Another month another partner hot seat! We speak to our technology partners about what makes them tick in tech. For each Cisco Partner Hot Seat in true ‘Paxman-style’ we will be finding out more about their role as partner as well as some of their own pearls of business wisdom. This month we have Christopher Lewis, Marketing and Alliances Director of Dimension Data UK & Ireland.
How many years have you been working in the industry?
I have been working in marketing for over twenty years in the IT and Telecoms industry for both vendors and systems integrators. Although my role at Dimension Data is focussed on the UK and Ireland, most of my roles have either been EMEA or globally focused.
What’s the first thing you do each morning?
Produce a to-do list for the day, this helps keep me focused on what I need to achieve that day…or worst case that week!
Tell us five things you do every day in your role
Every day is completely different. I spend most of my time with my teams interacting with different business units and teams around our organisation across UK, Ireland, Europe and with our Global teams. A large part of my Alliances and Marketing role is spending a time with our vendors, partners, as well as our distributors.
What’s your number one tip when it comes to dealing with customers?
Research, research and more research. It’s now widely accepted that over 70% of the sales cycle is completed before customers and prospects make contact. It’s vital that from a marketing point of view that we understand where they are in that process, but that is all made possible through the recent advancements in Big Data and customer analytics.
Name one thing businesses tend to forget when implementing or upgrading their technology
In my opinion the end user experience can be forgotten at times. It’s vital to get ownership, buy-in and support for the implementation. Usage and adoption is critical when delivering client-facing solutions such as video, applications, mobility and voice.
What’s the number one pain point or concern your customers have?
Agility is always a concern in the ‘age of the app’. This is about being able to deliver new services in a rapidly changing environment, by providing the increasingly mobile generations of workers with the workspaces they demand.
What’s your favourite thing about your job?
I love to continuously develop and innovate with marketing at Dimension Data. We have a very supportive UK&I board, who let us trial new techniques and push the boundaries of our marketing. We also have a fantastic Corporate Marketing team who are very creative and supportive. You may have seen them agree to sponsor the Tour de France in the coming years, so these are exciting times for Dimension Data.
What’s the best thing about partnering with Cisco?
Cisco’s people. It’s been a real pleasure working with our account and marketing teams over the years. Their help and support have made a real difference to what my teams and I have been able to achieve along the way. Without them life would definitely have been a lot harder.
Name one device or piece of technology you couldn’t live without
My iPhone, I am lost without it and my work bag would be five times heavier.
If you weren’t working in tech, what would you be doing?
Something completely different. I have actually always fancied being a vet, it must be extremely rewarding treating and healing a variety of animals.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
It’s always better to regret something you did, than something you didn’t do!
What helps you relax at the end of the day?
My young children are at a very entertaining age and come up with the funniest stuff, on a recent trip to Villa Park my 3 year old rather optimistically kept shouting goal, much to the amusement of the crowd. Although, getting out on my bikes and occasionally a bit of archery are my best forms of relaxation!
What’s your ultimate comfort food?
Cheese, hopefully my doctor doesn’t read this!
Which actor would play you in a biopic of your life?
Clint Eastwood. Every day is action packed in marketing, with plenty of blood and guts along the way and he would definitely need his Magnum.
If you could possess one superhero power, what would it be?
Ability to go back in time, I would like to be a very rich superhero!
First music single you bought?
Joan Jett & the Blackhearts “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll” – what can I say, I was young!
Apple or Android?
Apple every time.
Who would you least like to be stuck on a desert island with?
Alan Carr. Sharks or no sharks I wouldn’t last 2 minutes, that’s being optimistic.
What’s your most-used smartphone app?
After email, LinkedIn…sorry I am in marketing!
In your opinion, what’s the best tech innovation of the last 100 years?
The mobile telephone and SMS, nothing comes close for me. Just wish they wouldn’t keep smashing…sorry IT…again!
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