Learning from peers and making new connections are two of the most valuable benefits of getting involved in communities. And if you give as much as you get, everyone grows. That’s been the experience so far for John Fisher.
Fisher, managing director at Westway IT Ltd., took a leap of faith four years ago to get more involved in the IT industry. His efforts have paid off exponentially. In addition to growing his network and career, Fisher was chosen by GTIA voters to receive the GTIA UK & Ireland Future Leader award for 2025.
The award was presented to Fisher for his demonstrated accomplishments and innovation as an emerging leader in the IT channel. We asked him for his thoughts on community, where he draws inspiration and what advice he has for the next generation of IT leaders. Here’s what he had to say.
What does the GTIA Future Leader Award mean to you?
The GTIA Future Leader award to me shows I am making a valuable contribution to the community. Making an impact, with positive energy and supporting our industry. I’m proud to be part of a community that values collaboration, growth and giving back.
What leaders do you look up to and have been inspirations to you?
I don’t follow big name leaders; I am more inspired by the people around me that have supported me. Through my time education and running my own business now I have had fantastic people support me with opportunities to do things, advice and that support network. To me, leaders are those welcoming, supporting people, helping others on their journeys and by your side when things get tough.
What’s the best advice you’ve received in your career?
I’ve been a head-down, get-on-with-it for a lot of my early career, working largely in isolation. It was listening to a podcast one day that was talking about advice, the critical point of which is to go find peer networking in your own industry. So back in October 2021 that is what I did, I found a meeting of fellow IT businesses and I haven’t stopped since.
What value or benefit do you get from being a part of the GTIA community?
Connections, knowledge, support, those are the three key values I get from GTIA. My first meeting was the UK & Ireland Community meeting held in Bristol in 2022 as a guest, I joined straight after that having seen firsthand the wonder of our community. The side conversations you have at the end of the day can be phenomenal for taking what you’ve learnt that day making it into actions to implement.
What advice do you have for the next generation of IT workers on how to be successful?
Peer networking. It is incredibly powerful to have people on similar journeys as yours around you that you can support each other, share challenges and solutions. Finding an open and welcoming peer network in your own industry even more so. Whatever your level in a business, owner or technician you can benefit from peer connections, together you’ll go further.
See the full list of 2025 UK & Ireland Spotlight Award Winners.
