Intelligent Tech Channels Issue 57 | Page 64

Our priority is to help our ProPartners to evolve towards a service model , encouraging them to work with other partners in the network . with us , in conjunction with our alliance partners in the industry .
What are the latest trends you see emerging across the channel ?
With cloud and cloud native applications rapidly increasing in use , we ’ ve been forecasting and planning the move of end customers to Cloud services , and our network of partners is already composed of 11,000 VCSPs around the world . Firms should be looking for platform-agnostic OpEx based solutions that give them freedom of choice on cloud and cloud-native platforms right for them , whilst helping them support pockets of infrastructure still on legacy or physical environments .
Further , to continue to accelerate the move to services , we need visibility all the way to the end user , as we have through our VARs . We are also gaining a better understanding of which everything-as-aservice ( XaaS ) powered by Veeam services are needed by end users so that we can evolve our solutions to better meet their needs and improve the end user ’ s experience .
Another priority is protection against ransomware which is a major threat for any organisation today . We have seen a major increase in threats on various types of organisations , and anyone can be a target .
What is your management philosophy ?
My approach is very centred on mentorship
and employee development , I aim to empower my team with the skills they need to grow and advance in their own careers .
I am also very passionate about corporate social responsibility and am involved in the Veeam Cares initiatives which encourages our staff to volunteer 24 hours each per year to give back to the local community in areas such as education , health , animal welfare , community services and economic development . I encourage everyone in my team to also give of their time to this initiative .
When you look back at your career , what has been the most memorable achievement ?
The most memorable achievement for me in my career was being nominated as the top Channel Lead in EMEA in 2017 and receiving the award in front of all my peers in Europe , by our CEO at our annual sales kick-off .
What made you think of a career in technology ?
I ’ d like to think that IT found me . My first job was with an IT recruitment company , and Citrix became one of my clients . Once I got to know their business , I knew that I wanted to change my career focus and found an opportunity with them , which I ’ ve never looked back on .
What do you think will be the hot technology talking point of 2023 ?
The emergence of cloud native workloads and containerisation as organisations adapt to digitisation post the global pandemic . Customers have growing environments and how they manage their data and the applications this data is generated , is something customers are concerned with . Also , the way we work has changed , and ransomware attacks are at an all-time high , so this continues to be a discussion point close to customers ’ hearts .
Protecting customers ’ data is of utmost importance , so these types of initiatives need to be supported by the channel .
What are your personal interests and where do you like to spend most of your time after work ?
I ’ m a wife , a mom , and an avid mountain biker . Family means everything to me and having a work-life balance is incredibly important . Mountain biking is my stress relief . My family and I have recently relocated to the Western Cape which is home to some of the best mountain biking trails in the world , so I ’ m keen to spend some time in the saddle surrounded by all the beauty of the natural landscape here ! •
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