Ben Boswell

What has been your personal highlight of 2020?

Working with the team to launch D|OPS Digital. We have had to be courageous and work incredibly hard as a team. Together we have worked through the most challenging and turbulent market conditions to set the foundation for an incredible 2021. I have also loved working with my Princes Trust mentees and Jake Armstrong at Addey and Stanhope School as we try our best to navigate the many personal challenges and consequences from the pandemic.

Which three celebrities would you invite to a Zoom party?

As a crazy Liverpool fan it would have to be Jürgen Klopp, Jordan Henderson and Mo Salah. What a year it has been, so to hear their stories and experience would be a treat indeed.

What has been your guiltiest lockdown pleasure?

I released a new Soundcloud DJ Mix every week through the height of lockdown (BB-in-LDT). There was escapism in the music.

Which tech figurehead has inspired you most this year, and why?

I have been particularly impressed by Mitchell Hashimoto and Armon Dadgar, co-founders of HashiCorp. Their technology vision and product execution underpins the Cloud Native automation and security platforms being deployed by Fortune 100 companies right across the globe.

What piece of technology, or app, have you not been able to do without during the pandemic?

My Apple Earpods, one of the best end-user experiences out there.

If you could be anyone else for a week, who would you be and what would you do?

I would like to be an explorer in the pre-COVID world! I miss travel, new places, people and the life moments that they bring.

Do you miss face-to-face events?

I certainly do. Having been lucky enough to work in various technology sales and leadership roles, I love meeting customers, colleagues and partners in person. With the exception of Las Vegas, I miss the global travel that goes with it.

How will COVID leave its mark on the way the channel operates long term?

The channel has had to be able to pivot to operating 100 per cent remotely - sales calls, workshops, contract negotiation and signature. Remote delivery has helped our collective customer base to drive digital transformation fast or fail. It will change our industry forever, in only a good way.