How one expert created an additional revenue stream and expanded their portfolio through HiveMind

Dave Jones started his career at British Rail Maintenance in the 1980’s. Implementing one of the first digital transformations taught him a great deal about technology, and his success in this role saw him work his from technical systems admin and security, through to Group IT director, and finally CIO for Cape Plc—a ￡1.2 billion company sold to Altrad in 2018.

In June 2018, Jones decided to set up his own company, Digital Ways of Working, providing fractional CIO & IT director services.

How did you come to learn about HiveMind?

I was nominated to join by someone I trusted and respected so I was intrigued to learn more. I found?the Network was established by people like me who were recommended, independent professionals who shared a common set of values. Bringing together seasoned practitioners, for their experience and independence is one of the key differences between HiveMind and large global management consultancies. The network includes many others like me who have long and successful careers in large organisations, so I get to share with and learn from some really impressive people and it is a source of real value for our shared clients.

What makes HiveMind as a business model so effective in the delivery of service?

Over the last 12 months, HiveMind has gone through a transitional phase of growth. From my perspective, a CIO needs a lot of differently-skilled people to deliver on projects, particularly in a larger organisation. As I operate at a strategic level, I can’t always deliver all of these services. However, as a member of the network, I know I can always call HiveMind to bring in specialists with specific sector knowledge, whether that’s to help run a Programme Management Office or implement new HR systems.

"When opportunities come my way that I can’t deliver through my own company, I can rely on HiveMind to manage this for me."

When larger organisations and opportunities arise, I can work with HiveMind Network to deliver solutions for large clients, implementing high-level strategies based on clients’ demands. These are opportunities I couldn’t pursue without the Network.

Why is the fractional CIO role important in organisations?

The CIO's role is critical because it is ultimately responsible for whether an organisation succeeds or fails. The CIO drives the success of the technology, systems, and processes. A lot of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) that survived challenging economic climates have had their eyes opened to the importance of adopting technological solutions, particularly since the Covid pandemic.

Dave Jones works with many of HiveMind’s clients as a fractional CIO through our HiveExec offering.

Can you tell us more about the ‘Network effect’ when it comes to revenue generation with HiveMind?

I've found a lot of success through HiveMind because they can be trusted with large clients. When opportunities come my way that I can’t deliver through my own company, I can rely on HiveMind to manage this for me. It usually starts with companies reporting a problem and asking me to find a solution for it. The skillset, availability, and expertise within the HiveMind Network has been ever-present, which has been fantastic for me from a revenue generation perspective.

I get a share of the profit when we land these clients and deliver successful outcomes. If I cannot deliver the service due to various reasons, I've always found the skillset within the Network, so it’s a win-win for everyone involved.

What are your top tips and recommendations when it comes to capitalising on revenue generation from HiveMind consultancy?

Take on projects you know you can deliver successfully. As a CIO, I've seen plenty of consultants that claim to be good at everything, but honesty and integrity are the keys to success. The best-in-class consultants succeed within HiveMind Network.

With regards to the client, it's a case of making sure relationships are sustained as we adapt to their wants and needs—supporting them in achieving these are key. You must also invest time to understand the breadth and depth of HiveMind Network. Networking and building relationships with key people is paramount to your success as a consultant. Attend as many in-person events as possible, understand what other members can offer, and success will soon follow.

If you're interested in joining HiveMind Network, visit our website, or email [email protected] if you'd like to work with us.