Something my daddy told me (well, actually most of the sales people I have ever worked with) is that you should always know the people you work with or rely on in some way.  Nicola is one of those people that if you get the action pack, carry the SBSC badge or use the MS Partner site has a hand in your interaction with Microsoft.  There are obviously other people, like Alex and Aileen who work on the site and own the SBSC programme, but Nicola used to work in a small business, so reading about her is never a bad thing!  Below is just an extract - read the whole thing on the Partner Perspectives blog.

ttfn

David

Introducing the Microsoft Partner Programme (MSPP) Manager...Miss Young

Nicola Young has been almost 3 months in role. She sits opposite me so I know her rather well - that's a good thing! She's a great person. So let me introduce you to her. Some words from the lady herself...

You've been 3 months in your role as MSPP Manager. How's it going?
I'm really enjoying the new role, my head is spinning to lots of new ideas plus as well as handling partner questions I'm also the point of contact within Microsoft UK to supply the business with intelligence on our channel. I'm making lots of use of pivot tables in Office 07 and my hairdresser is loving the extra money I'm having to spend to cover up all that extra grey hair!

What will partners see changing now that you've arrived?!
I hope so! One of my main aims for the programme is to add the relationship back in by going back to basics and making sure we talk to partners at the right time about the right topic.

You know what it's like for our partners having worked for a partner yourself. What do you think we should focus on to make life easier for partners?
I think partner engagement is one of the most important things we can focus on. At my old company we use to call ourselves the sizzle in the frying pan - we were such a small part of CRM deals that we had to shout very loud to be heard. My main frustration with the vendors we worked with was a lack of local engagement, we put so much effort and money into ensuring our software passed certifications that when a vendor pushed our efforts under the carpet it was extremely frustrating. It was also very unclear where to get answer to questions to. Last year I looked after the registered partner base and I worked closely with our tele-account management team to reach out to Registered partners who were working towards certified partner status. It might just be a phone call but the recognition that you are working your socks off (and in my case justifying to the board why you were spending so much money on joining partner programmes) means a lot. I've also done a lot of work with our call centre in Kingston upon Thames - Ask Partner. They need to know so much about Microsoft and our licensing to answer partner questions and I've spent a lot of time over the last year making sure they have all the information they need and are kept update to date on all the latest activities. The team are also so passionate about partners that they beat my up about the programme and what we need to change!

You used to work at a small company and cash is king. What do you think is king at Microsoft?
Cash in one of those strange things in a smaller company - it can give you freedom or it can incarcerate you - when you don't have it nothing else matters apart from cutting costs and closing sales - but when you do have it gives you so much freedom to invest in growth or innovate how you do things. I've worked in companies at both ends of the spectrum! Nothing at Microsoft is so dominant but I think we are very unique in that. As an individual at Microsoft your personal network is king. It's such a large company and it' impossible to know everything which is why knowing the right people is so key. If you know who can help answer your question or get you the information you need life is so much easier - if you don't know who to contact it can take days tracking down the right person!

Source: Partner Perspectives : Introducing the Microsoft Partner Programme (MSPP) Manager...Miss Young