Get to Know Martin
In my role as a Technology Consultant, I specialise in Google Cloud and Workspace solutions, with a particular focus on enterprise AI, including Gemini Enterprise, Google Workspace with Gemini and AppSheet development.
My responsibilities are quite diverse and client-focused. I’m involved in several Gemini Enterprise pilot programs for key clients, where I investigate use cases and drive adoption. I also support large-scale Google Workspace migrations and application remediation projects.
A significant part of my role involves collaborating closely with both clients and Google representatives to deliver strategic and technical solutions.
As a Google Developer Expert, I am passionate about using the latest technologies to solve business challenges. My goal is always to help organisations get more value out of their Google ecosystem, whether that’s through AI, application development, or optimising their Google Workspace environment.
A Typical Day in the Life of a Google Workspace Product Expert at Devoteam
One of the most exciting aspects of my role is that no two days are exactly the same, but they generally feature a dynamic mix of client-facing work, internal strategy, and hands-on technical problem-solving.
A typical day might look something like this:
?AM: Client Engagement
My day often begins with client engagement. For example, I might join our team to review the progress of one of our Gemini Enterprise pilots and brainstorm new use cases. This is a highly collaborative process where we work together to ideate on different ways business departments could use Agentic AI. Alternatively, I might have a weekly sync with a client to discuss the ongoing Google Workspace app remediation work, ensuring we are on track and addressing any technical hurdles.
?PM: Internal Collaboration and Deep Work
In the afternoons, I typically carve out dedicated time for “deep work”, which is my chance to dive into complex challenges, such as preparing for an upcoming security workshop, researching new developments in Google Workspace and Gemini Enterprise, or developing custom solutions.
In essence, my role is a constant balance between high-level strategic consulting and deep, hands-on technical work. It’s about translating client needs into tangible solutions and staying at the forefront of Google’s evolving ecosystem, which makes every day both challenging and incredibly rewarding.
A Central Part of Martin’s Role: Effectively Collaborating with Colleagues
Given that a lot of my colleagues often work remotely, we stay aligned and communicate in real-time by:
- Structured Sync Points: A large part of my collaboration is built around a regular cadence of scheduled meetings. These types of meetings includes project calls for active client engagements, stand-ups that are centred on specific projects and one-on-one meetings which are invaluable for deeper discussions.
- Real-Time and Asynchronous Communication: I rely heavily on Google Chat for more immediate and informal collaboration. It’s my go-to tool for quick questions, sharing updates directly with colleagues, and obtaining fast feedback. I am also an active member of several special interest groups at Devoteam. Typically these are Google Chat Spaces and are fantastic for broader collaboration and knowledge sharing across the organisation. For example, I’m part of spaces dedicated to “Workspace Flows early adopters” and another focused on “Gemini Enterprise deployment and tech.” These communities allow a cross-section of experts within Devoteam to share best practices, troubleshoot complex issues, and keep abreast of solution updates which is vital for our work.
The Best Part of Being a Google Workspace Product Expert
It’s the combination of solving intricate challenges, continuously learning and seeing the tangible, positive results of my work. It really boils down to three key areas:
1
I get to work on projects that are not just technically challenging but are at the forefront of digital transformation. For example, my involvement with one of the largest Retailer’s in the UK’ on their Agentic AI adoption that is customised to their specific operations.
2
The opportunity to learn is constant, and it comes directly from the talented people I work with. I collaborate closely with knowledgeable colleagues on strategic initiatives, client projects, resource planning and exchanging ideas and best practices within the expert community.
3
Arguably, the most satisfying part of my job is seeing my work make a real difference for our customers. When I help a client solve a business challenge using AppSheet or guide a major online grocer through a secure export of Google Workspace data, I can directly see the positive impact on their operations and employee experience.
How a Google Workspace Product Expert Overcomes the Most Challenging Aspects of their Job
While my role is incredibly rewarding, it definitely comes with a unique set of challenges. I’d say the three most significant are the pace of technological change, translating that technology into real business value, and balancing a diverse project load. I overcome these proactively through continuous learning in a couple of different ways:
- Dedicated Research: I dedicate time for deep-dive research to understand not just what is new, but why it matters for our clients.
- Community and Collaboration: I actively engage with internal special interest groups on Google Chat, like our “Gemini Enterprise deployment” space, and collaborate with my peers in our UK Tech syncs. As a Google Developer Expert, I’m also part of a wider community that is committed to sharing knowledge.
- Direct Partnership: I maintain strong relationships with my peers at Google, which gives me insight into product roadmaps and upcoming changes.
Project Spotlight: An Overview of the Steps Taken to Complete a Google Workspace Project
Project: Google Vault Email Export
The core objective of this project was to extract emails from a large online grocer’s mail system using Google Vault. This was a critical task as the company aimed to reclaim a significant amount of money by thoroughly examining these emails.
