What has been your personal highlight of 2020?
For the past 20 years, I have spent a lot of time travelling around the world and being away from home a lot. So my personal highlight this year has been spending some quality time with my family and friends at home in Cheshire.
Which three celebrities would you invite to a Zoom party?
Barack Obama - it goes without saying he is a legend.
Jacinda Ardern - I genuinely believe that women like Jacinda are changing the world just by being themselves. She is a true modern leader and most importantly her handling of a crisis is impeccable - what an inspiration!
Dermot Kennedy - I am listening to Dermot on repeat right now! He is the soundtrack to many a morning dog walk around the beautiful countryside near me.
What has been your guiltiest lockdown pleasure?
I think it's a mixture of my Peloton and podcasts, as they have both allowed me some headspace for which I was grateful - especially during the early part of the year.
Which tech figurehead has inspired you most this year, and why?
Our CEO, Sundar Pichai, was named in The Times' 100 Most Influential People of 2020. His analytical, humble and inclusive leadership style is incredibly refreshing and much needed during these times.
What piece of technology, or app, have you not been able to do without during the pandemic?
Spotify for podcasts and music while walking and YouTube for keeping our family entertained while we have been at home.
And my steps app. I used August while on garden leave to raise money for The Brain Tumour Charity and needed a step counter for the challenge!
If you could be anyone else for a week, who would you be and what would you do?
Dr Edith Eger. Firstly I would highly recommend her book, The Choice. She overcame such challenging situations and horrors through her time at Auschwitz but she has turned it into a positive experience and shared her lessons to overcome such adversity with millions of readers.
I admire her ability to turn something so awful into something so positive. A true story of resilience.
Do you miss face-to-face events?
I miss human interactions but have found great comfort in technology which enables us to be productive and collaborate on a daily basis.
How will COVID leave its mark on the way the channel operates long term?
The pandemic has accelerated digital transformation and our partners will play a significant and important role to help customers adopt our technologies and solutions at a rapid pace.
