We are incredibly fortunate to have some of the best and brightest people with us on our mission to change work life. Instead of keeping their brilliance to ourselves, we’re launching a series of profiles so YOU, dear reader, can get to know some of the wonderful people that make Beyond20 tick.
Today, we’re featuring ‘The Professor’ himself, David Crouch! David, who has more degrees and certifications than you (or anyone) can shake a stick at, is a Senior Advisor on our Consulting and Training team. He’s a brilliant writer with an innovative mind and a genuinely impressive bowtie collection. Here’s what David has to say about his experience at Beyond20.
1. So, what would you say… you do here?
Three things, primarily:
1. Consult with clients and help them to continue to improve.
2. Teach – All ITIL classes, Project Management classes, and custom classes.
3. Thought Leadership – Writing books (co-authored the official Axelos ITIL 4 Digital and IT Strategy publication), blog articles, etc.
In addition to this, I help respond to proposals and develop and mature services. In short, I help make work life better 😉!
2. How would you describe Beyond20’s company culture?
I work with some of the smartest and most dynamic people I’ve ever met. Everybody is always willing to join in to help solve a problem and help you advance your knowledge and capabilities to the next level. We are fast-paced, driven, insatiable . . . and we have fun doing it. If you are here at Beyond20, it’s not just because you like your job. It’s because you like seeing how what you do improves the work of other people.
3. What is your team like?
My team is supportive, adaptive, creative, and frankly, some of the best subject matter experts in IT Service Management and related topics in the world (yes, you heard that). We also have a high degree of both overlapping and complementary skills. That means that if you are a consulting client or a student, you receive top-notch service whether you are working with me or any of my colleagues. At the same time, if I need assistance in an area where somebody else is a bit stronger, they’re there for me. So, I guess you can say I work with a stable of “unicorns” – a rare blend of deep on-the-ground experience, coupled with best practice knowledge; a rare mix of business and technical acumen.
4. What’s the most unique part about working here?
I have had the opportunity to work with a variety of clients from different industries and with different challenges. It keeps me on my toes. Best practice shouldn’t be applied blindly. I get a chance to adapt it to changing real-world scenarios.
5. How have you grown professionally while on our team?
Prior to coming to Beyond20, I had been in IT for more than 20 years. So, when I started at Beyond20, I already had a solid set of core skills and advanced knowledge areas. I’ve been able to continue to build on those skills and have gained even greater experience applying them in different contexts with different companies and different industries. I’m even more confident that I can deal with any situation that comes along. In the process, I’ve also continued to build upon my certification portfolio (it was great before joining Beyond20, but it is stellar now).
6. What drew you to Beyond20?
I first learned about Beyond20 when I took an ITIL v3 Foundation class from them ages ago. As an adjunct professor (outside of my day job), I was impressed with the level of teaching and the interactive format. Later, I learned that Beyond20 not only provides training but also provides ITSM consulting (among other disciplines) and technology implementations. I was looking to find meaningful work. I wanted to know that what I did would make a tangible and immediate difference in the lives of clients. That’s what Beyond20 always seemed to do.
7. What advice do you have for prospective Beyond20 employees?
Being super intelligent is just the price of entry. Having degrees and certifications opens the door but does not close the deal. It is important to work well with clients, to respect your team members – be willing to teach them and to learn from them. In fact, you don’t have to be the smartest person in the room. The ability to interact in a positive and constructive way is much more important. We don’t want “jacks of all trades.” We want “masters of all.” That takes self-awareness and a dedication to continual self-improvement.
8. What’s something everyone should watch?
“They Shall Not Grow Old” or “Elvis: Aloha from Hawaii.” How’s that for opposite ends of the spectrum?