Daryl Crothers’ Post

Yesterday was World Mental Health Day, and I had the privilege of taking a much-needed pause to focus on well-being. Huge thanks to Inner Evolution NI for leading a fantastic breathwork session—what a powerful reminder of the importance of taking time out of our busy lives to reconnect with ourselves. In the hustle of daily routines, it’s easy to forget the value of slowing down and just breathing. Prioritising mental health doesn’t always require big changes—sometimes it’s as simple as creating space for moments of calm #WorldMentalHealthDay #MentalHealthMatters #Breathwork #InnerEvolutionNI #SelfCare #Balance

I just finished listening to The Diary of a CEO with David Epstein, and it’s a must-hear for anyone trying to get ahead in their career. He takes on the idea of the 10,000-hour rule—the belief that if you just put in enough hours, you’ll become an expert. But, as he explains, it’s not quite that straightforward. Epstein makes the case that success isn’t about sticking to one path and grinding it out. Instead, he suggests embracing a more varied approach, saying, “Most people with sustained success have this pattern of zigzagging around, trying a lot of things before finding their true niche” . It’s about exploring different areas, gaining a range of experiences, and learning how to apply those lessons across different challenges. For anyone looking to build a successful career, it’s a reminder that being flexible and willing to pivot when needed can actually make you more valuable. Trying new things, taking on roles that stretch you, and bringing diverse skills to the table might just give you the edge you need . It definitely got me into a new way of thinking this morning. #CareerGrowth #SuccessMindset #SkillDevelopment #Adaptability #Innovation #ProfessionalDevelopment #TheDiaryOfACEO #DavidEpstein #10KHourMyth #CareerAdvice

Check out some live roles with my colleague, Alice! The Northern Ireland tech market is showing promising signs of recovery! If you’re interested in any of these roles or want to know more, feel free to reach out to Alice directly at: 📞 02895902688 📧 alice@haywardhawk.com #TechJobs #NorthernIreland #HaywardHawk #Recruitment

What an incredible evening last night at The Future of Animation in NI event, hosted by AniMates and Hayward Hawk! The atmosphere in the room was electric, full of energy, curiosity, and passion for the future of Northern Ireland's animation, games, and film industry. It was a pleasure to compare a panel featuring Richard Gordon, Craig Fish, and Brian Gilmore—true experts in the field who gave us invaluable insights into what’s next for the industry. From discussions on emerging technologies and creative processes, the level of expertise and knowledge they shared was second to none. It's clear Northern Ireland has an exciting future ahead in animation. Thanks to everyone who attended, asked questions, and made it such a memorable event. For anyone who wants more details on what was discussed feel free to get in touch. #Animation #NorthernIreland #FilmIndustry #Tech #HaywardHawk #AniMates #IndustryInsights #FutureofAnimation

Excited to be part of this amazing event! I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be speaking on the panel at The Future of Animation in Northern Ireland, hosted by Hayward Hawk and Animates! The animation industry in NI is evolving fast, and I can’t wait to join some of the brightest minds to discuss where it’s heading. Our panel will feature: 🎬 Craig Fish – Animation Director, Paper Owl Films 🎬 Richard Gordon – Managing Director, JAM Media 🎬 Brian Gilmore – Animation Veteran, Elk Studios We’ll be covering everything from new trends and technologies to how animation is shaping the future of storytelling in Northern Ireland. Date - Thursday, 26th September Time - 7 PM Venue - Belfast Exposed It’s going to be an incredible evening of insights and conversations! Whether you're in animation, tech, or just curious about the industry, you won’t want to miss this! See you there! #Animation #FutureOfAnimation #NorthernIreland #HaywardHawk #Animates #PanelSpeaker #CreativeIndustry #NIAnimation #Innovation

