Noakes, Karl

A-List 2006

Job title Director of partner development and marketing.

Company Microsoft.

Year of birth 1963.

Place of birth West Bromwich.

Career outline I started out cutting machine code for ISL system 25 machines. Then I spent 10 years at NCR working in a variety of professional services roles before moving to Microsoft about 10 years ago to work as a strategy consultant for the enterprise market.

What motivates you every morning to get up and work in the channel? It’s great to see entrepreneurs building profitable businesses using the software and services Microsoft provides.

What has been the most over-hyped technology in the past five years? WAP.

What will be the most underrated technology in the next five years? Wireless broadband; people will come to expect an ‘always on, always connected’ world.

W hich technology would you most like to have invented? The internet.

Do you have any regrets from your time in the industry? Not joining an internet start-up pre-initial public offering.

What is the biggest hurdle you have faced in your career? Continuing to live in Midlands while working in the Thames Valley for the past 10 years.

What is the biggest success of your career? Being recognised by Steve Ballmer as a key contributor to Microsoft.

What piece of technology could you not live without? My Windows-powered smartphone.

What would be your advice to anyone starting a career in IT? Cut some code, you learn so much about the basics of computing and it stays with your for ever.

What is your favorite computer game? Project Gotham on the Xbox 360.

What would you like for Christmas if you could have anything? A Microsoft Zune.

What is your favorite karaoke song? It depends on how much drink I’ve had.

What would be the title of your autobiography? He Did It His Way.

Do you have any phobias? No.

How many beers before you fall over? 4 to 5.

Number of staff you manage? More than 50.

What is your golf handicap? 99.

What car do you drive? Golf TDI. I do lots of miles.

Number of air miles you have? Not enough to fly first-class to Sydney.