Meet James: the engineer-turned-advocate who knows every problem has a solution
Ask James Waldron how he tackles a tricky problem, and he'll tell you straight: there's always an angle. It's a philosophy that's carried him from the basement of a UK bank to a Client Growth Partner role at Yorb - and it's exactly the kind of thinking that serves our clients.
From engineer to advocate
James started out as a telecommunications engineer, working for Cisco Systems and Juniper Networks across the UK and Europe. He was once, in his own words, ‘a super techie ’. But after repeatedly meeting salespeople who were more focused on the deal than on truly understanding the product, he made the leap to the commercial side.
"I thought, if I can sit on that side of the table with my technical knowledge, surely I should be quite successful." Turns out he was right.
Why the technical side matters
James first joined Yorb in 2017, left in 2022, and rejoined last September. That rare mix of deep tech know-how and people skills pays off for clients. He describes himself as an advocate, helping regional businesses see IT as an enabler rather than a grudge spend - particularly when it comes to cybersecurity. Smaller businesses are often more at risk, yet the relaxed ‘she'll be right’ attitude still persists.
The good news is that staying secure isn't only about money. Good process costs very little. Talking to your staff regularly about cyber risk doesn't cost much either. It's a message of hope, not doom.
There's always a way
Give James a whiteboard and a fellow problem-solver, and he's in his element. He loves bouncing ideas around until an angle emerges - sometimes mid-pickleball game. It goes back to a belief he's held since he was young: don't ever let anyone tell you something's impossible. There's always a way - you just need to find it.
Life beyond the whiteboard
When he's not at his desk, you'll find James on a pickleball court, kite surfing, or travelling. He's backpacked across every continent - Antarctica included - and loves getting off the beaten track. "If the tourists are turning left, I'm turning right."
The advice that's stuck with him longest? "Winners make it happen, losers let it happen." It's a bold line - and he'd be the first to say he's been on both sides of it. Having left school at 16 with no qualifications, James learned early that if you want something in life, you have to go out and work for it.
Passion meets purpose
It's rare to find someone who's equally at home debugging a network or explaining cyber risk over coffee - James is that person.
If you'd like to talk through where your business is headed - technology, cybersecurity, or anything in between - James is the kind of person who will give you a straight, informed perspective. Reach out or connect with him on LinkedIn.
