Over the past twelve days, Bridge Partners and Channelscaler shared quick, practical “gifts” from executive leaders—small moves that create outsized impact. From sharpening focus to scaling with AI (without losing the human), each entry is built for real work: cleaner decisions, faster execution, stronger teams. If you missed a day, this wrap pulls it all together so you can grab what you need and carry it into the new year.
Dai Vu, Managing Director, Cloud Marketplace — Google Cloud
"Velocity requires direction, not just speed. Leadership...matters. Never trade high-impact strategy for low-value busyness."
Laura Evans, Head of Global MDF Program, Strategy & Incentives — Zoom
"Supercharge your workflow with Zoom Docs' AI capabilities! I seamlessly blend content from emails, meeting transcripts, and presentations to create polished documents in record time. This powerful approach not only boosts my productivity but also unleashes creative potential while maintaining consistent messaging across all my communications."
Lisa Anderson, Global Partner Director — Searchlight Cyber
"Google AI has helped my team to shape professional emails. Using it as a regular checkpoint, we are coming across with stronger and more productive messaging, reducing those embarrassing errors as well. We are also able to create similar branding together in our messaging."
DAY 04 — WISDOM
Penny Byron, Head of Partner Ecosystem and GTM — Bridge Partners
"So many projects land with urgency but little clarity. It’s tempting to jump in—only to later realize the request wasn’t fully thought through or solving the real problem. One of the most powerful leadership habits I’ve learned is to pause and ask for clarity. My go-to framework is three quick questions:
- What business need are we solving for?
- How will we solve it?
- How will we measure success?
These simple questions transform ambiguity into meaningful, aligned outcomes. Wisdom isn’t knowing what to do—it’s knowing what to ask.
Always start with business need. If you don't know what the problem is, how are you going to solve it?"
Claire Green, Sr. Marketing Manager, International — Absolute Software
"In developing a gamified partner program, #AbsoluteLegends, I utilized team members involved in the delivery of this pan-EMEA program with a clear goal of building close relationships with our partners, showing personality and standing out in a noisy ecosystem. The program was short-listed for 2 CRN awards, and partner feedback has been fantastic, noting that it delivers the essential training in a totally different and engaging format."
Meaghan Moore, Vice President, Global Partner Marketing — ServiceNow
"My gift is honest, heart-led leadership. I have learned that teams do their best work when they feel challenged and genuinely cared for. My commitment is to lead with clarity, candor, and compassion. I say the real thing, I set direction, and I stay invested in the people behind the work.
Mentorship starts with showing up authentically. When we do that, we create the trust and confidence that allow others to grow in powerful ways."
Natalia Vianden, Senior Director – Global Programs & Strategic Partner Initiatives — Extreme Networks
“Growth begins the moment you step beyond your comfort zone. This was the message in my fortune cookie after leaving Extreme Academy Live, and I loved it. A perfect reminder that pushing ourselves, even just a little, is often where the real growth begins.”
Kenneth Fox, CTO & Founder — Channelscaler
"In 20+ years working in the channel, I have never come across an overstaffed channel team, with many small teams incredibly under-resourced while juggling complex problems. This is precisely why AI is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Strategically leveraging AI in our Channelscaler platform, frees up these talented, lean teams to focus on high-value strategic work, like supporting partners and driving growth."
Amy Bray, Global Head, Partner Demand Center — Google Cloud
"I believe the human connection drives impactful work. Be yourself and build relationships as the start of amazing work."
Alli Oneal, Principal, Global Partner Programs & Partner Experience — Barracuda
"When it comes to building and introducing new partner programs, I am a huge proponent of simple is better. Our partners work with so many vendors and so many programs that is HAS to be simple for their teams to understand how to successfully engage with and grow their business from your program. Whether it be incentives, enablement, or something else, focus on building programs that are easy to use and understand. Building complex is easy. Building simple is hard, but well worth it."
Balaji Subramanian, Chief Partner Officer — Channelscaler
"Over the years, one important thing I've learned is that really good partner ecosystems aren't accidental - they are intentional. I've learned that the strongest partnerships happen when each party brings a distinct capability that fills a gap or extends each other's capabilities. Whether it's AI for partner marketing automation, co-sell intelligence that accelerates revenue, payment automation that makes it easy to do business, or really thoughtful strategic insight, the goal is simple: make it easier for partners to succeed with you. That's how ecosystems become engines of growth."
Tania Fernández de Castro, Managing Director — Bridge Partners
"A lesson I’ve embraced this year: AI can accelerate our work, but people elevate it. The magic happens when technology gives us time back to focus on the human moments that build trust and spark creativity. The real opportunity ahead is learning how to let AI amplify our impact, not replace our connection."