An iQuanti Employee Spotlight | Simon Shorten, Director of Design & Development, takes us through his journey of persistence, process, and the power of stepping outside your comfort zone.
There’s a particular kind of pressure that sets in when a project hits a major blocker. Not a minor slow-down, but the kind that puts delivery timelines at risk and calls for decisive action.
Simon Shorten, our Director of Design & Development, found himself in exactly that situation early in his tenure at iQuanti. The team was deep into a client web development project, working within a tightly controlled environment and VDI. Everything was going smoothly until it wasn’t. Dependency and permission constraints hit like a brick wall, and suddenly, the timeline was in jeopardy. Support estimated it would take several weeks to resolve and these several weeks the team simply didn’t have.
Rather than accept the delay and wait it out, Simon did what great problem-solvers do: he started digging. Through late nights and plenty of coffee, he explored alternative approaches and ultimately wrote a custom build script that worked within the existing constraints. The project got unblocked. The pressure lifted. The team delivered on time.
Building the Foundation for Excellence
In the two and a half years since Simon joined iQuanti, his impact has been felt across our Design & Development team.
“My role in building iQuanti has focused on strengthening how we work within Design & Development,” Simon shares. “I’ve been involved in introducing clearer structure, processes, and best practices that improve alignment across teams and support a consistently high standard of work.”
It’s not always the flashiest work, but it’s foundational. Good structure is like a well-designed building, you don’t notice it until it’s missing. When teams have the right guidance and support, they can focus on what they do best: solving problems creatively and delivering work they’re proud of.
Simon visiting iQuanti’s India office
“The most rewarding aspect of my role is enabling teams to do their best work,” Simon explains. “When the right guidance, structure, and support are in place, teams can work with confidence, solve problems effectively, and deliver work they’re proud of.”
Navigating AI with Intention
As iQuanti continues to integrate AI more deeply into how we work, Simon has played a key role in helping Design & Development adopt these tools thoughtfully and responsibly. It’s not about jumping on every trend; it’s about understanding where AI enhances what we do and where human creativity and judgment remain irreplaceable.
“iQuanti is on an exciting trajectory, and everyone is playing a part in shaping its future,” Simon notes. His approach to AI adoption reflects his broader philosophy: make decisions with the long-term impact in mind, ensure they compound into something meaningful, and always keep quality at the forefront.
Growth Through Curiosity
One of the most striking things about Simon’s journey at iQuanti is his willingness to step outside his comfort zone. With seventeen years of experience in the industry, he could easily have stayed firmly within his area of expertise. Instead, he’s chosen to venture into unfamiliar territory, support others in areas beyond his immediate role, and remain genuinely curious.
“iQuanti has reinforced the value of stepping outside my comfort zone,” Simon reflects. “By getting involved in areas beyond my day-to-day role and supporting others along the way, I’ve learned more, broadened my perspective, and grown in ways I wouldn’t have expected. While it can feel safer to stay in your lane, some of the most valuable learning for me has come from stepping outside it.”
Working with strong leaders and talented colleagues from around the world has been a significant part of his growth. “My journey at iQuanti has been incredibly rewarding, from navigating new challenges to connecting with talented colleagues around the world,” he says. “Working with strong leaders and diverse teams has helped me grow both in my role and as a leader, and I continue to find new opportunities to learn and contribute.”
With his wife, enjoying the moments that matter most
Beyond the Code
Outside of work, Simon’s life looks a bit different these days. With a toddler and a newborn at home, his time is happily spent with family. But when he does get a rare moment to himself, you might find him behind the wheel of his car, taking a spirited drive through country lanes—a perfect way to switch off and reset.
“You’ll often catch me snapping photos, usually of small details or interesting angles that others might overlook,” he shares. It’s another form of problem-solving, really, just with a different lens.
Simon with his little one, soaking up sunlight and savoring the precious moments.
Words of Wisdom
For anyone starting their journey at iQuanti, Simon offers advice rooted in his own experience: “I’ve found that being curious, asking questions, and taking the time to listen has made a real difference. Learning from the talented people around me, staying open to different perspectives, and keeping client outcomes in focus has helped me grow in my role.”
The world through Simon’s camera: small details, interesting angles, and moments worth capturing.
It’s simple advice, but it reflects the approach that’s made Simon such a valuable leader at iQuanti. He doesn’t just solve problems; he creates environments where teams can solve problems together. He doesn’t just deliver projects; he builds systems that enable consistent, high-quality delivery. And he doesn’t just focus on the immediate challenge; he thinks about how today’s decisions compound into tomorrow’s success.
The Road Ahead
Two and a half years into his journey at iQuanti, Simon continues to learn, grow, and find new ways to contribute. His story is a reminder that great leadership isn’t always about the big, flashy moments; sometimes it’s about the consistent effort to improve how teams work, and the willingness to step outside your comfort zone in service of something bigger.
“That one lesson that motivates me is that quality compounds,” Simon says. “Small decisions made consistently in how we design, build, and collaborate, add up over time and shape both client trust and team confidence. Keeping that long-term impact in mind pushes me to maintain my best every day.”
At iQuanti, we’re fortunate to have leaders like Simon who understand that building something great takes time, consistency, and a commitment to quality that never wavers. His journey is far from finished, and that’s exactly what makes it exciting.
Want to join a team where curiosity, quality, and growth are valued? Explore careers at iQuanti and be part of our journey.
