Ideas, in writing

Latest insights and articles

• Bottom Line, I'm Back to Writing

  Mark Sweeny returns to writing after five years, reflecting on building de Novo Solutions, developing Welsh technology talent and why Wales remains a competitive advantage.

• The Importance of Ambition

  Mark Sweeny explores ambition, entrepreneurial resilience, the role of government and the economic opportunity created by people willing to build something that matters.

• An Entrepreneur’s Perspective - Transforming the British Economy

  Mark Sweeny argues for a smaller state, stronger support for entrepreneurs and radical thinking to transform the British economy through wealth creation.

• The Dragon Has Awoken And Is Finding Its Voice

  Mark Sweeny examines Wales’s growing regional technology ecosystem, government-backed economic development, apprenticeships and the role of local talent.

• The Accidental Entrepreneur – A Year in the Life of a Start-Up

  Mark Sweeny shares the story of de Novo’s first year, from finding the proposition and building the team to winning the first deal and creating a sustainable business.

• "We're Putting the Band Back Together" - Finding the Way Back

  Mark Sweeny shares how de Novo Solutions began, from bringing trusted people back together to testing the proposition, financing the venture and building the team.

• If You Are Going to Do Something, Then Do It with Style…

  Mark Sweeny reflects on Paul Weller, The Jam and The Style Council, exploring how authenticity, reinvention, courage and creative influence translate into business lessons.

• Chasing Rainbows – Looking for Experience Economy Nirvana

  Mark Sweeny explores the evolution of Cloud SaaS, employee experience nirvana and the role of Enterprise Service Management in connecting people, processes and technology.

• Starting Over & Going Again...Day One.

  Mark Sweeny reflects on the end of his Certus journey, the mindset required to start again and the beginning of a new entrepreneurial chapter.

• Can the Future of Remote Performance Management be found in American Sports? A decade on it’s a Second Coming…

  Mark Sweeny explores how performance analytics from American sport inspired EmpIndex and a more objective approach to managing remote workforces.

• SaaS - The True Cost of the Race to the Bottom of the Rate Card

  Mark Sweeny examines how price-led procurement affects SaaS ERP delivery, supplier relationships and the long-term value organisations realise from cloud transformation.

• The Magic Dust of a Great Business Partnership

  Mark Sweeny shares the values, trust, complementary skills, aligned vision and decision-making principles behind his business partnership with Tim Warner.

• Managing in a Storm of Uncertainty and a World of Hurt

  Mark Sweeny offers practical guidance for business leaders managing cash, risk, employees and customer relationships through profound economic uncertainty.

• Discovering the Spirit of the Entrepreneur

  Mark Sweeny explores the passion, resilience, problem-solving, customer focus and calculated risk that define entrepreneurial spirit.

• Competing and Winning in the Public Sector - A Dark Art?

  Mark Sweeny shares practical guidance for SMEs competing in public-sector procurement, from early relationship building to qualification, negotiation and feedback.

• The Value of Mentors

  Mark Sweeny reflects on the mentors who shaped his career and the value of experience, challenge, generosity, perspective and honest guidance.

• Some People Just Don’t Want to Be Transformed…

  Mark Sweeny explores why transformation fails when it ignores human behaviour and how positive, time-saving experiences can create lasting change.

• “Welcome to The Experience Game”

  Mark Sweeny explores the shift from enterprise processes and systems towards personalised employee experiences and the opportunities it creates.

• Market Dynamics – The Secrets of the Crystal Ball & Finding the Gap

  Mark Sweeny explains how market cycles, customer demand, competitive behaviour and scenario planning can reveal timely business opportunities.

• 8 Years On From 2011 and 15 Minutes of Fame – Cloud Was It Evolution or Revolution?

  Mark Sweeny looks back at an early bet on Oracle SaaS, the growth of Certus Solutions and why cloud proved to be a quiet revolution.

• The Importance of Company Values – It’s About Delivery… but More Importantly It’s About the Way You Deliver

  Mark Sweeny reflects on what an RFU engagement taught Certus Solutions about values, cultural alignment and delivering in the right way.

• Part II - Building A Cloud Professional Services Practice – The Sir Alex Ferguson Way

  Mark Sweeny explains how Certus adapted an elite football academy model to develop cloud talent and sustainable delivery capability.

• Building A Cloud Professional Services Practice – The Sir Alex Ferguson Way - Part I

  Mark Sweeny explores how academy talent, squad depth, positional coverage and succession planning offer a blueprint for scaling professional services.

• Five Years of Oracle Cloud and What I Have Truly Learned About Business

  Mark Sweeny reflects on five years of Oracle Cloud and why decisive leadership, adaptation, innovation and relevance determine business survival.

• The Horse Whisper - Lessons for Business

  Mark Sweeny explores what the relationship between horse and rider can teach leaders about trust, emotional intelligence and project delivery.

• We All Need Heroes

  Mark Sweeny reflects on mentors, everyday heroes, overcoming adversity, finding inspiration and the responsibility to help others fulfil their potential.

• We All Write Our Own Story…

  Mark Sweeny reflects on developing others, family, resilience, positive disruption and the responsibility to write the next chapter of your own story.

• Part Time Working Mums – A Most Valued Contribution

  Mark Sweeny explains why part-time working mothers are an overlooked talent pool and how thoughtful flexibility benefits families and growing businesses.

• Missed Opportunities

  Mark Sweeny reflects on opportunity cost, limited time, entrepreneurial sacrifice and why family and personal relationships offer the greatest return.

• The Power of A "Can Do" Attitude

  Mark Sweeny explores the can-do mindset behind entrepreneurship, from calculated risk-taking and resilience to motivating teams and turning obstacles into challenges.

• Building a Great Team

  Mark Sweeny reflects on the people, culture, relationships and shared responsibility that helped Certus build a great team and deliver for customers.

• The Power of The Dream

  Mark Sweeny reflects on courage, hard work, missed opportunities and the power of a dream to inspire positive change in business and personal life.

• Degrees of Winning – You Have to Learn to Lose!

  Mark Sweeny explores how leaders and teams can accept defeat, reflect honestly, learn from setbacks and turn losing into degrees of winning.