Zoe Abbotts

Global channel operations director, Symantec

Tell us something most people won't know about you

I am a qualified vet nurse (RVN) and when I can, I volunteer at the local animal hospital charity.

What has been your highlight of 2018 so far?

Trekking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

Reese Witherspoon.

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

Tesla. I admire its focus on sustainable energy solutions and intention to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

I like my steak rare, my gin with cucumber and a cream tea the right way round: scone, jam, then clotted cream.

What is the most irritating tech buzzphrase of 2018?

I love the opportunity around GDPR but at the same time it is somewhat irritating as everyone is sending emails, saying that they are going to stop sending emails.

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

Make single-use plastic illegal.

What's the biggest untapped opportunity facing the channel?

IoT - very few partners are investing or educating themselves in IoT. It will be massive, especially when 5G comes in next year.

What is your most treasured possession?

My dog Ginny.

What do your family think you do all day?

Day in and day out, my family think all I do is sit in back-to-back webex meetings, listening to people from all over the world talking. Or better yet, they see my business trips to HQ in Mountain View, California as regular holidays.

Who has been your mentor in business?

I have had the pleasure of working with some highly experienced, knowledgeable people over the years but I can't think of a bigger supporter of European channels than Pat Dunne. Pat has been a fantastic mentor and colleague for me, helping translate theory into practice in the execution of international channel programmes.