Yolanta Gill

Chief executive, European Electronique

What was your dream career as a child?

A lawyer.

What has been your personal highlight of 2019?

Some of the successes of the business have been my personal highlights of 2019. But on a more personal note, a couple of exciting trips this year, both to the US. One included travelling through Arizona, Utah and Nevada; seeing the canyons and Monument Valley was incredible. The second one travelling through Florida, including the Florida Keys, Everglades, Thousand Island and finishing off with a visit to Kennedy Space Station.

Which famous person deserves a (gentle) slap?

Boris Johnson, just because…

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

My dog and my phone.

Which of your 2019 predictions have come to pass?

None so far, which is probably a good thing!

What TV show have you binge watched this year?

Chernobyl.

How has 2019 been from a business perspective?

So far 2019 has been a good year for EE. We have won a number of large contracts and have further established our position as a provider of networking and cybersecurity infrastructure and services.

What annoys you most about your commute?

The sheer volume of Oxford traffic.

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

I have a general interest in history and particularly ancient Roman and Greek, so meeting Cicero or Julius Caesar would be fascinating.

How do you explain the channel to people?

When I find out, I will let you know!

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

Generally with conferences you are more concerned with the content rather than the event destination. However, it is nice to combine some sightseeing along with the business trip - how many times can one visit Las Vegas? Although if you fly to Phoenix and drive to Las Vegas, it does make the trip twice as interesting!

What is the biggest challenge facing the channel in 2020?

Possibly a hard Brexit could bring a few challenges, the introduction of tariffs, the effect on the rate of exchange sterling to dollars, and also the possible effect of funding within the public sector. We will have to wait and see what it brings.