About Steve Woodward, the Mind Behind Radically Useful

I’ve spent 25 years where people and technology meet
Whether it's a digital product, a team process, or a well-timed phone call, I believe great solutions come from empathy, not ego - and relentless focus on the user. After years building for a global tech giant,

I started Radically Useful to bring that same human-centred, high-impact thinking to the teams who need it most. The ones buried in slides, drowning in tools, and hungry for clarity.

The Journey: How I Got Here

My career in tech began unexpectedly. Like many, I was swept into the world of IT by the manic panic surrounding the Millennium Bug. I landed at one of the "Big 4" accountancy firms and, to my surprise, I settled in. This became my proving ground for the next two decades.

I didn't stay in one place. My curiosity led me on a journey through a variety of critical roles, giving me a unique 360-degree view of how businesses and products really work:

  • Software Testing: Learning how things break and the importance of quality.

  • System Analysis: Understanding the logic and structure behind the technology.

  • Project Management: Mastering how to get things done on time and on budget.

  • Business Analysis: Bridging the gap between business goals and technical execution.

An Accidental Start in a Big 4 World

Finding My Sweet Spot: The Power of User Experience (UX)

Seven years ago, everything clicked. I found my professional home in UX Design. In this role, I became a passionate champion for the user. I pushed to ensure we considered the human experience in everything we designed; from complex software to a simple telephone script or an instruction leaflet (and yes, I know most of us men tend to ignore those!).

From Silos to Synergy: Building a Design-Led Culture

My proudest professional achievement was building a successful UX capability from the ground up. I united individual designers who were working in silos with their own tools and templates. By fostering a collaborative environment and implementing a Design Ops model, we transformed into a high-performing, unified team that put the user at the heart of the business.

When I'm Not Fractional UX'ing...

You'll find me at home with my family. Most weekends involve watching some form of sport—I'm a big fan of Football, Rugby league, and Tennis. And, of course, my day usually starts and ends with a walk with my two energetic dogs.