Alicia Shepherd

Head of Zoostorm business development, CMS Computers (VIP Group Ltd)

Career so far Over the past 17 years I have been very fortunate to have worked with some exciting companies and meet lots interesting people across various roles encompassing all aspects of channel management.

If you could be anyone else for a week, who would you be? The winner of the EuroMillions lottery ticket – need I explain?

What will next year’s most overhyped industry buzzword be? BYOD.

Has 2012 been a good, bad or ugly year? For me both professionally and personally, 2012 has been a good year and I am already excited about what 2013 will bring.

What would you have as your last meal? I could choose Wagyu beef with a bottle of Romanee Conti, but anyone that knows me would tell you that’s a lie and it would be Nandos extra-hot chicken pitta (double) with spicy rice.

What keeps you awake at night? Since relocating to a cottage in north Wales, it’s not counting sheep that sends me to sleep but the constant noise of them that keeps me awake.

What piece of technology could you not be without? Nothing too flash, just my sat nav with a UK-wide territory to manage. I really would be lost without it.

Have any of your predictions come true this year? I predicted I would be in a happier place both professionally and personally.

What is the best partner/customer trip you have ever been on? When I was head of Kyocera’s UK IT channel, I organised a Big Chill trip to Norway where we experienced ice breakers, skidoos, reindeer stew and ice fishing, not to mention the great bunch of customers and colleagues I shared it with.

What do you see as the channel’s biggest challenge in 2013? Delivering profitable growth.