What has been your business highlight of 2022?
There's always an important deal or two (we won a couple of key customers earlier in the year), or an important accolade (like being the only Google dedicated partner well positioned in an analyst's set of quadrants), but my highlight has to be the team we were able to bring together. We have more than doubled in size in the space of 12 months, but it's the quality of the team that is even more impressive. We hired very senior people and others who are at the beginning of their tech careers. They all came from different backgrounds and walks of life. And we also promoted dozens along the way, providing them with accelerated career paths. Nothing makes me happier than this, so it has to be the highlight.
If you were ruler of your own country, what law would you introduce first?
I'd introduce a law forcing any subsequent ruler to surround themselves with the most competent team, or be ousted. I'm not sure about the technicalities of enshrining this in law though, but surely the top team would be able to figure it out!
Which channel or tech leader (outside of your own company) has impressed you most in 2022?
It won't come as a surprise to you that it will be someone from Google Cloud, the partnership that runs through our veins. Running the risk of breaking the rule, I'd call out both Simon Aldous (director, partners & channels UKI) for re-energising the partner ecosystem in the UK since starting in 2021, and Duncan Alldis (channel sales manager UKI) for relentlessly driving innovative ways of engaging with sales teams and customers.
If you had a warning label, what would it say?
"I'm not as strong minded as I may come across." On a serious note, I'd say that the thing most people misunderstand about me when we initially meet is that I have strong opinions. I do, especially at work, but that's down to being passionate about what we do. You'd be surprised how often I change my views when challenged or after a good discussion with the teams.
What was your first job?
My first properly paid job after university was working at a very small media start-up as the founder's number two. I'm not sure why he thought an inexperienced grad would be right for a job running finance, sales, customer service, etc but I suspect it may have been the (low) salary. Somehow we made it work for longer than I expected, and ended up learning lots, including what not to do in the future. While at university I used to help my dad deliver stuff to his customers, and then get to drive my uni friends in the van for the week.
What was the last book you read, and was it any good?
Not the last one, but something I read earlier in the year. There is this wonderful trilogy by Stephen Fry (Mythos, Heroes and Troy) about Greek mythology, its heroes and the Trojan war. It recounts the myths and tales as they passed through the generations, in his incredibly unique and witty style. I've actually listened to the audiobooks, which are also narrated by Stephen Fry.
What's the most important lesson you've learned from another business leader or mentor?
I always find that it is the little things I have taken from different mentors and resources throughout my career that make a huge difference overall, as opposed to one ‘big lesson' (am I breaking all your rules?). However, if I had to pick one thing, learning to be able to step back, stop focusing on the details or just a part of an issue and cut straight through to the important bits, has to be the best advice I could give anyone. It sounds simple, but it requires constant practice as it does not come naturally to most of us.
Who would play you in a movie of your life?
Fortunately, my life is too unremarkable to ever be considered for a movie, so no one will ever face that problem. If it happens, someone incredibly good looking please.
