Cherie Howlett

Marketing director, Jola

Tell us something most people won't know about you

I auditioned for the Royal Ballet School and trained at the Market Drayton School of Dance. As a mum, I have been involved with BabyBallet and First Stage, helping the under-fives.

What has been your highlight of 2018 so far?

My brother's wedding in the Australian Gold Coast was fantastic. Professionally the growing popularity of Mobile Manager with MSPs has been a highlight. We have some unique mobile data solutions you can't buy from anyone else and are supplying thousands of data SIMs in a variety of devices, all over the world.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

Emma Watson, best known as Hermione Grainger in the Harry Potter films. She split her time between acting and getting an education, so would know how to balance the sales call with the school run and board preparation with bath time.

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

Amazon. It offers a wide range of services and has a good pricing strategy. It diversified into streaming and I have never needed to contact it with an issue.

What is your guiltiest pleasure?

Strictly Come Dancing.

What is the most irritating tech buzzphrase of 2018? I don't mind the tech phrases, but I am glad we are all using the term ‘GDPR' less.

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

I wouldn't like to be Prime Minister.

What's the biggest untapped opportunity facing the channel?

4G. Speeds have increased, it is widely available and pricing has dropped, which is fuelling demand. The cost of overages has been a stumbling block, but it is now possible to monitor usage in real-time and avoid overages completely. I suspect 5G will accelerate demand further.

What is your most treasured possession?

My family.

What do your family think you do all day?

Send emails and attend meetings. As a busy working mum, I often work from home using our own technology and it can seem like that some days.

Who has been your mentor in business?

I have been lucky enough to work with some inspirational mentors and entrepreneurs in the channel. The most important lessons they taught me were to always check the facts, listen more than you speak, go with your instincts and be true to yourself.