What has been your personal highlight of 2021?
My daughter getting married, postponed from the year 2020. Now all the children are married, all have their own homes and all three have a child each. My work here is done, and we move to the next chapter.
Which tech figurehead has impressed you the most this year, and why?
Kerry Burns. He owns a small MSP/Microsoft consultancy if Stafford. Over the last 18 months he has grown his business profits more than 100% and has doubled his team from 40 to more than 80 people. As a small business, he has paid back a substantial amount of the government furlough money and also at the beginning of the pandemic extended the credit terms with his clients to help them keep moving forward.
Which one lockdown habit do you plan to keep going?
The plan was to keep walking the dog every morning for 2-3 miles. This has already passed me by. It also seems like all my clothes have shrunk.
Which face-to-face industry event are you most excited to return to, and why?
I did not appreciate how important to me the various events were, and therefore missed all of them. But I have started to get back to it. The big one is the award evening in November which should be a good night as there wasn't one last year.
If you had the time to learn one new skill, what would it be?
I did a woodturning course during lockdown and have promised myself that I will by a wood lathe and make bowls and apples. I am going to learn to play the piano once people are comfortable to come to the house.
If you could go back in time and tell your childhood self one thing, what would you say?
Beware of adults bearing gifts. Networking and networks are your most valuable asset and activity.
If you had to sing karaoke, what would be your song of choice?
My Way by Frank Sinatra.
Sum 2021 up in three words.
Where did it go?
