Interview: Celebrating DevOps Excellence at Hymans

Award was ‘very well received as confirmation that we are on the right track’ says principal engineer Richard Dalziel

Image:
DevOps Excellence Awards

With the deadline for the DevOps Excellence Awards 2025 quickly creeping up on us - Friday 20 December - this is your reminder to register to enter today.

We decided to catch up with one of our previous winners, financial advisor Hymans, who took home the award for Best DevOps Transformation in 2024. Richard Dalziel, Principle Software Engineer at Hyman’s, spoke to us on this incredible achievement and the impact it’s had on their organisation.

Q: Richard, congratulations on your team’s win at the DevOps Excellence Awards! How did it feel to take home the top prize?

Richard: “It felt fantastic to win. To be honest, we were quite surprised, especially given the size of our firm compared to some of the bigger competitors. That surprise made the victory even more rewarding for both the team and our management.”

Q: What advice would you give to other firms looking to achieve similar success?

Richard: “There are a few key things that have worked for us, and I’d say they’re applicable to any organisation, no matter its size:

  1. DevOps excellence is not exclusive to large organisations. Many people think DevOps is something only large companies can achieve, but that’s not true. Any firm, regardless of size, can build a strong DevOps culture and achieve incredible results.
  2. Measure your success. Data is your friend. By measuring and tracking success, you create a solid foundation for showing how far you’ve come. It’s one of the best ways to articulate your achievements and demonstrate the value of DevOps to judges.
  3. Focus on continuous improvement. DevOps is not a one-off transformation; it’s a journey. If you build a culture of always improving, adapting, and innovating, you’ll set yourself up for long-term success in this ever-evolving space."

Q: How has this win impacted Hymans and its senior stakeholders?

Richard: “The award win has been excellent for a firm which is rooted in Financial Services. For senior stakeholders who are not directly involved in technology on a day-to-day basis, it was very well received as confirmation that we are on the right track within our technical direction. Receiving external credit really makes a huge difference in confidence building here.”

Richard’s insights reflect the power of a solid DevOps transformation in any industry. Not to mention that success is attainable for organisations of all sizes. If you’re on a DevOps transformation journey, consider submitting your story for next year’s awards. The recognition not only celebrates your achievements but also helps build confidence and trust within your organisation, as shown by Richard.

Don’t miss the opportunity to share your journey with the world. The final deadline for entries is Friday 20 December, 11:55pm GMT.

Submit your DevOps success story today and inspire others to follow in your footsteps!