Holly Anschutz

Channel director UK&I, Extreme Networks

What has been your business highlight of 2022?

In terms of personal achievement, my highlight of 2022 would definitely be that I received a double promotion from head of channel sales UK&I to channel director UK&I. In a broader business sense, it is difficult to pin down one highlight, but I think the recent launch of our new and improved partner programme has been a very important next step in our evolution as a leader in cloud networking. This year, we introduced a cool new feature of partner certification badges to provide partners with deeper knowledge, expertise and commitment to key issues.

If you were ruler of your own country, what law would you introduce first?

A four-day working week - everybody could get their work done in that time and as a result, be a lot happier. More holiday entitlement and wellness days would be included in this law too!

Which channel or tech leader (outside of your own company) has impressed you most in 2022?

Ioan McRae, the CEO of Maintel, stands out as the most impressive individual for me. What I admire about Ioan is he's incredibly honest, straightforward and open. When working with him, there's no fluff and no noise, which in turn leaves no room for misunderstandings. He tries to simplify everything he does, but at the same time, you can always guarantee that he'll deliver on what he says he's going to do, which is the best way to run and drive a partnership. Goals are aligned and tied in on both sides, and there's no room for complications and misunderstandings. He's a very impressive CEO.

If you had a warning label, what would it say?

"Warning: potential danger of sarcasm!"

What was your first job?

My first job after leaving college was in The Randolph Hotel in Oxford. I was working as a waitress in a cocktail bar - that much is true! After that, my first full-time role was at an IT equipment distribution company Northamber, as a product specialist. I remained there for around 10 years, but moved between a few different roles.

What was the last book you read, and was it any good?

I recently read Undoctored - a very funny story written by Adam Kay, who used to be a doctor. He also more famously wrote This Is Going To Hurt. The last audio book I listened to was Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey, which is essentially an unconventional diary of his life. I'm a big fan of his voice.

What's the most important lesson you've learned from another business leader or mentor?

To remain calm - my immediate boss has been a really good mentor and advocate for this. The way he approaches tasks and challenges is very simple and structured. While he is incredibly organised, he also manages to distil things down and eliminate the unnecessary noise. He taught me to keep a level head and not to be pulled into the drama and chaos, which is a good lesson to learn and put into practice in our industry.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Kate Beckinsale, simply because she's brunette and cool. She's got that energy of being a bit understated, but still classy and does her job well. As well as that, she's British and my husband is quite keen on her…