Lance Williams

CPO, Distology

What has been your personal highlight of 2021?

It might sound clichéd, but my personal highlight has been continuing the new level of closeness with my family developed during the lockdowns now that life has freed up. My eldest said to my wife: "I'm glad for one thing from lockdown and that's getting to know Daddy more - before, he came home every day from work, but we hardly knew him compared to now."

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

I cannot think of any in the mainstream, or up and coming tech companies… I can think of plenty of tech, but not figureheads. Perhaps it is because it's been a year of adjustment, where figureheads have, first and foremost, been focusing on the wellbeing of their people, rather than inspiring the industry? Closer to home, the channel figurehead who has impressed me the most is Hayley Roberts (now that really does sound clichéd!) - she stands for change and innovation in the distribution channel - it's why I got in touch with her this time last year, which concluded with me becoming CPO in her organisation.

Which one lockdown habit do you plan to keep going?

My morning prayer walks! Like most, I lost my commute, which means I lost my think time - that downtime in the car, when podcasts and phone calls happened without distraction - so I substituted it with walking for 30-40 minutes each weekday morning. I am a Christian man and I found the time was best used for prayer and meditation - thinking on the Bible lesson for the day and how to apply it to my day and the world around me.

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

The CRN Channel Awards (in person)! I love the event for the networking, fun and celebration of the best businesses and people in the channel. It's great for rubbing shoulders with pals, for meeting new people and for learning about which businesses have floated the judges' boats in the past year.

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

Coding. Python, possibly. My teenage years were in the 1990s and The Matrix was my favourite movie of the decade - when I chat with developers I see them looking at lines of code and reading like ‘the operators' do in The Matrix. It'd be a great skill to learn in a world that is increasingly embracing STEM in education and coding is making it into the mainstream.

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

Nothing! Everyone knows (thanks Hollywood) messing with the past can affect the future and I'm very content with my current. Every good and not-so-good thing that has happened in my life has contributed to who I am today.

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

Great Balls Of Fire - such a cracking song to do, glorified by the movie Top Gun. It's not too difficult and everyone else normally joins in too.

Sum 2021 up in three words.

Life is beautiful.