Dominic Pierce

MD UK&I Partner Organisation, Cisco

What has been your business highlight of 2022?

Moving into a channel leadership role for the first time in my career. I have been blown away by the capability and innovation that our partner community offers to our customers. The warm welcome offered to someone like me, who has a huge amount to learn from those same partners, has been humbling.

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

I'd ban ‘leaning in' from the English language.

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

The way that Satya Nadella has transformed Microsoft into a cloud business and delivered the growth it has seen in the last five years is incredible. I also like the fact that he is publicly prepared to admit when he gets things wrong. It's something all leaders should learn from.

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

Don't say ‘leaning in', or he'll sack you."

What was your first job?

Stacking shelves in the Co-op. Due to being taller and stronger than many of the other shelf stackers, I was put on pet food. For my two sixth form years, I smelt mainly of Kouros aftershave and Whiskas.

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

The Every by Dave Eggers. Everyone who works in tech should read it, but only after reading its predecessor, The Circle. It's not only hugely entertaining, it made me think quite deeply about the job we all do.

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

The phrase, "this too shall pass". It reminds you that success and failure will only exist for a fleeting time and not to get too high or low.

Who would play you in a movie of your life?

Jean-Claude Van Damme.