Just as it ’ s important for us to learn from our own mistakes and move on , any mistake your team makes is an opportunity for you to grow as a leader .
What are the latest trends you see emerging across the channel ?
Despite the widespread disruption for many businesses , there have been numerous opportunities brought on by the rapid shift to remote working . It ’ s accelerated some key trends we were already seeing huge growth in – particularly the move to cloud and the need for comprehensive security .
What is your management philosophy ?
To lead from the front but also empower my team to think like a leader in everything they do . My team knows I always have their back and – providing they act with honesty and integrity with everything they do – that they are free to execute and enjoy their roles . If they make a mistake – which we all know happens – that ’ s OK , as long as it was made with the correct behaviour . Mistakes help us grow – as individuals and as a team . Just as it ’ s important for us to learn from our own mistakes and move on , any mistake your team makes is an opportunity for you to grow as a leader .
Leading from the front doesn ’ t mean making all of the key decisions ; it ’ s about ensuring your vision , mission and goals are crisp and clear , and then trusting your team to deliver these . The same is true for channel leadership . Commit to your strategy and plans and enable your partners to execute . When your partners share your core values and you ’ ve helped them understand the nuances of your product , your brand and your market , let them lead you to success .
When you look back at your career what has been the most memorable achievement ?
Memorable achievements come in many forms . Certainly though , the feeling of securing my first million-dollar order has stayed , as has cutting the tape at the first international office I set up from scratch in the EMEA region .
What made you think of a career in technology ?
Honestly , from the age of four I ’ d planned to be a priest . But by about 16 , I ’ d moved on and my love and inquisitiveness of all things tech was inspiring a clear career direction . It inspires me still to see how the world is progressing at an exponential rate , with technology touching every aspect of our lives – particularly over the recent months , as we ’ ve all had to adopt new ways of communicating with friends and colleagues .
What do you think will be the hot technology talking point of 2020 ?
For many businesses , recent events have fundamentally changed the way they operate . Home working has taken off in a way that we could never have imagined , even this time last year . Thanks to technology , we ’ re as productive in our own homes as we are in a traditional office environment . There ’ s no question as to the significance that video conferencing has played here .
However , with this growth has come the realisation by many businesses that there is a greater need for protecting the sensitive , confidential and valuable data contained in video conversations . Enterprise-grade security is a must-have and this permeates every aspect of the home office technology we ’ re all now relying on .
What are your personal interests and where do you like to spend most of your time after work ?
By far , most of my time after work revolves around my dog – so lots of walking ! I also enjoy swimming and – despite a few arguments with the road along the way – I ’ m still a keen cyclist . I also take every opportunity to watch Liverpool play football . •
Honestly , from the age of four I ’ d planned to be a priest . But by about 16 , I ’ d moved on .
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