Jon Leighton is Director at Sunderland’s Land Digital, creator of leading social app for hikers and hill walkers Peaky Baggers, among others. He also serves as chair of Newcastle Round Table.
How did you first get into your industry?
I was lecturing and teaching IT at a local college when the opportunity came up to build a startup with a couple of my peers from another department. We were inexperienced, but very enthusiastic! Together, we worked hard to launch our first digital product and, even though it ultimately failed, it gave us a case study from within the industry. Instead of throwing it all away, we used the experience to demonstrate what we’d learnt which helped us win more work.
What do you love about your job?
I love the variety of never having two days the same. As I travel in, I don’t know what exactly I’ll need to do; it could be anything from working within my team to developing a strategy to meeting new people and businesses. Throw in the occasional spot of firefighting, and it’s definitely enough to make sure I never get bored.
Who – or what – has inspired you in your career?
Before starting in tech, I had a really varied career path, from running a pub, to working in Rome, to teaching and lecturing. The driving factor behind all of these experiences was a desire to make my own choices to control my own career path. I felt then, and still feel now, that building my own business is the best way for me to feel fulfilled and passionate about my work, and I hope that shines through in everything Land Digital does.
What are the biggest challenges about your job?
There is a lot to stay on top of when running an agency business. I have to be prepared to wear many hats and take on many responsibilities, from navigating employment laws changes to following industry regulations or shaping strategy. Nevertheless, even though this is an ever-changing, fast-paced environment, I wouldn’t swap it for anything else.
What skills have been the most crucial to you succeeding in your career so far?
Whilst I have undoubtedly picked up a great deal of practical skills in my career so far, the one I feel has been the most important to me is the ability to take risks and embrace change. As business owners, if we get too stuck in our ways or fear trying new ways of doing things, we risk coming unstuck very quickly. It is vital to remember that the business landscape in any sector, not just tech, is always changing and we need to be adaptable in order to survive.
What was your first salary and what could someone getting into the industry expect to earn nowadays?
I moved straight into self-employment after teaching so didn’t have a salary. In those early days all of my money was invested back into the business. In terms of others entering the industry, their salary would be highly dependent on their previous experiences in their career and the size of business they want to work for. (This question and answer is difficult because of how subjective salary can be, so it may be that it is not suitable for publication).
What education or training would be most useful for someone looking to follow your career path?
The great thing for those entering the industry now, compared to when I did, is that there is so much information and so many learning resources online – and a lot of them are free. Doing something as simple as just spending some time on YouTube will provide you with a wealth of knowledge and the latest trends within tech. My career has taught me that learning new skills is a lifelong thing, and I urge everyone to always seek out knowledge and ways to improve.
What advice would you have for someone looking to follow your path?
Create solid goals for yourself, such as visualising where you want to be in one, three and five years. Crucially, don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t meet these goals or make mistakes; the purpose of setting goals is to motivate you to keep making progress in the right direction. It took me a while to work out where I wanted to be and how I should go about getting there, and I wish I had done it sooner.
