Vice president EMEA enterprise channel, Dell Technologies
What was your dream career as a child?
I wanted to be a police officer! The idea came from watching Juliette Bravo as a kid in the 1970s…
What has been your personal highlight of 2019?
I made Dell Technologies' Chairman's Club and got to go to Maui with Michael Dell. It was an incredible trip for my husband and me - not to mention our first holiday without the kids!
Which famous person deserves a (gentle) slap?
Kim Kardashian! The pressure her image puts on young girls is just unbelievable - plus that selfie pout is now out of control.
What two things (apart from family) would you grab if your house was on fire?
My iPhone to take pictures of the fire and post them on social media and my coat as I'd want to watch proceedings and not be cold.
Which of your 2019 predictions have come to pass?
I did lose three stone and did get back to a size 10… Oh, and I did predict that we'd continue to grow in the channel with our partners!
What TV show have you binge watched this year?
Horrible Histories with my kids! And I hate to admit it… Celebs Go Dating while sitting on planes - I've done two series and it's utter banal drivel but the comedian voice over is hilarious.
How has 2019 been from a business perspective?
2019 has been fun - it's been tough and harder than the previous few years but I love that. This is when good salespeople and great companies really show what they're made of.
What annoys you most about your commute?
People. Whether in cars, trains, airports or whatever, people who are in my way annoy me. If you're at an airport, be prepared and know it's the same security check every time! If you're on the M25, stop cutting into the safe gap I leave in front of me! And if you're on a train, your personal hygiene is important…
If you could witness one past event, what would it be?
I've spent the year watching Horrible Histories with my kids - there's too many to choose from!
How do you explain the channel to people?
The channel is where all the fun people in IT work or end up.
What have been your favourite and least favourite partner conference destinations? My least favourite is Venice as it's a pain to get anywhere and it's so expensive. The best is Vegas. I hate Vegas itself but as a conference destination, there's no comparison.
What is the biggest challenge facing the channel in 2020?
It is going to be a tough year and the headwinds of 2019 will continue to increase and get stronger.
The opportunity for the channel is to really add value and show the strength of true partnerships. When vendors and partners come together, the customer outcome should be extraordinarily better. The outcome should be based on application requirements, workloads and future potential - not a discussion on price.
We need to join together to drive value and innovation and continue to attract amazing talent.
