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JON RUSSELL The Practical Architect

About

What I believe

I believe AI only creates value when the people around it grow with it. My work starts there: building the essential human skills, judgement, communication and craft, that determine whether technology actually lands. I do this as a practising solution architect on the Microsoft stack, with agentic AI as my specialism, because capability building only works when it comes from someone who genuinely builds. Architecture grounded in delivery reality, mentoring grounded in genuine care, and an honest 'no' when something won't work.

The facts

The short version, without the padding.

Jon Russell
  • 20+ years in IT; the last five specialising in Microsoft business applications.
  • Technical Solution Architect at a top 5 GSI.
  • Career history includes the BBC, LOVEFiLM, Amazon and VolkerWessels UK.
  • Founder of the Essential Skills mentoring programme.
  • AI Bench Training Lead.
  • Active UK Microsoft community speaker and blogger.
  • Based in Buckinghamshire.

Certifications

16+ active Microsoft certifications, including:

  • Agentic AI Business Solutions Architect
  • Azure AI Engineer Associate
  • Power Platform Solution Architect Expert

View my full Microsoft certification transcript