Technology Record - Issue 22: Autumn 2021

43 18 months, accelerating their pace of digital transformation, and Microsoft’s partners are in a unique position to use our platforms and technology to help their customers continue to navigate this new world. In terms of areas where we can make the most impact, it all starts with the Microsoft cloud, which provides fast time-to-value, purposeful integration and an open platform for partners and customers to innovate. Stemming from our most recent announcements at Inspire, Windows 365, Microsoft Industry Clouds, our commercial marketplaces, and our new integrations with Teams are all top of mind as areas of opportu- nity. Our partners can integrate and build on top of these new offerings and product categories like Viva or Cloud PC to create industry-specific apps, data sources and solutions that allow cus- tomers to accelerate their digital transformation journeys and do business more efficiently. You have just delivered your first global partner gathering for Microsoft Inspire, which was held as a digital event for the second time. How did it feel to be at the helm of an event as significant as this and how does the virtual format compare? It’s been a whirlwind fewmonths in this new role and Inspire was such a highlight to be a part of, especially having the opportunity to celebrate our Partner of the Year Award winners and par- ticularly the winners of our new social impact category. In so many ways, our partners are pio- neering the way forward. While nothing beats sitting next to each other, a handshake or sidebar conversations, the virtual format does grant us the chance to reach a much larger and interna- tional group of partners that previously wouldn’t be able to attend. I’m excited for when we can do in-person events again, and think we’ll continue to leverage this digital format in some capacity to ensure we’re connecting with as many part- ners as possible. Your previous role as CVP for IoT and mixed reality sales clearly gave you a strong insight into two key areas of the Microsoft business. As you transition into this broader channel sales position, how important do you feel these two themes will be? IoT and mixed reality are two growth areas I see for the channel. Customers want to con- nect entire environments to optimise produc- tivity, operations and security. Our partners are building industry-specific solutions to accelerate opportunities like worker safety and automation, retail data and analytics. We’re also seeing increased innovation through connected environments that leverage digital twins, mixed reality and autonomous systems. These areas are both great examples of how partners can benefit from Microsoft’s unique and end-to-end tech- nology stack from intelligent cloud to intelligent edge, meaning cloud and devices. At Inspire 2021, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella spoke about the new Industry Clouds and their value for partners and customers