John Steward

John is a product and delivery manager with significant experience in leading digital transformation and software development across a broad range of sectors, including entertainment, fintech, education and government. He is currently working on GOV.UK, which is the UK government’s home on the web. An advocate of agile delivery and lean product development, he values innovation and achieves this through focusing on continuous cycles of discovery, iterative development, release and optimisation. John encourages user centred design, accessibility and working in the open. He leads teams that take ethical approaches to data science and develop digital services which make government better for people, by providing a more personalised and proactive service.

What is your favorite technical skill to work with on your own projects and why?

I'm an advocate of agile delivery and lean product development. I value innovation and achieve this through focusing on continuous cycles of discovery, iterative development, release and optimisation. I encourage user centred design, accessibility and working in the open. I lead teams that take ethical approaches to developing great products which solve problems for users while achieving business goals. My favourite technical skill is prototyping and validation, I like to work quickly to get user feedback and analyse data from experiments to de-risk investment and assumptions. It helps to prioritise and to make sure I'm optimising products by building just enough to get the most validated learning, while still solving the problem.

I enjoy helping product managers learn to prioritise effectively and be able to focus on the solving the right problems at the right time. I help product managers to grow the skills to work strategically at a more senior level and develop clear roadmaps and success measures to ensure they get the buy in needed to build commercially successful products that meet the needs of users.

The opportunity to witness and facilitate genuine transformation in our students' lives and work. It's not just about imparting knowledge! It's about unlocking potential and opening doors to new career paths, progression, and possibilities.

Start with the fundamentals, build practical projects and practice your skills regularly, be part of a community, then look to develop mastery and depth in an area that drives you!

I have significant experience in leading digital transformation and software development across a broad range of organisations including at startups and large PLC's, as well as across several sectors such as, entertainment, fintech, education, and government. I'm currently working on GOV.UK, which is the UK government’s home on the web and leading the charge on building sustainable digital services that help make government work better for people, by providing them with a more personalised and proactive service.

WHAT [John’s] STUDENTS ARE SAYING...

"He is an exceptional trainer and a truly impressive professional. The way he delivered the sessions really stood out. Conducting a training like this, keeping everyone engaged for so many hours — that’s no small feat."