Channel Futures Leadership Summit: Can't-Miss Sessions, Networking Events
Partners, products, priorities and processes are constantly changing. Are your leadership skills keeping up?
October 20, 2023
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Omdia’s Debbie Kane will moderate “From Influence to Inspiration: Women Channel Influencers Making a Difference.” She will be joined by three women who have been honored as Channel Futures Channel Influencers — Coro’s Hilary Gadda, Xcitium’s MeiLee Langley and Five9’s Kelli Ballou-McMillan. They will discuss the unique challenges women face in the channel and offer best advice and insights on how women can advance their careers while helping other women along the way.
Gilli Aliotti is a creative and digital disruptor who specializes in coaching leaders on building agility and leadership capabilities. She has a trio of presentations that will get you ready, willing and able to pursue your leadership goals. “The EntreprenHER Zone: Step Into Your Leadership Zone As a Woman in Technology” offers women leaders actionable takeaways on successfully growing their careers while managing the work-life balance. For “Achieving Excellence: Leadership Lessons for Women in Tech Channels,” Aliotti will be joined by Amber Bardon of Parasol Alliance and Pamela Miranda of Triella for practical information and insights on succeeding in the tech channels. Pacing is the focus of “Operational Leadership: The Speed-Stability Paradox in the Age of Digital Transformation.” When is the need for speed outstripped by the need for time to develop a solid base? What’s the relationship between timing and ROI?
The first day of the Women’s Leadership Summit rounds out with the ACW’s “Unmasked” event. No need for disguises here. The focus is on discovering the leadership style that is most authentically you.
Immediately following ACWConnect Live! you can move to the Fontainebleau Glimmer Terrace for a mix and mingle meet-up. Reconnect with old friends and make new connections with members of Xposure Inclusion & Diversity Council. Find out how you can get involved in the work to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in the channel.
“Technology Advisor 101: The Best of the Best Unplugged & Unscripted” is a unique session that will allow collaborative discussion among leaders of agent and technology advisor organizations. Representing the best of the best, the TA 101, Channel Futures’ James Anderson, RISE Technology Advisors’ Eric Ludwig and IQ Wired’s Darcee Nelan will lead information and insight conversations and encourage attendees to share their questions, comments and concerns. Give and take at its best.
You say “MSP,” we say “Mentor” and the team from New Charter Technologies says “become a front-runner.” The four-part MSP Mentor Series kicks off with “Become a Front-Runner: Understanding the Paths to Business Efficiency,” in which Chris Luise explores the multiple elements involved in keep business operations well balanced and working in synch. Participants will get access to the Front-Runner Maturity Model assessment tool.
In “Become a Front-Runner: Understanding the Paths to Excellent Client Experience,” Mitch Morgan discloses the recipe for the secret sauce that is outstanding customer experiences. He’ll also be sharing his Front-Runner Maturity Model assessment tool.
Peter Melby will explore the myriad routes to business success in “Become a Front-Runner: Understanding the Many Paths to Growth.” He’ll provide insights on attaining and maintaining growth, as well as provide participants with access to the Front-Runner Maturity Model.
Luise, Morgan and Melby are joined by Len DiCostanzo of MSP Toolkit for “Become a Front-Runner: The Maturity Model Assessment Results.” MSP Mentor Series attendees who have completed the Front-Runner Maturity Model assessment tool they received will be able to see where they stand in terms of long-term sustainability.
While playing in the NFL as a wide receiver for the New York Jets and the Green Bay Packers, Eric Boles learned all about team dynamics and leadership. Today, as founder and CEO of The Game Changers, Boles supplements those lessons learned on the football field to provide expertise in talent development, change management and cultural transformation. During “Moving to Great” he will share techniques for increasing self-efficacy, improving self esteem and enhancing the ability to set and attain elevated goals.
Fittingly enough, you will be able to find the Expo Hall in the Fontainebleau’s Sparkle ballroom. Check out the assortment of gleaming booths and displays from more than 150 vendors. And be sure not to miss the Channel Futures Expo Happy Hour on Tuesday, Oct. 31, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. when the spirits will be out for Halloween. And free! There’s a Pub Crawl from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov 1, too!
Is the channel your vice? Are you wishing there was some place you could still wear your ‘80s wardrobe? Then Channel Futures has the party for you — our Miami Vice Party. You can network, nosh and make new connections. But no pet alligators, please.
Thanks to the event sponsors: Dell Technologies, OpenText, ThreatLocker, Verizon and VMware.
