Since announcing V2 AI, I’ve been asked about the driving forces at the company’s core and how we plan to Version Up for our clients and people alike. I thought I would share the origin story and vision for V2 AI.
I was fortunate enough to have had a significant break from the day-to-day of working life. It afforded me a fresh perspective on priorities and the time to recalibrate.
There was a lot of reflection after work life paused. The triumphs and the tribulations. Some amazing work environments. Where I thought I was effective and where I was not. Where I made mistakes and how I felt I could improve.
Although it was, at times, challenging, I learned more about myself than I had in a long time. I also began learning a great deal about diversity, including cognitive diversity and neurodiversity.
Amongst this a deceivingly simple but as it turns out, quite hard question to answer kept popping up: my why. Like me, if you love what you do, you’re probably also highly engaged, driven to work on new challenges and welcome changes that create a positive impact. The break really started to highlight what I am most passionate about.
A focus on growth
What became apparent was a passion for growth - for myself and for others who share the same value-based growth ideals. Achieving memorable things that excite and challenge you in the right way. Or in short ‘Cool things with cool people.’ Surely, life is too short to do anything else.
I have plenty of stories on where I got things wrong. However, more times than not, out of the discomfort of my mistakes, unique and exciting solutions arose. Developing and making an impact, along with the growth that comes with it, is worth it to me. I won't get it right every day, but if I can do my best on my worst day, I’ll be happy with that.
A ‘why’ of growth is a challenge in itself but perhaps more accessible at a personal level. However, from a business perspective, it needs to be fuelled by a viable market opportunity to execute, preferably one that is differentiated.
Market forces that change the transformative narrative
I looked at digital transformation where based on experience, great impact can continue to be made. There are still large challenges even as more technology and process capabilities become widely available.
At times programs of work are overly difficult to execute or are not seen to deliver on expectations. Over time, 'transformation’ seems to have morphed into an industry buzzword, where perhaps' areas of successful modernisation’ over 'transformation’ are a better description.
From experiences in the industry, I began to summarise some of the market forces especially those playing havoc with outcomes;
Technology
Cloud and digital native are a must as enablers in this increasingly commoditised landscape, yet immense optimisation opportunities remain and require creative problem-solving to unlock their full potential.
Software development continues to accelerate initiatives around modernisation, security and risk. DevSecOps has surpassed DevOps and should be viewed as the minimum entry level.
Intelligent platforms with AI enable digital acceleration and are becoming increasingly crucial, yet we are still in the early phases of implementing them at scale.
Human
Customer Experience (CX) remains the primary focus for client-facing businesses. This impacts organisations in multiple ways and can be difficult to quantify without modern methods and tooling.
Product-centric creation and delivery are crucial in the world of ecommerce for high-traffic businesses. It is crucial to provide a flexible framework that enables continuous development and enhancement of product offerings, allowing clients to deliver cutting-edge experiences.
The continuous “war for talent” persists, with highly sought-after capabilities, niche skill sets, and a desire to work on meaningful and challenging engagements.
Outcomes
Often, IT-directed operating models fail to address the underlying mechanics of a business's need to unify truly cross-functional teams.
The traditional change, procurement and integration components may sometimes need next-generation ways of working to hold all partners to account while working as a cohesive cohort
The gap widens between those who ‘crack the code’ with “DDD” Design, Development and Data. Those who embed all three into the identity of organisations will thrive and provide a solid offering to drive change, and those who don’t, "WON’T".
Bringing it together
Our ethos on growth became clear: if you bring together great humans in a unique environment, they can unleash their potential and make a meaningful impact.
Our solutions for digital transformation were formed to accelerate client outcomes, deliver a superior customer experience, enable intelligent software-native capabilities, and integrate data capabilities with modern working methods. A consultancy that brings the next digital iteration, something we call ‘Digital Next’.
Thus formed the foundation of V2 AI, with our why: Version Up: To have fun whilst elevating our clients, ourselves and our communities.
