Anne McClelland ─ builder of next generation partner ecosystem models for consumption offerings…
April 14, 2021 • 3 Minute Read
Anne McClelland
Vice President, XaaS Channel Optimization Research
TSIA
Are you looking for a leader with extensive experience in building new partner motions for consumption models? We know the person—Anne McClelland!
Anne McClelland is the Vice President of XaaS channel optimization research for Technology & Services Industry Association (TSIA). Prior to TSIA, she held a number of global partner and channels executive roles at technology companies. Outside of work, she loves to read, get together with friends, family and play with her “COVID puppy”.
Please meet this IT Wondrous Woman, Anne McClelland!
Our 10 Questions for this IT Wondrous Woman.
Fun Facts
1. What’s the one thing about you that your business colleagues don’t know about you?
I am a singer. I played many roles in musicals and was a choral singer and soloist. I have directed various choirs, including the Red Hat Chorale. Click here to check it out.
2. Before the pandemic, how many air miles/KMs did you flying annually?
Prior to joining the TSIA, I flew around 60K to 70K/year: every six weeks from Raleigh to London, plus lots of domestic travel and an occasional Asia trip.
3. What is the most adventurous food you have eaten and what city/location did you eat it?
Peking Duck feet and the heart in Beijing and crispy, deep fried shrimp, complete with heads and tails and legs in Nanjing, China.
Your Career
4. What are the top two experiences, achievements or failures that shaped your journey as a successful leader?
Top two experiences that shaped my journey as a successful leader were:
While on special assignment to Steve Ward (former SVP of IBM Personal Systems Group), I led a series of workshops that delivered tangible outcomes which were later used by Steve to raise the Think brand valuation and paved the way for the sale of the IBM PC Company to Lenovo.
I led a cross-functional team for Steve Ballmer (Microsoft) to understand how “this software as a service thing” really worked and helped Microsoft leadership understand how SaaS was “rocking their world”.
5. Did you have a mentor in the early part of your career and, if so, what is the biggest lesson you learned from your mentor or influencer?
My mentor was the late Brian Scott (IBM & Microsoft), who helped me land the role of head of global distribution channels for a division at IBM. He taught me to pick my battles, and make sure that if I was going to go to the “mat” over some issue, it was over the right issue that was most important.
Walking In Your Shoes
6. What is one piece of business or career advice you would give to your younger self?
Believe in yourself as a young leader and follow your intuition. Do not let the fact that you are young keep you from advancing your ideas.
7. As a leader, how do you remain a resource for people early in their careers?
I sit on the Board of Trustees of my Alma Mater, and I teach a class there when I am able. At TSIA, I try to encourage the young people and listen to their ideas of how we can work together on customer solutions.
Today’s Business Environment
8. What is the most interesting project you have worked on in the last few years?
At Blue Prism, I led the business team in the roll out of our marketplace. I worked across the entire company, presenting status to the Board and Senior Leadership Team to deliver this web property. I learned so much while being the voice of the partner in this massive cross-functional team effort.
9. What skills are you currently developing or refining (in yourself) that will make you a more successful leader in the digital economy?
I am developing “podcast skills”. I am a total newbie to the podcast scene.
10. What is your greatest business challenge today?
Finding solid examples of hardware companies who have successfully completed a partner ecosystem transformation from a traditional, transactional hardware model to a cloud-delivered, subscription, consumption hardware model.
