June Thomson

UK and Ireland healthcare leader, IBM UK

Career so far

I have been a manufacturing engineer, hardware development engineer, systems engineer, saleswoman, sales manager and business manager in a variety of areas including our Business Partner Organisation - all with IBM and why I've stayed. There is lot of scope for further career development.

What was your first job and were you any good at it?

I was a chemistry teacher at a comprehensive secondary school in Glasgow and I was brilliant at it - kids got great results! Teaching is a tough job and I admire anyone who stays in the profession.

Who was your top teenage pin-up?

Harry Styles (still a teenager at heart).

My colleagues won't know this about me but...

I'm a qualified fitness instructor. I'm non-practicing now, but still keep up to date with the latest and greatest. Anyone for suspension training?

What is your favourite snack?

A packet of salt and vinegar crisps, and some olives.

What has been your career high point to date? There have been lots of them, all involving winning major client deals with my partners that add lots of value.

Has 2013 been good, bad or ugly?

It's been good and getting better - it's great to see our partners growing their business and we've got the Channel Awards coming up - what's better than that?

What do you say when asked at a party what you do for a living?

I'm always more interested in hearing what they do for a living - networking is soooo important.

If I wasn't working in the channel I would probably be... on a beach in Spain in my beloved Murcia (and there are IBM channel partners there too).

What will be the channel's biggest challenge in 2014?

Moving to higher value solutions and developing new commercial models; there is so much opportunity out there if you can differentiate either with cross industry solutions or in the delivery model.