Solutions director, Saepio
What was your dream career as a child?
Car design. My father loves cars. My auntie loves art. I love both.
What has been your personal highlight of 2019?
My five-year-old boy came home with a piece of finely mounted paper that had been proudly displayed on a classroom wall. The teacher's pristine writing read: "To stay safe on the computer I need to…" My son's scribbled response: "…dont pres on eneefing yor not shor of."
Which famous person deserves a (gentle) slap?
They're far from famous, but the creators and marketeers of false reality shows such as Love Island for fuelling mental health challenges in modern society.
What two things (apart from family) would you grab if your house was on fire?
Fred and Wilma… our awesome cats!
Which of your 2019 predictions have come to pass?
Let's exclude Brexit! I predicted there would be a landmark GDPR fine… whether BA will pay it is another matter.
What TV show have you binge watched this year?
It's an even contest. Black Mirror and Chernobyl.
How has 2019 been from a business perspective?
Great. Saepio is young and growing from strength to strength but there is certainly room to do more. We have ambitious plans.
What annoys you most about your commute?
Nothing. Perfect duration for listening to a book on Blinkist (it's a great app if you don't know it).
If you could witness one past event, what would it be?
My parents' wedding. I imagine it was a huge party but also cements the reason I'm here, doing what I do.
How do you explain the channel to people?
Seriously, it's the supply chain for all organisations to acquire IT related knowledge, products and services. Less seriously, it's an incredibly fun community of like-minded, passionate, forward-thinking individuals that work hard and play hard. Shoes off at 3am, conference call at 9am!
What have been your favourite and least favourite partner conference destinations?
The best is Barcelona: great city, great venues, perfect for a conference. The worst is Barcelona: bloody phone thieves!
What is the biggest challenge facing the channel in 2020?
Again, ignoring Brexit, for me it's distraction and volume of customer choice. There's just so much out there. The security market especially needs consolidation, not another new ‘silver bullet'. Cyber risk reduction is made more complex by yet another new product with polished convincing marketing. A policy-first approach and trusted partner is important for customers to work through the noise.
