Margaret Totten

Managing director, Akari

What was your dream career as a child?

Writer. I fell in love with books very early and spent most of my time lost in the worlds of Narnia and Middle Earth. I used to even read walking to school with my friends guiding me through traffic, so I wanted to be the one creating those worlds of magic for others.

What has been your personal highlight of 2019?

Showcasing Akari at Microsoft Future Decoded. As a brand-new startup this year, we had set ourselves an ambitious challenge to showcase our products and services at one of the biggest technology events of the year. It went brilliantly.

Which famous person deserves a (gentle) slap?

Boris and maybe most of parliament for the nightmare we have found ourselves in with Brexit. Regardless of where you land on, in or out, the pantomime of the last 12 months has been more than a little aggravating.

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

My phone and an early edition of Paradise Lost my husband and son got me.

Which of your 2019 predictions have come to pass?

That Akari would grow quickly and become a major competitor in its space, that Brexit would become the car crash TV show we can't turn off and that accessibility would become a major consideration in everyone's agenda.

What TV show have you binge watched this year?

There have been a few as I tend to binge watch when travelling home and it's also something my husband and I do as we have similar taste in shows. My favourite has been The Spanish Princess, as I have a mild obsession of all things War of the Roses/Tudor period.

How has 2019 been from a business perspective?

Absolutely amazing. My co-founders and I took a big leap this year with the full belief that the market was ready for a technology company with such a strong focus on accessibility and assistive technologies, and it has been a great choice.

What annoys you most about your commute?

I like the commute as it gives me time to put my day in place inside my head, so have to admit nothing really.

Maybe how rain in Scotland makes drivers so slow. It's Scotland - we should be used to the rain by now.

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

Maybe the end of the Second World War. The 40s was a pivotal decade for the world and changed a lot of things, and when you look at the celebrations during VE Day so much of the world came together, I think that would have been amazing to witness.

How do you explain the channel to people?

An ability to work with the most recognised companies in the world. To share excellence with brand recognition and to reach customers in a way you couldn't alone.

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

Vegas and Vegas. I've loved the Microsoft Inspire conference this year and last, and Vegas has many benefits - but as a Scot, the heat kills me.

What is the biggest challenge facing the channel in 2020?

Adapting to emerging technologies as quickly as the market demands it. I think customer needs are starting to outstrip capabilities at times, so we need to ensure we are upskilling staff and our own delivery capabilities to meet it.