This Valentine’s Day, The Channel’s Most Influential Chiefs Share A Few Of Their Favorite Things
Channel chiefs from AWS, Microsoft, Google and more share what they love about the channel ahead of Valentine’s Day.
Valentine’s Day is Friday, and this year, as a sort of Hallmark card to the channel, some of the industry’s most influential chiefs are sharing what they love most about their work.
Collaborations, relationship building and driving technological breakthroughs for customers are some of their favorite things, chiefs from Microsoft, Amazon Web Services and other tech giants shared with CRN.
The responses were gathered as part of CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs project. The complete list is available online at CRN.com and featured in the February 2025 issue of CRN magazine.
[RELATED: CRN’s 2025 Channel Chiefs]
2025 Channel Chiefs
Along with breaking down the most influential chiefs in the channel today, CRN has analyzed what some of the top chiefs see as the biggest challenges facing partners in 2025 and where chiefs think partners should invest in 2025.
Read on for more of what has some of the top channel chiefs feeling more connected to their partners than a strong Wi-Fi signal.
Ruba Borno
Amazon Web Services
VP, Worldwide Specialists, Partners
My favorite thing about working in the channel is the incredible opportunity to collaborate with innovative partners who are transforming industries and empowering customers around the world. I'm constantly inspired by how our partners leverage AWS technologies and solutions to solve complex challenges and create new possibilities. The pace of innovation and the global scale of impact we can achieve together is truly something that inspires me daily.
Craig Weinstein
Nvidia
VP, America's Partner Organization
I love helping partners. Full stop. It's that simple. I truly believe we can help partners build capabilities that will build the foundation of their businesses for decades to come. The people. We're surrounded by such talented and inspiring leaders across the channel and they bring such passion and importance to the collaborative work we do together. I wake up every day thinking who can we help today!
Julie Sanford
Microsoft
VP, Partner GTM, Programs, Operations
My favorite thing about working in the channel is the scale. It is an operation; it is a programmatic way to deliver value to millions of partners and customers around the world. I like that they're always reinventing themselves.
Denise Millard
Dell Technologies
Chief Partner Officer
Working in the channel, we leverage relationships daily. The power of relationships, collaboration, and partnership are all critical. It's about people and I'm passionate about how we're impacting others through the work we do. This is what makes the job so enjoyable and fulfilling.
Rodney Clark
Cisco
SVP, Partnerships, SMB
The partner ecosystem embodies the power of collective impact. Every day, I witness partners transforming our technology into customer breakthroughs. This multiplier effect - where partner innovation meets customer outcomes - isn't just business strategy, it's how technology truly changes industries and improves lives.
Jesse Chavez
Hewlett Packard Enterprise
VP, Worldwide Partner Program, Operations
I have a passion for the channel and our partners. I enjoy helping our partners overcome challenges, and they learn to trust you and are very loyal when you are honest and transparent with them. There is diversity in the skill sets of people you meet, and you can influence people who are not employees.
Kevin Ichhpurani
Google Cloud
President, Global Partner Organization
What I love most about working in the channel is: 1. The fast pace of innovation: The channel is constantly evolving, with new technologies and solutions emerging all the time. This creates a dynamic and exciting environment where I'm always learning and growing. 2. The opportunity to build new business models and differentiated partnerships: The channel provides a platform for collaboration and co-creation. I enjoy working with partners to develop innovative solutions that address customer needs and drive mutual success.
Kobi Elbaz
HP Inc.
SVP & GM, Global Revenue Operations
As a channel executive, my favorite thing about working in the channel is the incredible sense of collaboration and teamwork. Facing new challenges together with our partners allows us to innovate and grow in ways that wouldn't be possible alone. HP has a long history of trust from our partners, and we continue to uphold it, which is immensely gratifying. It's immensely rewarding to see the tangible results of our collective efforts, whether it's launching a new program or overcoming a complex problem. The shared journey of tackling obstacles and celebrating successes fosters a strong sense of community and mutual respect, making every achievement even more meaningful.
Kendra Krause
Sophos
SVP, Global Channels
The collaborative spirit within the channel, where collective efforts drive innovation, solve complex challenges, and create meaningful impacts for partners and customers alike. This creates a powerful sense of community - a network of dedicated professionals all working together toward shared goals and outcomes.
Anthony Torsiello
Zscaler
SVP, Worldwide Partners, Alliances
My favorite thing about working in the channel is the people I've met throughout the year and the relationships that have been built. Many of these relationships have gone long past just the business and working together, and may have turned into some of the greatest friends I've had.
