Business Development Manager, IoT, EMEA, Microsoft
What was your dream career as a child?
I wanted to be a prima ballerina.
What has been your personal highlight of 2019?
Landing a new role in the IoT world, that also gives me plenty of opportunity for travel, which I love.
Which famous person deserves a (gentle) slap?
Piers Morgan. I can't bear him.
What two things (apart from family) would you grab if your house was on fire?
I'd say my dogs, Bhajee and Red, but they are most definitely part of my family. I can't think of a single inanimate object that I care enough about to take with me.
Which of your 2019 predictions have come to pass?
Well, I suspected Brexit was going to be a mess…
What TV show have you binge watched this year?
In preparation for the final season, I re-watched every single Game of Thrones episode. It was quite a commitment.
How has 2019 been from a business perspective?
Great! It has been very busy, and with loads of learning and opportunity.
What annoys you most about your commute?
The upgrade to smart motorway along the M4 means that 80% of my commute is crawling along at 50mph.
If you could witness one past event, what would it be?
I would have loved to have experienced some of the suffragette movement and witnessing the moment that all women got the vote in 1928 would have been awesome. Although 1918 is often celebrated as the year women got the vote, it was not on wholly equal terms with men until 1928, and since I believe in equality, that's the year I recognise.
How do you explain the channel to people?
A complex and fabulous collection of smart people and organisations working together to create a smarter world.
What have been your favourite and least favourite partner conference destinations?
Microsoft hold our partner conference, Inspire, in Las Vegas every year. I love the conference, but I have had enough of Vegas. One year we held it in Toronto, which was a great destination. I stayed on for the weekend afterwards to explore.
What is the biggest challenge facing the channel in 2020?
How we evolve and transform quickly enough to fully leverage the new world of data and all the opportunities it represents. We don't have enough data scientists right now and it will be these sorts of roles that will enable us to understand, harness and use data effectively to bring our next level of growth.
