Hi, I’m Max Costick, and I joined Daemon in July 2024 as an Alliance Manager within our Client & Marketing team, focused on growing our AWS relationship.
How did your career begin?
I studied Marketing at university, but when I graduated, I didn’t have a clue about what career path to follow. One thing I was sure of was that I wanted to travel and experience life outside of Britain, so I decided to take a leap of faith and move to Japan to become a high school English teacher. Apart from the tsunami (a story for another time!), it was an incredible experience.
Since then, my career has taken me across the public, private, and third sectors, working in new business, corporate partnerships and project management roles. One of the most fulfilling chapters of my journey was at Amazon Web Services (AWS), where I launched the pilot of AWS re/Start, a program designed to help unemployed young people and military veterans kickstart their careers in cloud computing. Seeing this initiative grow into a global program remains one of my proudest achievements to date.
What is your day-to-day like at Daemon?
What I love most about my role is that no two days are the same. One day, I might be in the AWS offices meeting with account managers, spreading the word about Daemon, and finding ways we can innovate for their customers. Next, I could be working with our internal teams, developing strategies to strengthen our AWS partnership and exploring new opportunities for collaboration.
A big part of my job is connecting the dots, whether that’s bringing AWS teams and customers together with Daemon’s expertise or identifying ways we can add value to AWS’s ecosystem. It’s fast-paced and dynamic and keeps me on my toes, which is exactly how I like it!
What advice would you give to others?
Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work with many young people, and my most significant piece of advice is to think big! It’s something Amazon champions as a leadership principle, and it’s a mindset that has served me well.
You’ll face many obstacles in your career, but if you’re passionate about something, keep looking around corners, stay ahead of the curve, and don’t be afraid to take unconventional paths to achieve your ambitions. The tech sector, for example, has evolved beyond traditional recruitment from red-brick universities, with more opportunities emerging through apprenticeships and alternative learning routes. The key is to stay adaptable, continuously learn, and never limit your own potential.
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Outside of work, I have a passion for cycling, and one of my biggest challenges to date was taking on the Mallorca 312. In a nutshell, it involved 312 kilometers, 15,000 feet of climbing, and 11 hours in the saddle, all in one day! It was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and the heat made it even tougher, but it taught me a lot about myself, mainly that I’m far more resilient than I ever gave myself credit for.
I went to school with international superstar Craig David! We would often get told off by teachers for too much singing in class. I like to think I played a small (but crucial!) role in his rise to fame…
I’m excited about what’s to come at Daemon. We’re doing some incredible work with AWS, and I’m looking forward to growing our partnership, driving new opportunities, and making a real impact. Thanks for taking the time to read my story! Feel free to connect with me on LinkedIn or drop a comment below.