I have no idea how I’ve managed to avoid listening to Jordan Peterson until now, but here we are! I finally gave one of his talks a go, and one thing really stuck with me: the idea of having a moving goal. He talks about how success isn’t about reaching one static goal, but constantly redefining and shifting your targets as you grow. And honestly, it makes so much sense. Whether in life or business,nothing ever stands still. Your goals should change as you learn, adapt, and face new challenges. It really hit home for me that progress isn’t about reaching the finish line; it’s about continuing to aim higher, even as the target moves. It’s a mindset I think we can all apply, whether we’re developing ourselves or pushing innovation in our industries. Think he is going to be on the listen list for the next while #AlwaysLearning #MovingGoalposts #AI #TechLeadership #JordanPeterson #GrowthMindset

Last night, I was helping my daughter with her homework, and one of her sentences made me smile: "I call a seagull a sea chicken." 🤣 It made me pause and appreciate the incredible way children see the world — with fresh eyes, curiosity, and creativity. It got me thinking: In business, how often do we approach problems with the same level of open-mindedness? Children's perspectives remind us that thinking outside the box isn't just a buzzword; it's a mindset. The ability to look at the familiar with a fresh perspective is where innovation begins. We should all look beyond the obvious, question assumptions, and always being open to new ways of thinking. Some of the best ideas really do come from the most unexpected places. #Creativity #Innovation #ThinkingOutsideTheBox #FreshPerspective #seachicken

Recently, I had the pleasure of working with a candidate who was open to exploring new opportunities beyond their initial career path. After discussing their skills and experience, I suggested a role in an area they hadn't previously considered—and it turned out to be a perfect fit! Their openness to explore something different led to a smooth transition into an exciting new career, and I’m thrilled to have been a part of that journey. It’s moments like these that remind me why I love what I do—helping people take that leap into something they never thought possible and watching them thrive! If you're looking for your next challenge or considering a career change, let’s connect. The next opportunity might be one you haven’t even thought of yet! #CareerChange #Recruitment #NewOpportunities #AgencyRecruiter #Grateful

With OpenAI’s valuation soaring, we’re seeing a surge in demand for specific AI skill sets. For developers looking to upskill and hiring managers trying to snap up talent, here’s where to focus: Machine Learning & Deep Learning: Core frameworks like TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Keras are must-haves. Expect a rise in demand for those with experience in reinforcement learning and neural networks. Natural Language Processing (NLP): With models like GPT dominating, experience with NLP tools and techniques will be critical. Hugging Face and transformer-based models are particularly in demand . AI Ops & MLOps: As AI moves into production, understanding how to scale, manage, and deploy models (using tools like Docker, Kubernetes, and Kubeflow) is becoming essential. Data Engineering: Building robust data pipelines and working with large-scale data sets is increasingly vital. Expertise in SQL, NoSQL, and big data tools (like Hadoop, Spark) will be key. For hiring managers, this means targeting a new generation of cross-functional AI engineers who can bridge the gap between development and deployment. This wont be an easy task over the next 12 months so for any developers/data scientists out there I would strongly advise starting to look at these tools. (And make my life a bit easier in 12 months time 🤣 ) #AI #MachineLearning #HiringTrends #Developers #TalentAcquisition

This could be the most exciting opportunity to land in Northern Ireland this year, and YOU could be the first on the ground to lead this game-changing team! Director of Engineering, ML/AI | Fully Remote (NI-based) + 4 Engineering positions. This is a Tech for Good role with an innovative company, working in cutting-edge technologies such as Python, GraphQL, PostgreSQL, gRPC, all within a serverless Google Cloud environment. Key Highlights: Lead from the front in a hands-on technical role Be part of a mission-driven company that's genuinely making a difference Competitive salary of up to £150k Fully remote but must be NI-based—perfect for a work-life balance while leading groundbreaking projects! If you're looking for a leadership role with a purpose-driven company that uses advanced tech to do good, then this is it! 📧 Get in touch with Daryl at daryl@haywardhawk.com for more information or visit www.haywardhawk.com to learn more. Don't miss out on what could be THE opportunity of the year! 💡 #AI #ML #Engineering #TechForGood #RemoteWork #Leadership #NorthernIrelandJobs #GoogleCloud