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 the first in her family to go to university. She shares how a long-held ambition to become a journalist eventually led her into technology publishing, despite having no intention of working in tech at all. From early roles covering telecoms and mobile, to editing channel publications and later building a successful freelance career, Christine talks openly about the twists, setbacks, and moments of reinvention that shaped her path.The conversation also explores confidence, redundancy, life perspective, friendship, kindness, and the realities of being a woman in a male-dominated industry. Alongside her career story is a wider reflection on legacy, what success really looks like, and why being a good person matters more than titles or possessions.

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 path that led him into work and eventually into the IT channel. From leaving school early and experiencing homelessness, to building a career across finance, industry, entrepreneurship, and distribution, he shares the people, risks, and moments that helped shape his outlook on leadership and life.The conversation also explores Ian’s passion for social mobility, diversity, and creating better access into the industry. He explains why so many young people still don’t see the IT channel as a career option, why the sector needs a clearer long-term strategy, and how Tech Channel Ambassadors is working to connect industry professionals with schools to inspire future talent.

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 personal loss and hardship that shaped his outlook from a young age. He shares how those early experiences influenced the person and leader he became, from walking away from home as a teenager to finding his path in the earliest days of the IT industry.The conversation also explores Colin’s remarkable journey through the evolution of technology, from mainframes and punch cards to the rise of PCs, networking, cybersecurity, and AI. Alongside that career story is a bigger message about fairness, opportunity, mentorship, and why opening doors for others matters just as much as personal success.

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. From falling into the IT channel in his early career to helping build and scale high-performing teams at CCS Media, he shares the experiences, mentors, and defining moments that helped shape his leadership style.The conversation also explores what it really takes to grow a business organically, why culture is built through action rather than slogans, and how James approached major transformation projects across his career. He also talks through the move into Advania UK, the strategic fit behind the business, and why people, purpose, and progress still sit at the heart of everything he does.

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 his current role being down to Karlton's advocacy... according to Karlton!) Karlton recalls the first time he met Andrew, and how their work and personal relationships grew over time. The pair discuss some of the influential figures they've both crossed paths within their time, and how they see certain attributes rub off on others around them. Andrew reflects on what's motivated him in his career, and how his family and competitive nature keep driving him forward at each step, before being put on the spot to come up with words he would use to describe himself personally and professionally, as well as the words colleagues would use to describe him. Karlton talks Andrew through the reaction from those around him when he got his cancer diagnosis, and how the closeness of the sector shone through during his toughest challenge to date. The pair then ponder what legacy they each might leave behind, and how ultimately family is at the heart of everything they do.

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 mics. Chris reflects on his learnings from his first career, and how they allowed him to enter his new career with confidence - ultimately helping him find what he believes his true calling in life to be. The pair discuss the nature of the IT Channel when it comes to relationships and travel, before looking into what it means to be happy and kind - two words that are at the heart of everything that both Chris and Karlton do. Chris contemplates what his legacy may be, looking back on times when he's had a chance to lead and advise as a mentor, and the impact he hopes he's made on those around him.

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 took on, and how he ultimately came to create Integrated Tech - including the technicalities, intricacies and difficulties of setting up and running a new business. The pair reminisce on taking part in the Schneider Electric Paris Marathon together, and how Steve motivates himself through running (not as regularly as he'd hope, though!) Karlton gets Steve to reflect on himself personally and professionally, coming up with three words he'd use to describe himself, before finding out what legacy he'd like to leave behind.

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 times in her life, including the terminal cancer diagnosis of her fiancé, and how her loved ones, colleagues, and the wider Channel rallied together to support her through her toughest period.   Karlton asks Louise to come up with three words other would use to describe her on a personal and professional level, before asking her the big question - what does Louise want her legacy to be?

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 new business venture - Comms Express. Having made his way up the chain to become Managing Director, Justin reflects on the working environment he encourages within the business, the quality of those he employs, and the odd-jobs he's found himself doing over the years - including knocking down walls and cleaning the loos!

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, Anna talks Karlton through why she thinks she's the person she is today, before the pair share their ways of dealing with conflict and the habits they have in common. Anna and Karlton reflect on their home lives, the importance of limiting stress in the workplace, and finally what Anna would like to leave as her legacy.