CRN Women & Diversity in Channel Awards - Finalist Q&A with Tania Singh Sales Support Lead at Black Box

Tania Singh talks being finalists at this year's CRN Women & Diversity in Channel Awards

Why do you think awards like the Women & Diversity in Channel Awards matter? What would winning this award mean to your company?

These awards play a key role in highlighting the progress made in the industry thus far and act as a catalyst for continuous improvement. They celebrate role models, inspire others by showcasing diverse career paths and breakthroughs and encourage personal growth and development.

Being considered for the Rising Star award is a privilege, and to win it would be a powerful recognition of the journey I’ve been on.

What would you say is your company’s proudest achievement over the past year?

Going through a business transformation on a global scale is never an easy undertaking; however, Black Box has remained very focused on building talent, strengthening solution capabilities and fostering a strong culture. We’ve had a lot of new team members joining over the past year, and this shift has reinvigorated the morale, expanded customer engagements and brought new energy to the business.

I am proud of the way our globally distributed teams have come together, supporting each other, collaborating across borders and winning new business. I am also excited to witness the advancements we are making with the integration of innovative technologies and capturing data centre market.

What have been the biggest challenges of 2025 so far and how have you overcome them? How have your people helped with that?

Keeping up with the changes has been the biggest challenge. We’ve integrated new practices, capabilities and systems into the business, but when it’s done right, people rally together, drive the change and collaborate effectively.

I have been fortunate to experience a robust support system that spans both personal and professional spheres, while also having meaningful opportunities to support others. I've benefited from exceptional guidance from both management and colleagues. Their mentorship has been instrumental in helping me navigate industry changes and embrace new responsibilities.

How do you think the channel has changed over the past year and what changes do you think it still needs to make?

The channel has become an increasingly complex ecosystem. Customers are demanding more integrated solutions, leading to stronger partnerships, unexpected alliances and surprising acquisitions.

The need for innovation and AI-driven solutions provides fertile ground for start-ups to disrupt the market, while also prompting restructuring at larger tech companies. This shift is creating both employment changes and skill gaps. I believe the channel will continue to evolve to meet growing customer expectations and the pace of technological advancement.

What do you see as the main opportunities for the channel in the coming year? How do you plan to capitalise on those opportunities?

Whilst we provide a wide range of solutions, from workplace technology to cybersecurity, I see a major increase in demand in the data centre space. I believe the main opportunities are in acquiring and developing the right skills. Technology is advancing rapidly, and the talent market often struggles to keep up, whilst our customers look for innovation and consistency.

At Black Box, we invest in market research, talent development, and service delivery methodologies to meet these demands. We continuously analyse the industry and adapt our go-to-market strategies, not just to stay relevant but to stay ahead of the curve.