Neil Deakin

What do you do now?

I’m a Strategic Education Lead at a tech company that works with schools. I help teachers and school leaders figure out how to choose and use technology in ways that make learning better.

School wasn’t easy for me. My Art and Geography teachers made a lasting impact, and their encouragement helped lay the foundations that allowed me to rise above the challenges I faced.

I studied Fine Art at Coventry University, where I was diagnosed with dyslexia. That discovery was a turning point, and gave me a new understanding of myself and how I learn. I completed a PGCE in Art and Design at Birmingham City University, and spent four rewarding years teaching. I loved the classroom, the creativity of art and design and running extracurricular clubs, but I was still learning how to manage the ongoing challenges of dyslexia.

After teaching, I spent a few years producing architectural illustrations, eventually leading me to sales and marketing. When interactive whiteboards began to emerge, I saw an opportunity to reconnect with education in a new way. This marked a shift, where I began to embrace the strengths of my neurodiversity rather than focus on its limitations. I rose through the ranks in the EdTech sector, eventually leading a pioneering team at a major distributor.

Despite the career shifts, the creatvity I discovered in my Art class at South Craven never left me. I’ve always been a keen DIYer, and life took another turn in 2016. I began taking on small-scale construction projects and have since developed several properties. I found myself conducting weddings and funerals, supporting people through tragedy and leading a congregation through the pandemic. While I remained actively involved in social action and community support, I eventually returned to EdTech and spent a few years back in the classroom. 

No two days are the same. One day I might be visiting a school, chatting with teachers about what’s working in their classrooms. Another day, I’m using AI to explore how education is changing and coming up with new ideas to support schools. Sometimes I’m in the office with my team, other times I’m walking through a park talking into my phone, capturing ideas as they come. It’s creative, flexible and always evolving.

What advice would you give your 16-year-old self?

You’re going to do things you can’t imagine yet. Try things that scare you. You will fail sometimes - accept and own your failure, embrace the situation and learn from it. That’s how you grow.

Don’t let your weakness define you. Share your wins - don’t let praise go to your head. Stand up for what you believe in, and respect others who believe differently to you.

What are you most proud of?

Helping people. Whether it has been helping a company grow or supporting individuals facing tough challenges, making a difference in someone’s life is the most meaningful reward.