Straight-talking Tracey Fielden would love to get us all leading a more sustainable life
What was your first job, and how did you get into IT?
Marketing manager for small IT training company in London. Signed up to do a one month unpaid trial for the experience and was offered the job after two weeks!
Planes, trains or automobiles?
Trains, if they run on time. I like to see the world go by from ground level. My most memorable trip was a train ride in Thailand that crossed through jungle, villages and into the city. You really get a feel for the place, and soak up the smells as well as the sights!
Which fictional TV character is borrowing ideas from your life?
Dirtgirl, in Dirtgirl World. An eco queen with big ideas to get us all growing our own and leading a sustainable life.
"In my dreams..."
... I am running a funky coffee shop serving fair-trade refreshments in a cool little backwater.
What was the best holiday you ever went on?
South Africa. Sun, sea, wine, wildlife, food, hospitality, more wine... oh, and marriage.
If you had a week to live, how would you fill it?
With family and close friends in a large beach house with to-die for sunsets and an endless supply of fine wine, fine food and live music.
"I never ..."
... fear to speak my mind. Being from Yorkshire I really do call a spade a spade.
Do you use social media?
Social media is an integral part of both our working and social lives. We use it to communicate with customers. And I use it to update friends on far off shores and share news or photos. I have not however succumbed to a daily diary on sites such as Facebook or Twitter.
What does the channel most need to learn?
Most customers cannot keep spending on new contracts but do need to cut costs. Initial investments need to be presented in terms of the long term savings from the total life cost of the machines and service provided, not just the initial purchase cost. The channel also needs to focus on adding real value.
Do vendors do enough to help their channel?
Vendors need to help resellers develop better industry relationships that will provide them with the tools and resources to secure sales. These relationships should coexist with vendors as well as industry experts, third party agencies and even other resellers.
Tracey Fielden is head of UK channel marketing at Canon
