In this article, we explore the captivating journey of Simon Woodhead, the Founder and Group CEO of Simwood Group PLC, a company that has revolutionized the telecommunications industry. In an insightful video interview, Simon takes us through Simwood's evolution, from its humble beginnings in 1996 to its current position as a trailblazer in the telecommunications sector.
He revealed how his initial foray into finance and an unconventional career path shaped his entrepreneurial vision, emphasizing the benefits of approaching challenges with a fresh, outsider perspective. Simon spoke passionately about the unique advantage of "being the idiot in the room," using this mindset to tackle industry problems in groundbreaking ways.
Simon reflected on how his diverse experiences, including voluntary mountain rescue and non-executive roles, have enriched his leadership approach. His story is one of innovation, resilience, and a relentless drive to question the status quo. As you read on, discover the insights of an industry disruptor who continues to bring fresh thinking to one of the world's most established sectors.
Simon Woodhead’s Unconventional Path to Telecommunications Success
Simon Woodhead’s journey into telecommunications was anything but traditional. Without attending university, he first stepped into the fast-paced world of finance. However, it was technology, not finance, that truly captured his passion. “I started Simwood as an evening project,” Simon explained, entering telecommunications with a genuine curiosity and a bold vision. He fondly recalls the early days of Simwood in 1996, when the company created the first global gateway between the internet and mobile phones, competing with companies like Research In Motion (later known as BlackBerry). "While others were focused on creating their own hardware, we were using commodity mobile phones," he said.
Simon embraces the value of approaching problems with a fresh perspective. "I believe that questioning conventional wisdom can lead to the best solutions," he said. In an industry dominated by seasoned experts, he believes having no preconceptions can often unlock innovative ideas. Instead of relying on traditional methods, Simon’s approach to business at Simwood has been to challenge the status quo—an approach that continues to drive the company’s success today.
Simon’s commitment to seeing things differently stems from a childhood that was “anti-establishment, anti-authority.” However, his time in finance played a significant role in shaping his understanding of how large organizations operate. “Those experiences are still valuable,” he explained, noting that they serve not as rigid templates, but as tools for effective problem-solving. Additionally, his 15 years of volunteering with mountain rescue further shaped his leadership approach. Working alongside a diverse team from various backgrounds, Simon learned the power of varied perspectives in tackling challenges. “By looking beyond the obvious, you can often uncover solutions others may miss,” he shared. Sometimes, stepping in without preconceived notions can be the key to innovation.
From Entrepreneurial Beginnings to Industry Leadership: Simon Woodhead’s Journey
Simon Woodhead never claimed to be a natural-born leader. “I was born disruptive,” he admitted, recalling a childhood where he was more likely to joke around with every group in the schoolyard than lead anyone. Leadership, as he put it, developed over time and with a good dose of confidence. While he wasn’t the "hard kid in the classroom," he had a knack for humor and adaptability that foreshadowed his entrepreneurial drive. Yet, it wasn’t until he took some risks and built a company that he truly found his voice.
Networking, however, wasn’t Simon’s forte from the start. In the early days of Simwood—when it was still just “the SMS”—he was more comfortable hiding behind a mailing list. The community he created around the project operated like an open-source initiative, with people pitching ideas that made their way into the service. One senior figure in the mobile industry took notice and became an early mentor. “Build your network,” the mentor advised. Funny enough, the man had placed a bet that Simon even existed, since back then, Simon was more like a phantom innovator than a public figure. But the idea of networking came with challenges, especially for a young entrepreneur with limited resources and plenty of self-doubt.
Looking back, Simon sees the irony. Nowadays, he has the means to jet across the world, but life has gotten more complicated, with family responsibilities and a child who needs constant care. His once boundless time has become a rare commodity. “Now, I love being on stage and meeting people,” he said, noting how his network has flourished over time. Yet, he can’t help but think about how things might’ve been different if he’d had the confidence and resources earlier. For Simon, the game has always been about building something meaningful. “I like business and money,” he said, “but I view that as the scoreboard, not the game.” The real game, for him, will always be the tech.
Simon’s Tech Crystal Ball: Decentralization, No-Code, and the Uncertain Future
Simon Woodhead has a thing for trends that others overlook or underestimate. When asked about tech that’s piquing his interest, he didn’t hesitate: decentralization and the no-code movement. "We've passed peak centralization," he said, pointing out how everything from finance to employment is evolving in ways that are poised to shake up the status quo. While he’s hesitant to overhype blockchain, he acknowledges its influence in reshaping how we think about centralized control, from banking to the gig economy. The world of work, he believes, is transforming into something more flexible and independent—and technology is at the core of this seismic shift.
WebRTC is another example of tech that quietly revolutionized things. In the beginning, it seemed trivial: making phone calls through a browser? Big deal. But as Simon explained, the real impact comes later, when innovations like WebRTC morph into game-changers embedded in everyday tools. The same goes for decentralization and no-code platforms. While no-code tools are often seen as gimmicks to automate simple tasks, he sees something far more profound. Imagine a world where Alice in marketing can set up complex automations or algorithms without a developer’s help. "It’s not about making your lights come on when you press the doorbell," he noted, emphasizing the potential for massive disruption across all industries.
But for all his enthusiasm about tech, Simon carries a hint of unease about the future. From the accelerating pace of AI to the looming population decline, he’s skeptical about what the world will look like post-2030. The challenges, he says, aren't just about technological displacement but about the very fabric of human society. "Technology has always been a beacon," he reflected. Yet he’s unsure whether the promise of AI and automation will lead to a utopia or a dystopia where human value is sidelined. Still, he holds out hope that as machines take over more tasks, people will crave genuine human experiences, even if that means pub singers and performers become the careers of tomorrow. In a world where AI does everything else, perhaps humanity will be the one thing left irreplaceable.
Why Simon Woodhead is Betting on a Post-Phone Future
Simon Woodhead isn’t here to scare us with Terminator-esque AI nightmares, but he does think about the future—a lot. He admits that we’re hurtling toward a world of unfathomable technological change. “We’ve created a singularity of intelligence that might one day think it’s better off without us,” he said with a half-serious laugh. Sure, it’s easy to dismiss this as sci-fi paranoia, but Simon raises genuine concerns about the unchecked evolution of AI, especially when it’s paired with the mass harvesting of personal data. The darker possibilities of this tech boom aren't lost on him, and he feels a personal responsibility, as someone in the business world, to have a moral compass.
When it comes to his company, Simwood, he’s focused on navigating these rapid changes. Despite being in a “mature industry,” Simon has no illusions that the traditional telecom model—people paying for phone calls—will last forever. The future of voice communication, he believes, will be integrated seamlessly into apps and services rather than standing alone. “You’ll speak to your bank through an app, not make a call,” he predicted. This shift has inspired Simwood’s latest innovations: they’re doubling down on APIs and integration tools, helping others build communication features that can adapt to tomorrow’s needs. One concept that’s got people talking is Simwood’s "potato" network, a unique, multi-layered infrastructure that’s primed for whatever tech disruptions come next.
Simon’s approach might seem counterintuitive—he’s willing to lose revenue today to secure relationships for the future. Simwood even lets clients connect using competitors, a move most carriers would balk at. But for Simon, it’s a strategic gamble. “We’re building loyalty,” he explained, “so when today’s money vanishes, our clients are still with us.” It’s a bold, forward-thinking vision that brings Simon back to his tech roots and keeps him excited about what’s to come, even if the world is on the brink of enormous change.
