Loay Lawrence

Director, Vohkus

What was your dream career as a child?

A writer inspired by a variety of authors, the likes of Joseph Heller, Aldus Huxley, James Joyce and George Orwell.

What has been your personal highlight of 2019?

Realising that both my children are more than capable of standing on their own two feet, with a solid education behind them giving them choices in this ever-shrinking world.

Which famous person deserves a (gentle) slap?

Not one but too many to mention, mostly politicians across the world.

What two things (apart from family) would you grab if your house was on fire?

My wallet and passport. Everything else can be re-established; memories are now digital, and can be reinstated.

Which of your 2019 predictions have come to pass?

The challenge of quality recruitment.

What TV show have you binge watched this year?

None, I'm not a binge watching kind of person.

How has 2019 been from a business perspective?

It has been a year of milestones from a company, customer and vendor perspective.

What annoys you most about your commute?

The lack of continuity in the connectivity infrastructure, frustrating the ability to keep either a conversation or other forms of communication ongoing without interruptions.

If you could witness one past event, what would it be?

The industrial revolution, which is a forerunner to where we are today with technology. One would have seen the rapid changes, introduction of rapid transportation, factories and the growth of cities, which then in turn delivered a very much needed service industry.

How do you explain the channel to people?

I explain what our origination does, which is delivering outcomes that a company requires via technology.

What have been your favourite and least favourite partner conference destinations?

My favourite is anywhere in the UK - less time taken out of your week - and least is Las Vegas for many reasons but mostly it has been overdone.

What is the biggest challenge facing the channel in 2020?

I think good people are the core of any organisation, and recruiting to fit in with a company's ethos as well as delivering is a challenge for us all.