Margaret Totten

MD, Akari Solutions

Doug Woodburn
clock • 2 min read
Margaret Totten

What has been your business highlight of 2022?

Launching EnviroTrak, our sustainability product on Microsoft Teams. As a partner with purpose we aim to make sure everything we build, service or deploy has a strong end purpose and EnviroTrak has been a huge passion project for us, many months in the making and now being tested by some amazing enterprise-level customers!

If you were ruler of your own country, what law would you introduce first?

Mandatory enforceable fines for anyone littering. My biggest pet peeve is watching people throw trash away in the streets and the countryside.

Which channel or tech leader (outside of your own company) has impressed you most in 2022?

Mary Hunter. I've had the pleasure of working with Mary in WIT and not only is she amazing in her day-to-day role, she gives back to the partner community consistently. She is always there for those who need her and she is truly passionate in driving inclusion with not only females in tech but in every demographic.

If you had a warning label, what would it say?

"This person does not understand the words ‘You can't do that'."

What was your first job?

My first job was at 14 while in school, working in the Asda Red Balloon café

What was the last book you read, and was it any good?

Animal Farm.

Someone mentioned some lessons in it to me that are applicable in business, so I thought I'd give it a try. I'd refused to read it before as I had hated 1984. The book was ok, but the person was right: some separate summaries taught me more.

What's the most important lesson you've learned from another business leader or mentor?

Always be truthful with yourself. You can't overcome your weaknesses if you aren't aware of them, and my mother always taught me to take feedback with grace and implement what you can. You don't have to accept it all or change everything, but the only thing that grows while standing still is a tree.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

No one wants to see a movie of my life - that would be entirely too confusing

Sign up to our newsletter

The best news, stories, features and photos from the day in one perfectly formed email.

More on Careers and Skills

Coterie unveils education academy as partner marketing falls 'even more under threat'

Coterie unveils education academy as partner marketing falls 'even more under threat'

CEO Jo Dunkley tells CRN she thinks the role is under pressure because of ‘low awareness’ and ‘assumptions’ of the required skills

Kelsey Rees
clock 18 March 2024 • 2 min read
'Feel the fear and do it anyway': Top advice from the Women in Tech Festival 2023

'Feel the fear and do it anyway': Top advice from the Women in Tech Festival 2023

We round up the most essential words of wisdom shared during The Channel Company’s Women in Tech Festival 2023

Andrea Gaini
clock 01 November 2023 • 5 min read
Marketing Minutes: Philips Monitors on the role of channel partners in ensuring ESG is prioritised

Marketing Minutes: Philips Monitors on the role of channel partners in ensuring ESG is prioritised

AOC
clock 23 August 2023 • 1 min read

Highlights

Staff & Salaries 2022

Staff & Salaries 2022

A snapshot of pay and headcount trends in the UK channel

Doug Woodburn
clock 09 March 2022 • 1 min read
Midwich CEO on Nimans acquisition, 2021 results and return to pre-pandemic levels

Midwich CEO on Nimans acquisition, 2021 results and return to pre-pandemic levels

Stephen Fenby talks to CRN after Midwich’s 2021 results in which profitability exceeded pre-pandemic levels

Josh Budd
clock 08 March 2022 • 3 min read
4 more vendors suspend sales in Russia following Ukraine invasion

4 more vendors suspend sales in Russia following Ukraine invasion

IBM and Microsoft are among a number of vendors which have also announced that they will halt sales in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.

clock 08 March 2022 • 3 min read