I've used Jira for over 2 decades, it's one of my preferred tools for requirements gathering (that and DevOps). I'm able to create projects from scratch, customise fields, boards and create automated workflows. I use it to manage my day to day life too. I treat Jira as the operational backbone for technical delivery, configuring it to serve the ACE (Analyse, Communicate, Educate) methodology.

Analyse: I structure Jira backlogs to force detailed Analysis of requirements, ensuring that every ticket has the necessary context to prevent development drift.

Communicate: My Jira configurations are designed to optimize Communication between business stakeholders and development squads, creating a single, unambiguous source of truth.

Educate: By utilizing comprehensive documentation and acceptance criteria within Jira, I ensure that the tool itself serves to Educate the development team on the why and what of every deliverable.

Technical Proficiency: Beyond basic ticket management, I am an expert in custom workflow design, backend permissions, and integrating third-party tools into the Jira ecosystem to create a seamless delivery pipeline.

I utilise Hubspot as an engine for customer engagement and sales pipeline management. My approach focuses on bridging the gap between marketing automation and operational efficiency, leveraging deep configuration knowledge to drive business development.

Core Capabilities

End-to-End Configuration: Experienced in designing and implementing Hubspot environments tailored to unique client requirements, ensuring data architecture supports long-term growth.

Third-Party Integration: Specialised in extending HubSpot's functionality through strategic plugins, such as the implementation of Summise for streamlined contract management and lifecycle tracking.

Continuous Learning: Maintain certified proficiency through ongoing training via the Hubspot Academy, ensuring all implementations utilise the latest platform features and best practices.

The ACE Advantage

Analyse: I configure HubSpot reporting dashboards to provide actionable Analysis of lead-to- customer conversion paths, ensuring clear visibility into marketing ROI.

Communicate: I leverage HubSpot's automation tools to refine internal and external Communication, ensuring the right message reaches the right stakeholder at the optimal moment.

Educate: I use the platform’s documentation and training resources to Educate client teams on how to maintain data integrity and optimize their own workflows post-implementation.

Visio is a staple for any Business Analyst, and I am no exception. It is one of the most commonly used tools by organisations seeking to document their processes effectively. I have used it throughout my career and would classify myself as an expert power user. When combined with robust governance to manage change, it is an incredible tool that I have leveraged at almost every client site. Furthermore, because anyone with an Office account can view and comment on documents, it serves as an excellent platform for gathering stakeholder feedback and securing sign-offs.

How this facilitates the ACE framework:

• Enhanced Discovery: The ability to visualise the process you are analysing makes workshopping and interviewing much simpler.

• Clarity through Visualisation: Problems become much clearer when they are mapped out visually.

• Effective Communication: Communicating complex processes becomes easier when they are documented in Visio, broken down into simple steps, and combined with robust process architecture and design.

• Improved Enablement: Educating process operators is a much simpler task when processes are broken into manageable chunks, making the information more digestible.

I'm pretty sure everyone will have heard of Excel, it's one of the most commonly used tools in the world. I've used it all my adult life, both in a professional and personal capacity. It's a great told for a quick bit of simple data analysis, if my clients don't have a dedicated data analytics tool such as Alteryx, N8N, or RStudio, then I am capable of using the Visual Basic coding features to push it to the limit of its abilities.

Lucid Chart is my go to when it comes to process design.