Antonia Ellis’ Post

You Can’t Change the System From the Sidelines. Last week felt like a milestone for Origina, as we contributed to moving the industry conversation in a direction it urgently needs. After months of searching, we finally partnered with a PR agency that truly gets us. We needed a team who understood our mission, believed in our cause, and could amplify our voice on both sides of the Atlantic. We found that in Fight or Flight - energetic, sharp, and instantly aligned with what we stand for. And before the ink was dry on our agreement, they proved why they were the right choice. When the Cloudflare outage hit, they moved fast - securing opportunities for Rowan O'Donoghue, our Chief Innovation Officer, to offer expert commentary across LBC News, the BBC World Service, and industry press. The very next day, when headlines accused Microsoft of “ripping off the NHS,” they ensured our voice was part of the debate - spotlighting the bigger issue of vendor lock-in, spiralling upgrade costs, and the lack of accountability that impacts not just the NHS, but governments, hospitals, and enterprises globally. Costs that ultimately fall on the taxpayer. Later that week, I sat down with the CIO of a major insurance client who shared his experience of trying to leave a large vendor: multi-million-pound audit threats, intimidation of staff, pressure at every step. His story was a stark reminder of why Origina exists - to give organisations a genuine alternative and help them regain control of their technology roadmap. I was gobsmacked at how they had been treated - but proud when he told me our service was far superior to their existing vendor. We helped them move wasted maintenance spend into transformation, improving customer experience and internal operations. Even better, they redeployed staff from managing legacy systems into strategic projects - fuelling innovation. What a result! I also spent time with Brett Bruen from the Global Situation Room, Inc., whose insight on storytelling for a U.S. audience was invaluable. He explained the difference between European and American mindsets - how one leans on tradition and the other on trends - and it reframed how I think about telling our story as we deepen our presence in the U.S. We wrapped up the week with a quick visit to our new offices with Tomás O., our CEO. The space is being fitted out and will serve as an amazing backdrop for our rapidly expanding team. Our Thanksgiving potluck in our current offices was a wonderful reminder that the strength behind this mission comes from our people, and we truly have some of the best working at Origina. Last week reaffirmed something simple but powerful: If you want to change an industry, you can’t sit on the sidelines. You have to show up, speak up, and be part of the conversation.