You, Me and I.T.

In this episode of You, Me and I.T., Karlton Gray sits down with Christine Horton, technology journalist and editor, for a warm, candid, and deeply human conversation about resilience, journalism, confidence, identity, and what it means to build a career in and around the IT channel on your own terms. Christine reflects on her working-class upbringing, losing her father as a teenager, and becoming...

In this episode of the podcast, Karlton sits down with Ian Kilpatrick, Co-Founder and Chair at Tech Channel Ambassadors, for a thoughtful and deeply personal conversation about resilience, opportunity, inclusion, and why the IT channel needs to do far more to open its doors to the next generation. Ian reflects on his upbringing, the challenges he faced at school and at home, and the unconventional...

In this episode of You, Me and I.T., Karlton Gray sits down with Dr. Colin Williams, Business CTO for Security at Computacenter, for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about resilience, identity, leadership, and what it means to build a legacy in the IT channel. Colin reflects on growing up in North London, the challenges of standing out as both gifted and different at school, and the per...

In the first episode of the new season, Karlton Gray sits down with James Hardy, Chief Commercial Officer at Advania UK, for an honest conversation about leadership, resilience, growth, and building teams that actually make a difference. James reflects on his upbringing in Yorkshire, the early loss of his father, and the life lessons that shaped his outlook on work, ambition, and responsibility. F...

In the final episode of Season 1, Karlton welcomes someone he describes as a "maverick" in the IT Channel - Andrew Dickens, Director of Product Management at Misco. Andrew takes Karlton through his upbringing and education, and how that shaped his first steps when looking for a career - including undertaking three degrees at university - and how he ultimately ended up working in the Channel (with...

In the penultimate episode of Season 1, Karlton sits down with SCC's General Manager Distribution and Vendor Relationships, Chris Leng. Having only met Chris on a handful of occasions prior to the podcast, Karlton was keen to dive into Chris' past, including a 'previous life' in the UK's first manufactured boyband, Upside Down, before making his way into the IT Channel after the band hung up their...

Karlton's next guest in the studio is good friend and Paris marathon running-mate Steve Heyd-Smith, Managing Director at Integrated Tech. Steve talks Karlton through his childhood, living on the Bedfordshire/Northamptonshire border, and how he and school weren't necessarily the perfect pairing. Looking back on his career, Steve reflects on how he got started in the IT Channel, the various roles he...

Karlton welcomes Louise McCrystal, Vendor Alliance Manager at Insight, into the studio for the latest episode of the podcast.   Louise takes a look back over her extensive career within the Channel, and recalls memories of how her and Karlton first met (at an airport before a work retreat to Norway, of course!)   Looking at life on a personal level, Louise reflects on some of the more difficult ti...

In the latest episode of the podcast, Karlton welcomes a key figure to his development within his role with Schneider Electric; Justin Ellis, Managing Director at Comms Express. Justin talks about his Essex upbringing, and the various jobs he went through (including a stint at V Festival, meeting some of his music idols) before being asked by friends to be involved in the very early stages of a ne...

We're halfway through the first season of the podcast, and Karlton's next guest is someone with over 20 years in the industry - Anna Renaud, Head of Vendor Alliance at Storm Technologies. Anna walks Karlton through the stages of her life; childhood, then education, before reflecting on her first roles in the Channel, and what her job role entails today. Acknowledging that she's a louder individual...

The next guest into the studio, John Bourne, General Sales Manager at Exertis, is someone Karlton has seen grow within the Channel, and whose drive and determination he admires. John tells Karlton about his "unique childhood" - including how he never stayed in one place for more than a couple of years, with his parents taking him across Africa to countries including Ghana and Rwanda. The pair also...

The latest episode of the podcast is a full-circle moment for Karlton, as he welcomes mentor and friend Scott Norman, Sales Director at Holdan Limited (part of the Midwich Group). Scott shares stories of growing up working in the family fish and chip shop before making the move to the IT Channel, and what it means to him to lead a team. The pair reminisce on Karlton's first steps in the industry,...

In this episode of You, Me and I.T., Karlton is joined by Hannah Billington, Head of BPS Channel Sales at HP. Hannah tells Karlton about her roots, and how she's gone from being a musical theatre student to a well-known and respected leader in the Channel. The pair discuss how and where they first met, the perception and challenges of working while being a parent, and the legacy Hannah wants to le...

In the opening episode of You, Me and I.T., Karlton sits down with John Gladstone, Sustainability Lead at Softcat. The pair discuss John's upbringing in a Warwickshire village, and his route into the IT sector - including a stint working on the World Rally circuit! Karlton gets John to reflect on his challenges and achievements, as how he thinks he's perceived by colleagues, and, ultimately, himse...

In this brand-new podcast, Karlton Gray, IT Channel Director UK&I at Schneider Electric, goes in-depth with UK IT Channel leaders; learning about their career path, upbringing, and what legacy they'd like to leave behind. Join Karlton weekly as we take a peek behind the title for an insight into the lives of those within one of the UK's most prominent industries. Subscribe now!