ClearPoint people: Meet Mark Smith, Enterprise Architect and Strategist. Mark is living proof that technical talent and creativity can live together, happily ever after. A failed saxophonist, Mark initially studied chemistry at university before deciding that philosophy was a better fit for him. Armed with his philosophy degree, he landed a job in a hotel. When someone made him a bet that he’d never leave there, he proved them wrong by starting work as a trainee computer operator. And so began his illustrious career in technology.
What’s your role at ClearPoint?
My title is Enterprise Architect and Strategist. My technical grounding is in hardware, operating systems and networks rather than software and code. My intellectual tendency is to look at an overall business from a systems thinking perspective. This means that I tend to take a broader view of the world of technology. I get involved in the strategy and overview/planning of what’s needed.
What’s your background?
Essentially I used to run, then build, then architect the systems that applications ran on rather than build the applications themselves. I’ve worked on both sides of the equation; as a customer/user and vendor/provider. I’ve worked for large and small businesses. I think that experience gives me a broader view of technology and its business context. I tend to ask overview questions. Instead of “What’s the application going to look like?” I’ll ask questions like, “Why do you need this?” and “How are we going to run this?”
Why do you choose to work at ClearPoint?
I choose to work at ClearPoint because I’m motivated by being around intelligence, humour and informed opinions. ClearPoint attracts and employs some of the best, brightest and most deeply-opinionated (in a good way) people that I’ve come across. I also think the culture is fabulous and the liberated attitude to the beer fridge is refreshing (as is the beer!!).
What do you get up to outside of ClearPoint?
At the moment much of my spare time is taken up with planning a grown-up gap year, travelling around the USA, Australia and Western Europe. My wife and I are heading off in March with folding bikes, camping equipment and some serious ultralight technology. We’re still discussing the relative pros and cons of battery powered headlamps as opposed to USB rechargeable headlamps. Any contributions to the debate are welcome.
Tell us something we don’t know…
I produce a weekly classical music show for Waiheke Island Community Radio, the show is called A Classical A-Z and like Sesame St, each show is brought to air by a specific letter and shows can easily span 900 years or so of music. I used to live on Waiheke and when I moved I kept the show going via the wonders of Audacity and Dropbox. We’re quite a musical household. My eldest daughter is an accomplished operatic and choral singer, and I’m a professional-grade listener!
