Fiona Graham

Group marketing director, Exertis

Tell us something most people won't know about you

I can plumb in a bathroom or fit a kitchen. You can contact me directly if you would like a quote.

What has been your highlight of 2018 so far?

Our Plug In To Exertis event: 1,100 overall attendees, 690 resellers and 116 vendors attending. A great channel initiative.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

Ingrid Bergman: an icon from that golden era of Hollywood. I grew up watching her films and was always mesmerised by her.

Which tech firm (other than your own!) do you most admire?

It might be controversial, but I admire Amazon. It really feels like we are in the age of Amazon. It has grown super big, super-fast. The innovation in its business model and how it evolves is something to be admired, and maybe feared a little bit as there is no safe ground in its bid for world domination! It seems to be at the front of what consumers want and how they want it. That said, more work is required to be more ethical - I mean, ‘Amazon controversies' even has its own Wikipedia page!

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Love Island. I don't think I need to add anything else.

What is the most irritating tech buzzphrase of 2018?

‘…aaS' with a special irritation around ‘value-added services', when so many fail to understand the value of the value bit.

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

Cancel Brexit. Or at least call another referendum so people can cast their vote based on an understanding of what the terms actually mean.

What's the biggest untapped opportunity facing the channel?

I should probably say blockchain or something like that but actually, I think it's people and specifically women. It's not unique to IT but I think businesses in general need to rethink working practices and take a more agile approach to the way we work and where we work, to enable women to balance a desire to return to work in a flexible capacity and for that to be OK. Part-time is spoken of like a disability.

What is your most treasured possession?

Sadly, predictable but I have the most beautiful pair of blue velvet vintage YSL shoes. I would go to bed in them if I could.

What do your family think you do all day?

I don't know so I asked my nephews - they said they weren't sure but they thought I was something important, and that I worked hard but they worried I didn't get paid enough like most women - they are probably right on two out of the three!

Who has been your mentor in business?

Nigel Judd has probably been one of the most impactful mentors. I worked for him at the start of my career in IT and learnt so much in those early years, and he continues to support me to this day through his good counsel.