Jane Silk

VP of distribution, EMEA, Climb Channel Solutions

What has been your personal highlight of 2021?

This past year has been a really exciting one for our business but the highlight has to be overseeing the successful rebrand from Sigma Software Distribution to Climb Channel Solutions, bringing the UK business under the Climb global brand while still retaining some visual ‘nods' to our heritage.

Which tech figurehead has impressed you the most this year, and why?

Naming one individual for me is always difficult as figureheads are sometimes exactly that and the magic is often conceived and delivered by a company's amazing individuals. That said, what Netflix has achieved in terms of redefining home entertainment with Reed Hastings at the helm is pretty impressive.

Which one lockdown habit do you plan to keep going?

Like many people walking my crazy dog a couple of times a day has really helped me get away from my desk, clear my head and appreciate the value of being outdoors for putting things into perspective. Living on the edge of Dartmoor means there is a lot of the great outdoors on my doorstep, so this is something that I'll keep on doing!

Which face-to-face industry event are you most excited to return to, and why?

I was really looking forward to attending the recent CRN Women in Tech Awards and it didn't disappoint. It was so good to spend time with friends and colleagues and to watch people experiencing and enjoying face-to-face human interaction once more.

If you had the time to learn one new skill, what would it be?

I'd like to learn to play the guitar properly, something that I attempted in my teenage years but didn't stick at partly due to the constant teasing from my two older brothers who sadly couldn't see my well-hidden natural talent for music!

If you could go back in time and tell your childhood self one thing, what would you say?

I'd tell myself that my adolescent insecurities wouldn't define who I was going to be and what I was going to achieve both professionally and personally.

If you had to sing karaoke, what would be your song of choice?

Clearly it would have to be Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves by the Eurythmics featuring Aretha Franklin - great tune and fantastic lyrics!

Sum 2021 up in three words.

Still loving life!