#CampDigital: 5 minutes with...Matt Jukes
Sales, Marketing and Events Manager
5 minute read
Matt Jukes (Jukesie) is a veteran digital leader and product coach for public service and other large organisations. A proponent of radical transparency, Matt is joining us at #CampDigital with a talk on about his experiences of working in the open, and the ups and downs that come with it. We can't wait till 3rd July, so we grabbed a 5 minute chat with Matt about what he's been up to, and what to expect from his session!
1) Your talk is titled ‘The power, peril and privilege of working in the open’. Could you explain a little about what that means, and what the Camp Digital audience can expect?
For a couple of decades I have been indulging in, and advocating for, a pretty radical approach to working in the open. I’ve shared my professional (and some personal) ups and downs, motivations, challenges, successes and (many) failures on blogs, social media and stages. My career has benefited greatly from this approach and it gained me an international network as well as amazing opportunities like speaking at Camp Digital!
It hasn’t always been a smooth ride though and I’ve learned some lessons the hard way. All of which I’ll share in a painfully honest, and at times hopefully funny, talk that maybe people can learn a little from even if it is what not to do.
2) Was your approach to transparency something that arrived gradually through your career, or did it begin with an intentional decision to share?
It was a bit like how Hemingway described going bankrupt; “Gradually, then suddenly.”
I don’t know that it was initially a particularly conscious thing. I loved to write (clearly I still do) and was fascinated by the first wave of bloggers and their careening mix of topics and focus from post to post - regularly sprinkled with personal insights amongst geeky treatises. It took me a while to find my own voice (and platform) but when I did it had fewer filters than I expected and pretty quickly I found doing my thinking out loud, online, was good for my well-being. I didn’t expect anybody to read anything (and for a long time they didn’t!) but over time I found a little audience who were supportive and kind which only encouraged me to share more and be more open.
3) What’s something exciting you’ve worked on recently?
Exciting, infuriating, fun and frustrating was how I would describe the work I was involved at the end of last year to launch the Government’s Missions on GOV.UK. Working with No.10 on anything has unique challenges just because of the profile and importance of that work but doing so when things are continually evolving behind closed doors with regular shifts in requirements and operating under a blanket of secrecy made it quite an experience!
4) What are you most looking forward to about Camp Digital this year?
I’m particularly looking forward to Richard (Pope) speaking. I loved his book and just generally his work and thinking has influenced me a lot over the years. Also the 300 Seconds slot is always a treat. Mainly though I look forward to Camp Digital because it has a lovely vibe and attracts a great group of people I love getting to catch-up with in person.
Camp Digital is back on 3rd July at the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester. Learn more about this year's event, and grab your tickets to join us in person or online (main stage) right here.