Moving to the how - Start a business that’s a beacon for top talent
Over the years, I have advised on and been part of many successful global consultancies that are market-leading due to their people-first approach, which is why our ideology is centred on people at the core of V2 AI.
As a consultancy, our people are our business. Many organisations have a rhetoric of “people-first”, but do they genuinely live that value or continue to see people as a number?
At V2 AI, we have a clear vision that we are already acting upon: investing in our people, empowering them, removing blockers like hierarchy, treating them with respect and empathy, and living our values. That has been and will continue to be our tried and tested model.
The driving force is people who want to work on meaningful projects that make an impact and deliver value. As leaders, our role is to help create the right environment, enabling them to provide significant value to clients. By significant value, we mean that we want our clients to reduce their dependence on consultancies, including ours.
That might sound counterintuitive, but it is not - we want to build their capability and help fuel sustainable innovation. From experience, we know that this approach will also enable our people to grow and develop, as co-creation, IP sharing, and upskilling drive sustainability.
It’s essential to revisit our WHY regularly. By continuously asking ourselves; ‘Is this the type of business I would’ve wanted to work in as a designer, engineer, or any other role? Is this the culture that’s invigorating and motivating? Is this the type of transformation project that is right for our people? Are our people growing?’. We will maintain the core origin of V2 AI for the benefit of our people and clients.
One of the best people I’ve worked with said, “Craig, I want our people to be so good that the biggest challenge we have is keeping them.” I loved that way of thinking then, and it is a view I take forward into V2 AI.
Engaged, motivated and highly skilled individuals are a strong foundation. Now, the question shifts to the other piece of the puzzle: what does this mean for our clients and the types of projects?
Prioritise meaningful work and deliver value
At V2 AI, we have all worked on numerous transformational projects and initiatives within large enterprise organisations. We want to engage in activities that align with our values and beliefs, which bring a sense of purpose and fulfilment.
Setting clear outcomes in line with our client's business priorities reduces delivery risks and enables the group to perform better as a team. We look at delivery through a technology lens, but also with a human and outcomes perspective.
Taking this outcome-based approach involves a desire to truly partner in solving problems and meeting end customer needs to the extent that it can be innovative, valuable, and sustainable. It also means having a mantra to help remove client dependencies on us: actions, not just words and offerings.
We look at outcomes through a technology lens and with a human perspective. Whether it involves contributing to new business models, designing systems, processes, and ways of working, or helping to acquire talent and encourage cultural foundations, the V2 AI team strives for successful results.
Whether it involves contributing to new business models, designing systems, processes, and ways of working, or encouraging cultural foundations, the V2 AI team has a core principle to help remove client dependencies on us.
The meaning behind the name
For some, it can just be a name. However, for us, V2 AI has real significance. V2 or Version 2 describes a new and improved version of something or someone. Creating the next version of something is, at its core, about improvement, taking something you have and enhancing it with a new iteration. The thought process was that if you truly value growth through iteration, why not include it in the name?
We want to inspire and create the next best version for our people and clients. Throughout our careers, every business we’ve worked for has changed us as individuals in some way. By paying homage to all our past colleagues, environments, and experiences, we aim to build our ideal consultancy with our people and for our clients.
This speaks to the tech world of software, products and technology and the human aspect that plays a vital role. Similar to the evolution of every product, service and platform, the only constant is change and the next version.
In addition to Simon Sinek, I also appreciate Brene Brown’s work. A quote from the book Dare to Lead summarises our values well: “When you open yourself up to vulnerability, you open yourself up to courage and creativity.
When you let go of perfectionist tendencies and a fear of failure, you find the bravery to improve yourself – and to have difficult, important conversations with colleagues. In other words, you need all of your emotions on board to become a daring leader.”
That is V2 AI’s origin story and what we truly value. We are embarking on a journey to redefine digital models, reinvent human experiences, and build intelligent platforms underpinned by modernised ways of working. If this interests you, please reach out to me on LinkedIn or join our community of thought leaders, creatives, tech innovators and change agents by contacting careers@v2.digital.
