Penelope Thompson

Channel development manager, VentureTech Network UK, Ingram Micro

What was the worst job you have ever had?

Loading and unloading the dishwasher in a busy café for four hours on Saturday mornings while still at school.

Which actor would you pick to play you in a movie of your life?

Kristin Scott-Thomas, a gritty English actor who chooses the parts she plays carefully.

What do you do as your party trick?

I can recite the poem Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll: "Twas bryllyg, and ye slythy toves...".

What is your favourite chocolate bar?

I prefer my chocolate as an indulgent mug of hot chocolate.

What has been the highlight of your career to date?

Launching VTN in the UK.

Has 2014 been a good, bad or ugly year?

Good because I have my dream job developing the VTN programme for the UK and helping my favourite partners grow their businesses.

How would you explain the IT channel to a stranger without boring them to death?

I would turn the question around and ask questions about their industry.

Aside from the channel, my dream career would be... a hands-on philanthropic role helping those less privileged.

What major issues will the channel face in 2015?

Developing loyalty in the customer base and becoming a true trusted advisor to end users, keeping up with new technologies, creating new practises and providing end-to-end solutions.