What has been your personal highlight of 2020?
That's a tough one this year for obvious reasons. It would be seeing my folks again after seven months - it was a very emotional day. My other highlight was my only trip abroad this year, to San Francisco for RSA, followed by a road trip with fellow CRN A-Lister Hayley Roberts, driving a convertible down route 1 to LA - amazing scenery and lots of belly laughs.
Which three celebrities would you invite to a Zoom party?
Bruce Springsteen, Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Stephen Fry. Bruce could bring his guitar so we could have a virtual singsong, Phoebe would no doubt make us all laugh and Stephen could amuse us with his witticisms. It sounds like a right laugh!
What has been your guiltiest lockdown pleasure?
‘Lockdown pleasure', isn't that an oxymoron? Not sure I've done anything I feel guilty of in lockdown really - honest M'lud!
Which tech figurehead has inspired you most this year, and why?
There isn't anyone who particularly comes to mind, if I'm honest. I think generally there have been some really inspiring examples of leadership this year and some spectacular instances of poor leadership. Either way, it's a continual opportunity to reflect, take stock and improve where you can as a leader. I don't think that ever ends - it shouldn't do, anyway.
What piece of technology, or app, have you not been able to do without during the pandemic?
Spotify. I'm a complete music obsessive so I'd have been lost without its archives of old and new music to dip into. Music really does affect your mood, so it's been a real lifeline this year.
If you could be anyone else for a week, who would you be and what would you do?
Jeff Bezos and I'd focus on philanthropy as much as possible.
Do you miss face-to-face events?
Absolutely! Our annual conference, NISC, was due to take place in November and I will definitely miss that this year. I can't wait to be able to socialise with the lovely people in the infosec industry again.
How will COVID leave its mark on the way the channel operates long term?
The obvious answer is the change in the way of working that we've had to adapt to this year. I think that presents more opportunities than challenges, the main one being the chance to be more effective with our time and not do so much unnecessary travel.
The second one would be that it opens up the ability to recruit from anywhere. Anything that expands the talent pool available to us is a good thing in my book.
