Joe Macri

What was your dream career as a child?

I always wanted to be an astronaut. While that career was sadly not meant to be, I did get to hear from Major Tim Peake and Helen Sharman at Microsoft's Future Decoded event recently, which was an amazing experience.

What has been your personal highlight of 2019?

My summer vacations with my family and extended family were an amazing opportunity to spend quality time together and to get some rest.

Which famous person deserves a (gentle) slap?

Of course, I don't condone violence, so I don't think slapping is the way forward. But I would say there are a few politicians around the world that need to re-evaluate how they behave!

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

I have a folder where I keep my most important documents and a box where we keep our family photo albums. These two things are very important to me and hold a lot of memories and vital information, so I would make sure I grabbed these on my way out of the house!

Which of your 2019 predictions have come to pass?

Brexit is still not defined.

What TV show have you binge watched this year?

I've recently started re-watching Mad Men. Although I don't support all aspects of Don Draper's behaviour, one can't avoid the thrill of creativity and closing big deals while watching it.

How has 2019 been from a business perspective?

It's been an incredibly strong year. Microsoft has continued to build very good momentum and alongside this, the technology industry in the UK as a whole is thriving. These two things combined make us very excited about the present and what the future has to bring.

What annoys you most about your commute?

I actually really enjoy my commute. I live close to the office so I enjoy walking to and from it each day. It's a great opportunity to clear the mind and take in the happenings of London.

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

I was a young child when Neil Armstrong first stepped on the moon so I have no memory of it. I'd love to have been just a little older and have memories of that momentous occasion so that I could have talked to him about that moment when I got the chance to meet him in 2006.

How do you explain the channel to people?

The channel is made up of an ecosystem of organisations who sell technology hardware, solutions and services. We call them our partners and they can be traditional system integrators, advisory firms or the newest app developers or digital agencies and others. This is an incredibly valuable community for any company looking for technology to transform and accelerate their business.

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

Las Vegas is both my most favourite and least favourite destination. The surrounding landscape is incredible and it's a great city, but it can get too hot and you rarely get to experience cities when you're just visiting for conferences, which is a shame.

What is the biggest challenge facing the channel in 2020?

The answer has to be the impact of the digital revolution within our business. It has such a wide-ranging impact, affecting not only our products and business models towards managed services and IP solutions, but also new skills that our society needs to learn and new habits which organisations need to create. It's an exciting journey to say the least and the fact that we are all in it together makes it a bit easier, and more exciting, to go through.

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