There’s no louder buzz right now than that surrounding artificial intelligence (AI). There are a number of Summit sessions on the topic, including “AI Isn’t Going to Destroy the World: It’s an Opportunity for Every Channel Partner.” Informa Tech’s Kelly Danziger and Bob DeMarzo will moderate a panel discussion on what AI can do (and can’t, like destroy the world). Avaya’s Omar Javaid, Vonage’s Vikram Khandpur and NVIDIA’s Michael Stys will address how AI in all its forms is impacting the channel and what channel partners should do to prepare themselves and their customers to enjoy the benefits of AI.
Any event about the new style of leadership must include a look at the new leaders. During “Meet the NextGen 101: Taking Innovation, Deliverables and Leadership to the Next Level,” Channel Futures’ Jeff O’Heir will moderate an interactive session with the leaders of four MSPs from the NextGen 101. Roman Golshteyn of The Computer Guy, Paco Lebron of ProdigyTeks, Chris Noles of Beyond Computer Services and David Payne of Plex IT will talk about the challenges they face, the strategies they employ and the new technologies and solutions they’re using.
As the old expression goes, leaders are made, not born. And in the channel, those leaders are made in the sales arena. Understandably, when outstanding salespeople make the move to sales leadership, there are pitfalls to avoid. Channel Futures’ James Anderson will lead a discussion of “How Agents Can Leap from Successful Selling to Sales Leadership.” Curt Allen of Blue Wave Technology Group, Mike Schmidtmann of Trans4mers and Bana Qashu Young of Avant Communications will take a look at what shifts in thinking are needed, how to mentor without manipulating and letting salespeople express their individuality.
Anything could happen during “The Future of the Channel: A One-on-One with Kaseya CEO Fred Voccola.” Channel Futures’ 2023 Influencer of the Year has never been afraid to speak his mind, and this session will be no different. Bob DeMarzo of Informa Tech and Jeff O’Heir of Channel Futures will sit down with Voccola for a no-holds-barred look at where he thinks the channel is headed.
Just as in the rest of the channel, technology service distributors (TSDs) are seeing their business models and value propositions evolve. And technology service advisors (TSAs), also known as agents, are trying to determine how all the changes among TSDs will impact them. So JS Group’s Meredith Caram will be asking “The Questions Every Agent Wants Their TSDs to Answer.” She’ll be directing her questions to the leaders of four competing TSDs: Emanuel Bertolin of AppDirect, Adam Edwards of Telarus, Drew Lydecker of Avant Communications and Kristy Thomas of Intelisys.
The crown jewel of the Channel Futures Leadership Summit is the MSP 501 Awards Gala. The 2023 MSP 501 and NextGen 101 will be honored and the winners of the MSP 501 Special Awards will be announced. A grand finale to a grand event.
A big shout-out to our sponsors: ThreatLocker, Ingram Micro, Pax8 and IT Complete.
The crown jewel of the Channel Futures Leadership Summit is the MSP 501 Awards Gala. The 2023 MSP 501 and NextGen 101 will be honored and the winners of the MSP 501 Special Awards will be announced. A grand finale to a grand event.
A big shout-out to our sponsors: ThreatLocker, Ingram Micro, Pax8 and IT Complete.
The Channel Futures Leadership Summit in Miami Beach kicks off on Monday, Oct. 30, at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. As usual, the entire Channel Futures team will be working up until the very last moment to make sure the event is jam-packed with the information, insights and education that partners from all corners of the channel ecosystem need. Not an easy task in an industry characterized by perpetual change.
The last 12 months in the channel have seen cyberattacks increase and remote working decrease. The economy wobbles, hiring challenges abound and product marketplaces expand, and channel leaders struggle to maintain growth and profitability. They grapple with issues ranging from M&A and marketing to recurring revenue and customer experience.
For Channel Futures, the biggest change of the past few months has been that Informa Tech, owner of the Channel Futures and Channel Partners Conference & Expo media brands, acquired research and events firm Canalys. Informa Tech was already home to research group Omdia, with a global team of 400 analysts and consultants having expertise in more than 200 markets. The addition of Canalys creates a one-stop shop for technology and communications providers looking to accelerate their growth rates, reach high-growth markets and implement innovative strategies to advance their businesses.
Having proprietary access to Canalys research enables Channel Futures and Channel Partners to increase the breadth and depth of their coverage. It will also help inform content on the website and at events.
Which brings us back to the Channel Futures Leadership Summit. It’s been quite a challenge to pack everything you said you wanted into a four-day event, but we think we somehow managed to do it — with plenty of time baked in for the all-important networking. More than 50 keynote sessions, Leadership Summit sessions, Women’s Leadership Summit sessions and MSP Summit sessions on topics ranging from AI to Zero Trust — we’ve got you covered.
See the slideshow above to see just some of the highlights of what’s waiting for you at the Fontainebleau.
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