Written by our Product Owner, Donal Rodgers.

What It’s Really Like Working Across Different Industries in the Same Year

One of the best things about working at a digital agency is the variety.

As a Product Owner, no two projects are ever the same. In 2026 alone, I’ve worked across the public sector, oil and gas, professional development, finance, and even the outdoor hiking industry.

At first glance, these industries couldn’t be more different. They all have different users, different goals, and different challenges. Every time I start a new project, there’s something new to learn, whether it’s the terminology, the business processes, or what matters most to the client.

But after working across all these sectors, I’ve realised the more things change, the more they stay the same.

While the products are different, the way we build them is very familiar.

We’re still working in Agile teams. We still prioritise backlogs, refine user stories, work through tickets, and communicate regularly with developers, designers, testers, and stakeholders. Sprint planning, stand-ups, reviews, and retrospectives are still part of the process, no matter what industry we’re working in.

The conversations might be about government services one month and financial products the next, but the way we work together doesn’t really change.  That’s one of the things I enjoy most about agency life.

It gives me the chance to learn about lots of different industries without having to start from scratch every time. Each project expands my knowledge, but I can still rely on the same product management and Agile skills that I use every day.

Working across different sectors has also shown me that every client is trying to solve the same basic problem: how to build something that meets users’ needs and delivers value to the business.

The details are different, but the goal is the same.

Looking back at 2026 so far, I’m grateful for the opportunity to experience such a wide range of industries. Every project has taught me something new, and every challenge has helped me grow as a Product Owner.

For me, that’s the real benefit of working at a digital agency. The industries keep changing, but the core ways of working stay the same.