WATCH: ‘I’m so grateful for the recognition’: N-Able’s Daniella Howells reflects on her Women and Diversity In Channel Awards nomination

Ahead of the Women and Diversity in Channel Awards, CRN’s Matt Harris spoke to Daniella Howells, senior marketing manager at N-able, about her Marketing Employee of the Year nomination and the cybersecurity market

Congratulations on your nomination for Marketing Employee of the Year. What prompted you to enter the Women and Diversity in Channel Awards this year?

“Thank you. Honestly, it was a chance to reflect on what has been a really rewarding period in my career.

“Over the last year, I've had the opportunity to deliver some of the strongest initiatives of my career to support our go-to-market strategy.

“Looking back, it made me realise how much my previous experiences had prepared me to step up and lead some really exciting programmes that have helped accelerate our growth.

“I'm incredibly proud of what we've achieved, and entering the awards gave me a moment to acknowledge that journey and the people who have helped me get there.”

What would winning this award mean to you, your team and your customers and partners?

“For me, it would be a recognition of the collective effort behind everything we've achieved.

“While I'm honoured to be nominated individually, none of it happens without the channel team around me.

“They've been instrumental in helping bring these initiatives to life and driving our go-to-market strategy forward.

“It would also be recognition of the fantastic relationships we've built with our partners. We've spent the last year working closely together to create impactful campaigns, engage customers and drive mutual success.

“Winning would be a celebration of those partnerships just as much as it would be a personal achievement.”

It's been a particularly eventful year for the channel. What would you say has been N-able's proudest achievement over the past 12 months?

“One of the biggest achievements has been our evolution in the market and the way we're positioning ourselves.

“Historically, many people have known N-able as an MSP-focused brand, but today we're having much broader conversations around business resilience and helping organisations build resilience across their entire operations.

“That's become a real differentiator for us. We offer an end-to-end approach that helps customers strengthen their resilience against an increasingly complex threat landscape, and that message is resonating strongly in the market.

“It feels like we're entering a really exciting phase where we have a genuine opportunity to challenge expectations and bring something different to our customers and partners.”

What lessons has the industry learned over the past year, and what changes still need to be made as we move forward?

“It's impossible to ignore the impact AI has had.

“We've seen organisations embrace AI at an incredible pace, but in many cases adoption has happened before businesses have fully considered the security, compliance and governance implications.

“That's created challenges not only for customers but also for partners, who have had to move very quickly to provide guidance and expertise.

“At the same time, vendors have a responsibility to ensure AI is being implemented thoughtfully within their products and solutions.

“Done correctly, AI can unlock enormous efficiencies and help businesses deliver better outcomes.

“But one thing I feel very strongly about is that, despite all the technological innovation happening around us, the channel remains fundamentally a people business.

“Partnerships, relationships and trust are what make this industry special. As we continue to adopt AI and new technologies, we can't lose sight of the human element that underpins everything we do.”

Looking ahead, what opportunities are you most excited about, and how is N-able planning to capitalise on them?

“AI is definitely one of the biggest opportunities.

“We've already incorporated AI capabilities into our portfolio, including solutions such as Enzo, which are helping customers streamline day-to-day operations and unlock valuable efficiencies.

“What's particularly exciting is how AI can support organisations not just from a productivity perspective, but also by helping them navigate compliance and governance requirements more effectively.

“I'm also really interested in the opportunities being created by the Cyber Resilience Bill currently moving through Parliament. That aligns closely with our business resilience strategy and reinforces the growing need for organisations to strengthen their security posture.

“As cyber threats continue to evolve, businesses need partners and technology providers that can help them build resilience in a practical, sustainable way. That's exactly where we believe N-able has a compelling story to tell.”

Finally, what does being shortlisted mean to you personally?

“It's genuinely something I'm very proud of. The channel is filled with incredibly talented people doing amazing work, so to be recognised alongside such a strong group of nominees is a real honour.

“More than anything, it's an opportunity to reflect on how far I've come, the experiences that have shaped me, and the fantastic colleagues and partners I've had the chance to work alongside.

“Whatever happens on awards night, I'm grateful for the recognition and excited for what's still to come.”

This article is sponsored by N-able.