Alicia Shepherd

Head of Retail, CMS Computers

What achievement are you most proud of?

I hope that I have not yet reached the pinnacle of my career and that moment is yet to come – watch this space.

What has been the biggest change in the channel since you started working in it?

The way in which we sell – when I started out it was all about picking up the phone; sending a fax was as hi-tech as it got back then. Now we have so many mediums available to us where we can make contact or prospect for customers.

What three things could you not live without?

My dog, my Kindle and heated car seats.

What has been your most embarrassing moment so far?

There have been a few, I’m afraid, but perhaps the most embarrassing is selling a colleague’s DVD at a car boot sale that they had lent me; I didn’t even watch it. I still work with that colleague who does like to bring it up now and again.

What do your family think you do all day?

Send emails and drive a lot.

Who is your ultimate celeb crush?

I genuinely do not have one. There are celebs I admire but no crushes – sorry to disappoint.

What is your guilty pleasure?

Butterscotch Angel Delight.

What would be your first act if you were made Prime Minister?

I would ban lorries/milk floats/tractors/learner drivers from all major road arteries during daylight hours.

Has 2015 been a good, bad or ugly year?

2015 has had its share of good, bad and ugly moments but upon reflection it’s been a good year. The retail team at CMS is in a strong position to maximise Christmas peak and continue to build upon our recent successes.

If you didn’t work in the IT channel, what would you do?

A penguin keeper.

What major issues will the channel face in 2016?

The skills gap. The industry is growing and we need talent to support this growth.