The EMEA Member and Partner Conference 2024 encouraged a record 600+ attendees to sync in to the power of community over two full days in London. With session tracks dedicated to community, cybersecurity and vendor education, and more than 75 participants in the exhibition hall, networking and business growth were the cornerstones of success.
“Two days filled with presentations, workshops, networking, a keynote with Deborah Meaden, all in a space filled with dedicated people that have passion for the IT industry. GTIA plays a big part in the industry’s development, training, certification and sharing of best practices to help each other,” said Daniëlle Meulenberg, channel account executive, MSP Western Europe cybersecurity, at Sophos.
If you could not attend this year, or even if you did but missed a session, we’ve got you covered. Here are 10 things you should know from the EMEA Member and Partner Conference 2024.
Unleashing Data Power: Supercharge Your Business Strategy
Hollie Whittles, information security and HR director at Purple Frog Systems, kicked off the first day of the EMEA Member and Partner Conference with a powerful presentation on how data is the new oil industry, with people powering the data engine. By harnessing data properly, channel firms can not only stay ahead of the competition and reduce risk but can help their customers be more efficient, and even preempt problems before they happen. Read more.
The Big Picture: State of the Industry Keynote
Todd Thibodeaux, president and CEO, CompTIA talked about the need to bring a wider and more diverse range of people into the IT industry, especially as the demand for data and AI skills increase. To attract these people, and help existing technology professionals broaden their skill sets, CompTIA plans to offer several new series of certifications that cover people at the very start of their IT career, but also those looking to achieve expert-level knowledge.
Workforce Power Panel: Transforming Talent Management in Modern Organisations
Finding and keeping talent is changing dramatically in today’s AI- and data-driven business landscape. Nancy Hammervik, principal, Hammervik Collaborative, moderated a workforce power panel with GTIA board member Steven Capper, Tyneso CEO Steven Tytgat and 360Learning chief learning officer David James about the challenges ahead and how to stay ahead of the curve. Hammervik noted World Economic Forum research that says AI will eliminate 85 million jobs but also add 97 million, which poses a challenge for tech companies (and all companies) trying to navigate that turmoil. "It's very difficult for an MSP to hire for AI skills. They are not out there in the market. The only thing you can do is find smart people and give them time to learn,” Tytgat said.
Cybersecurity Isn’t Just About Technology: It’s About People
Employees are often the first line of defense against cyberattacks, but why do people keep clicking on those emails and letting the cybercriminals in? Companies need to adopt a new approach to security training, by including personal, continuous learning and appealing to hearts and minds rather than focusing on the tech, explained Darrender Jordan, founder of DJ Communication and Transformation, in the session Cybersecurity Isn't Just About Tech: It Is About People. Read more.
Deborah Meaden: What She Looks for in a Successful Business
Deborah Meaden, one of the star investors on BBC's Dragons’ Den TV show, talked about her career, what she looks for in a successful business and what she expects in the future, including how profitability should be only one of the goals for any organization—culture and values are just as important for long-term success.
Cybercrime: The UK Policing Response
Andrew Gould, T/Commander, cyber & economic crime, for the City of London Police, talked about various levels of cybersecurity threats, from nation states down to individual hacktivists and how tech companies can help customers be better protected by moving cyber discussions away from technology and more toward operations. “People think it’s not going to happen to us, or they think it’s a technical subject and they stick their heads in the sand hope it’s never a problem,” Gould said. “But this not a tech problem, it’s a business problem.”
Members Working Together: GTIA Interest Group Updates
GTIA UK & Ireland Managed Services, DEI, Cybersecurity, Advancing Women in Technology and Emerging Technology interest groups held workshops designed to foster more connection opportunities, but also to develop initiatives and solve common business problems. For example, the Managed Services Interest Group asked attendees what they would do if they were starting a new business and only had £150 a month for marketing. Ideas included leveraging marketing tools and support from vendors and distributors (including MDF), social networking, video interviews of prospects and clients, leverage online marketing tools, and networking at local business events and hangouts.
GTIA Mentorship Program: Now Available in the UK and Ireland
The GTIA Mentorship Program is now available to members in the UK and Ireland! Launching at the EMEA Member and Partner Conference, the program welcomes seasoned professionals looking to impart their expertise and insights, newcomers seeking guidance and everyone in between. This program focuses on member-mentors sharing their knowledge and experience to support member-mentees with their career and business journey and help them reach their full potential. Learn more.
Industry Geniuses Offer Advice: 1:1 Consulting for GTIA Members
A number of select MSPs participated in free sales, finance, leadership and strategy, growth strategies and cybersecurity 1:1 consulting sessions with experts in those respective fields at the GTIA Genius Café. The Business Genius Café is a valuable benefit for GTIA members because it gives participants insights into both opportunities and challenges that they may not otherwise see or recognize. Learn more.
Latest Tech Products, Services Showcased by 75+ Exhibitors
More than 75 vendors and distributors shared their offerings during the technology vendor fair at the EMEA Member and Partner Conference, demonstrating how new products, services and solutions can help grow your business. Vendors once again participated in a recruitment challenge to see who could register and bring the greatest number of attendees. Congratulations to the top three companies who helped introduce new executives and businesses to GTIA: 1. CoreTech, 2. Kaspersky, 3. Mesh.
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