Jane Silk

Managing director, Sigma Software Distribution

What was your dream career as a child?

I always wanted to be a professional tennis player and then the realisation hit that I probably wasn't good enough so becoming a PE teacher was the fall-back plan.

What has been your personal highlight of 2019?

Watching my middle daughter successfully ‘adult', as she calls it, as she embarked on a new life in France.

Which famous person deserves a (gentle) slap?

Nigel Farage for constantly using highly emotive language, which distracts from the seriousness of the topic.

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

My wedding and a family photo album, which hold memories from before the digital age. Yes, I'm that old!

Which of your 2019 predictions have come to pass?

Sales targets will go up.

What TV show have you binge watched this year?

Sadly none, but I have a long list of TV crime dramas that I'll hopefully get the chance to watch through the winter months.

How has 2019 been from a business perspective?

Fascinating, frustrating but fruitful.

What annoys you most about your commute?

Pretty much nothing - I live five minutes from the office now after many years of long commuting.

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

The tearing down of the Berlin Wall because the significance of the wall was so wide-ranging in terms of modern history and the impact on Europe.

How do you explain the channel to people?

If I'm talking to people outside of the tech industry, I normally use an analogy like the food industry making comparisons between food manufacturers, wholesalers, supermarkets and restaurants explaining how the product gets to the end customer.

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

My favourite would be Lake Garda - you know who you are! My least favourite would be airport hotels where I could be anywhere in the world.

What is the biggest challenge facing the channel in 2020?

Making sure that the channel remains an effective route of supply for both vendors and end customers; reinventing itself where necessary to build new profit streams and remain relevant to customers.