped a once introverted individual come out of his shell.
My first actual cloud project used AWS. However, I eventually moved into the Azure space, as the consultancy I worked in at the time had way more AWS-focused consultants. So, I saw an opportunity to really make a name for myself there, a decision that paid off really well for me in the long run.
What is your day-to-day like at Daemon?
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This is an interesting one, as I know different people or companies would have views on what a Principal consultant should do, i.e., should they be hands-on or hands-off when it comes to client delivery? Typically, the more senior you become in this industry, the more hands-off you become regarding engagement delivery.
For the time I've been here, it can change from week to week. I love that Daemon tries to ensure their consultants are not 100% allocated for months and months on end. I usually get a day a week to catch up on admin, study, work on internal initiatives, etc. As a Principal, I provide oversight and leadership for engagements, mentorship for more junior staff, presales opportunities, creation of new offerings for customers, and sometimes some hands-on delivery (my personal choice; I like to dip in every so often to keep current).
What advice would you give to others?
It sounds like a cliché, but always invest in yourself, and I don't necessarily mean just from a financial perspective. I was able to progress in my career because I initially decided that I would pay for study materials and exams myself. Things have moved on since then, and there are many great resources available for free or very little, but the most important thing is to spend the time planning and leveraging them. No matter how far you progress or what you think you know, always try and remain coachable. It is incredible what you can learn or pick up from other people.
Aside from that, when choosing a workplace, look for a company that will support your career growth and personal development. Remember that as much as interviews are to test your suitability for a role, you, as a candidate, should also evaluate whether a company is the right place for you to progress your career and flourish. Since being at Daemon, I have felt the support of my colleagues and the leadership team and feel like this is a place where I can thrive.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
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Outside of work, I have three passions - music, travel, and food. All the better if you can manage to combine all 3. One of my favourite trips in the last 12 months would be returning to my parent's birth country (Ghana). Before 2023, the last time I visited must have been 2007. It might sound silly, but I stopped going as I kept telling myself I could visit any time and there was so much more to explore. I haven't come up with a magic solution, but I will not leave it so long next time.
A fun fact about me is that I am a Newcastle Utd fan and have suffered since 1995, although things are up with the new ownership. Thanks for taking the time to read about me!