Ganesh
Chandrawale
Problem solver. Tech leader. Lifelong learner.
15+ years turning complex business problems into elegant technology solutions — from writing Java code in Pune to architecting cloud transformations in London.
I follow the problem,
not the title.
My career didn't follow a plan. It followed curiosity. I started as a PL/SQL developer on a project I wasn't hired for, became a Java developer, then accidentally ran an L2 ops team of 20 people, then flew to London when my son was 40 days old to rescue a project in the red — and somehow turned it around.
That pattern — show up, learn fast, solve the hard thing — has defined every chapter of the last 15 years. From Pune to London, from writing shell scripts at midnight to designing cloud architectures for some of the UK's largest programmes.
Today I work as a Solutions Architect on the London Market Transformation Programme at DXC Technology, designing enterprise-scale systems on AWS. I also write, mentor, lead a System Architecture Guild, and obsess over the role AI will play in the future of how we all work.
- —An IT change without a business change is an illusion.
- —Skills matter more than seniority.
- —Real-world experience is the best teacher.
- —Documentation isn't boring — it's how knowledge survives you.
- —The best architecture decisions are deeply human ones.
15 years of showing up
and figuring it out.
This isn't a polished CV summary. It's the actual story — the chaos, the lessons, and the moments that shaped how I think.
PL/SQL & Java Developer
Started as a Java developer after fast-track training — then immediately landed on a PL/SQL project I wasn't hired for. Learned on the job, became one of the trusted juniors, and discovered my first big lesson: everyone must understand what they're working towards, no matter how small their role.
L3 Engineer → L2 Lead → DevOps → Java Dev → Solutions Architect
Five roles in five years. Joined a chaotic vendor transition, spent 12-hour days documenting everything, automated away 50% of the ticket volume with a Java utility I built in my spare time. Was sent to London when my son was 40 days old to rescue a project in the red. Turned it around in weeks. Ended the chapter as a Solutions Architect migrating legacy apps to AWS with 3 days to spare before the deadline.
Sr. IT Business Analyst & Integration Architect
Learned what proper requirements management looks like. Championed automation in a resistant organisation. Had a coffee conversation that turned into a project saving thousands of hours of manual reporting — and proved that the best way to sell a new tool is to solve a real, painful problem for a real person who really needs it.
Sr. System Architect → Solutions Architect
Joined the UK's largest insurance market transformation. Standardised hiring processes, founded the System Architecture Guild, delivered a billing capability from scratch, and started building an AI Agent for DXC's innovation challenge. The work is bigger than ever — and so is the learning.
Problems solved.
Lessons earned.
Not just project names — the context, the challenge, and what actually happened.
London Market Transformation — Billing Capability
Designed and delivered a greenfield billing capability for the UK insurance market transformation — the "missing piece". Started with one-liner requirements, worked with BAs to build them to standard, then architected a solution using AWS services, Java microservices, webhooks and event-driven patterns. Approved by TDA on first presentation.
- ✓Delivered from 0 to production-ready
- ✓Standardised requirements process across domain
- ✓Reduced tech debt backlog by 30%
Legacy Application Migration to AWS
Three legacy apps needed migrating from Spanish data centres to AWS — with 3 months to go before a DC licence deadline. Discovered they were incompatible with lift-and-shift. Presented an alternative modernisation plan, got it approved, and delivered all three applications with penetration testing complete and 3 days to spare. Solo-architected the full high and low-level design.
- ✓Saved client thousands of pounds in DC licence costs
- ✓Delivered 3 months ahead of penalty clause
- ✓100% technology compliance achieved
Minor Works — From Coffee Chat to Product
A casual conversation about a colleague's Friday reporting nightmare became a full product. Delivered a work management platform that replaced email-based processes, produced 15+ automated reports, and let the team take on significantly more work with the same headcount. Later replicated for other departments after the client started "showing it off" in SLT meetings.
- ✓Eliminated hours of weekly manual reporting
- ✓Team capacity increased with same headcount
- ✓Replicated across additional departments
L2 Support Automation Utility
Identified that a single category of tickets made up 50% of L2 support volume — always same root cause, same fix. Built a Java utility that queried the DB, detected the issue proactively and applied the resolution automatically. Demonstrated in non-prod, deployed to production within weeks. Ticket volume halved overnight.
- ✓50% reduction in support ticket volume
- ✓Freed team capacity for higher-value work
- ✓Deployed to production within weeks of demo
Recruitment Process Transformation
Inherited a hiring process generating 20+ CVs/week with 80% rejection rate and 25% interview success. Built a structured interview matrix, rewrote job descriptions based on real responsibilities, aligned recruitment partners, and founded a Capability Guild for onboarding. End result: 5 interviews to hire 3 people, vs 20 interviews to hire fewer than 5 previously.
- ✓CV volume dropped 80%, quality improved dramatically
- ✓Interview success rate doubled to 50%+
- ✓Founded System Architecture Guild (40+ members)
Thoughts on where
technology is taking us.
The AI industry right now is exactly like driving on an Indian road
Lanes are suggestions. The biggest vehicle has right of way. And at any moment, a cow might sit down in the middle of the highway. Sound familiar?
Are you feeling overwhelmed by new AI models every day?
FOMO is real. But there's a practical 4-step framework to filter the noise and focus on what actually makes sense for your business — without the hype.
I completed an architectural audit in 60 minutes using Amazon Kiro
The wrong lens is "can AI write for me?" The right lens is "can AI handle governance and verification?" Here's exactly how I did it.
Let's have a
real conversation.
Whether you want to talk architecture, AI strategy, career journeys, or just swap notes on what's working and what isn't in enterprise tech — I'm always up for it.