Channel Awards Q&A with Matthew Ruskin, MD, Channel Edge

Managing director Matthew Ruskin talks the importance of the awards to the industry

Shortlisted for Channel Services Provider of the Year Support at this year’s CRN Channel Awards 2024, Channel Edge has some fierce competition.

Gearing up for the biggest night of the year, managing director Matthew Ruskin ponders what a win would mean for him and his business.

Why do you think awards like the Channel Awards matter?

There are no other awards ‘like’ CRN Channel Awards! Recognition in a critical industry is very important and the chance for key players to reflect on the wins in a world where we can sometimes obsess over the misses. Also, the breadth of experience, demographic and tenure in the channel is incredible, with a chance to come together and celebrate.

What would winning this award mean to your company?

We considered entering in 2023 but felt it was a year too early, so when we decided that we could win in 2024, we went all in. Every member of the team has contributed, our partners and clients too, and we had a blast putting our entry together; so what would it mean if we win? A result for so many people to share, I truly believe a win for Channel Edge will raise many glasses and be enjoyed by a lot of great people.

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

Blimey, so difficult in such a momentous year and too easy to fall into the tropes of people, clients or commercials. So, for me, culture. We are 100% remote and work tirelessly to establish, maintain and promote our culture both internally and externally. In 2024 we continued to successfully do this whilst going from 3 people to 14 inside 12 months. Hell of an effort from everyone and we love it!

What have been the biggest challenges of 2024 so far and how have you overcome them? How have your people helped with that?

Culture. A fully remote workforce is a buy-in for all of our people and we have invested in top-of-market rewards and celebrations platforms, regularly meet face to face on weekly coffee calls, monthly brunches, quarterly socials and bi-annual and annual kick offs. We encourage collaborative, production meetings to be face to face in hired spaces or partner offices. If you speak to our people, they will tell you it doesn’t feel like we’re 100% remote, whatever that is supposed to feel like!

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

I’m seeing more conversations, events and general volume around sustainability. This is such an urgent issue and I nearly lost it when I heard someone say recently they were “fatigued” by the topic. Sure, tap out, don’t get involved in the conversation - c’mon, a lot we can do, the channel is turned on to sustainability and quick wins are there for the taking!

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

Channel Edge will grow into AI and responsibly adopt the technology to compliment our services. We are learning continuously with internal projects greenlit to explore investment opportunities to enhance engagement with our clients and their audience. We already do this and our AI policy is available online, however, such an exciting new development, I expect this will be updated regularly!