Here’s a breakdown of the steps taken to complete this project:
Initial Assessment & Scope
Approximately 2,000 emails needed to be exported from specified external domains from all mailboxes within this client’s Google Workspace environment.
The initial plan for a manual export was quickly deemed unfeasible due to the immense scale of data involved, encompassing millions of messages and terabytes of information.
Technical Approach & Strategy
Given the scale, a more robust solution was required. I led the engineering and implementation of a hybrid automation workflow to manage the export efficiently.
This involved:
- Query structuring.
- An automated export process.
- Data extraction and delivery in a usable format.
Execution & Quality Assurance
The iterative export cycle involved creating and testing search queries, performing manual spot-checks for accuracy, initiating the exports, and then downloading and uploading the resulting files to a dedicated Google Shared Drive.
Despite the automation, careful oversight was crucial.
The project also included a contingency for re-dos to accommodate minor corrections to the domain list.
Project Closure & Handoff
Upon completion, a final report was issued, summarising the work and detailing the successful export of over 2.8TB of data, comprising 9.6 million messages across 69,000+ PST files.
Ownership of the master export list was transferred, and recommendations were provided for final security steps.
This project showcased how a combination of strategic planning, technical expertise, and automation was crucial to handling a large-scale data extraction with Google Vault, ultimately helping this online grocer achieve their objectives.
Martin Hawksey,
Google Workspace Product Expert at Devoteam
The Greatest Moment as a Devoteamer
Although I’ve only been a Devoteamer for a short time (a few months), I have already had some fantastic experiences.
If I had to pick one highlight so far, it would undoubtedly be the opportunity I had to present on Google AppSheet at Devoteam’s GCD 2025 event in London.
For me, this was a significant moment for a couple of reasons. Firstly, AppSheet is a technology I’m particularly passionate about. It’s a powerful platform that enables rapid application development and process automation, and I’ve seen first-hand the positive impact it can have for our clients. Having the chance to share my enthusiasm and expertise with a wider audience of IT professionals was incredibly rewarding.
Secondly, what made the event particularly special was its focus on customers sharing their real-world success stories. The agenda wasn’t just about the technology itself, but about the tangible impact it’s having for businesses. To be able to contribute to that narrative, and to represent Devoteam in an environment that puts customer outcomes front and centre, was a proud moment. It was inspiring to be part of an event that celebrated the practical application of technology to solve real challenges.
I’m still in the early days of my journey with Devoteam, but that experience has certainly been a high point so far and I’m excited for many more to come.
Go Big: A Personal view of what this means and an example of when Martin went big
‘Go Big’ for me means having the ambition to be at the forefront of the technological wave, not just riding it. It’s about proactively seeking opportunities to innovate. So, in essence, ‘Go Big’ for me is about the magnitude of our impact, for our clients, for our position as tech leaders, and for our own professional growth.
A concrete example of what ‘Go Big’ means to me is my recent work in developing proposals for the upcoming Google Cloud Next ’26 conference.
This wasn’t about waiting for an assignment; it was about proactively seeking an opportunity to innovate and position Devoteam at the absolute forefront of the current technological wave – AI integration. I’ve been actively co-authoring and shaping proposals centred on integrating innovative technologies like the Agent Development Kit (ADK) and Vertex AI directly into Google Workspace.
This initiative perfectly captures the idea of maximising our impact:
- For our position as tech leaders: By aiming for a spot on the stage at Google’s flagship developer conference, we’re not just participating in the conversation; we’re aiming to lead it. It’s a bold move to establish our thought leadership in the AI and Google Workspace ecosystem.
- For our clients: The concepts we’re developing aren’t just theoretical. They are the foundation for the next generation of solutions we can offer, demonstrating to clients that we are their best partner for ambitious, future-focused projects.
- For my own professional growth: Taking the initiative to engage with the Google DevRel team and to formulate these advanced proposals pushes my own expertise and allows me to contribute to Devoteam’s strategic direction.
Instead of just implementing existing technology, at Devoteam we are actively working to define what the future of work looks like. For me, that is the essence of our motto, ‘Go Big’.
Martin Hawksey,
Google Workspace Product Expert at Devoteam
Martin’s Job in 1 Word
Catalyst. A catalyst is something that precipitates change and accelerates a reaction. I hope colleagues and customers see me more than just an “engineer” building a solution, or a “consultant” giving advice, but as someone who can connect ambition with technology to create tangible, accelerated change.
Devoteam has been a global Google Cloud Premier Partner for many years, excelling in various product and engagement areas, including Gen AI Services, Managed Services and Managed Security Services. Our team of 650+ Google experts, holding 10 Google Cloud specialisations, has successfully migrated over 1 million users to Google Workspace and helped hundreds of organisations grow with Google Cloud.