TubbTalk: Wired for Connection

Tubblog: Lenka Koppova and Vera Tucci

TubbTalk: Wired for Connection is a women-led spinoff of TubbTalk: The Podcast for Managed Service Providers. Wired for Connection was created to amplify the diverse, underrepresented voices shaping the IT & MSP industry. Unlike traditional MSP podcasts focused on tools and tactics, we dive into the real, human stories of those redefining leadership in tech.

Episodes

  1. [11] Wired for Connection: Equality, Diversity and Strong Leadership for Successful Modern MSPs

    26/09/2025

    [11] Wired for Connection: Equality, Diversity and Strong Leadership for Successful Modern MSPs

    In this episode, Vera and Lenka are joined by Ben Spector. He’s Head of Solutions at Zomentum, he leads partnerships at inforcer, and he also co-chairs the GTIA UK and Ireland DEI interest group.  He also has experience as a former MSP owner turned SaaS consultant. Ben is very passionate about building inclusive spaces in the tech industry and supporting underrepresented voices, especially through community-led initiatives.  Ben shares what it means to be part of the MSP community, how he got into the industry and how his role has changed. He also shares his own take on DEI initiatives and why they matter more than ever. Ben explains why it’s important to acknowledge your own shortcomings, why we need to help people to tell their own experiences and the challenges of growing an MSP on your own.  Vera asks what Ben loves about the industry, what he would change about it and a key piece of advice he’d like to share with modern MSPs. Mentioned in This Episode In this episode, Vera and Lenka are joined by Ben Spector. He’s Head of Solutions at Zomentum, he leads partnerships at inforcer, and he also co-chairs the GTIA UK and Ireland DEI interest group.  He also has experience as a former MSP owner turned SaaS consultant. Ben is very passionate about building inclusive spaces in the tech industry and supporting underrepresented voices, especially through community-led initiatives.  Ben shares what it means to be part of the MSP community, how he got into the industry and how his role has changed. He also shares his own take on DEI initiatives and why they matter more than ever. Ben explains why it’s important to acknowledge your own shortcomings, why we need to help people to tell their own experiences and the challenges of growing an MSP on your own.  Vera asks what Ben loves about the industry, what he would change about it and a key piece of advice he’d like to share with modern MSPs. In this episode, Vera and Lenka are joined by Ben Spector. He’s Head of Solutions at Zomentum, he leads partnerships at inforcer, and he also co-chairs the GTIA UK and Ireland DEI interest group.  He also has experience as a former MSP owner turned SaaS consultant. Ben is very passionate about building inclusive spaces in the tech industry and supporting underrepresented voices, especially through community-led initiatives.  Ben shares what it means to be part of the MSP community, how he got into the industry and how his role has changed. He also shares his own take on DEI initiatives and why they matter more than ever. Ben explains why it’s important to acknowledge your own shortcomings, why we need to help people to tell their own experiences and the challenges of growing an MSP on your own.  Vera asks what Ben loves about the industry, what he would change about it and a key piece of advice he’d like to share with modern MSPs. Mentioned in This Episode ZomentumMSP community: GTIA

    54 min
  2. [7] Wired for Connection: Empathy and Sounding Boards: How to Deliver Partner Care

    10/09/2025

    [7] Wired for Connection: Empathy and Sounding Boards: How to Deliver Partner Care

    In this episode, Vera and Lenka are joined by Jessica Holmes. She’s the Senior Manager of Partner Care at ConnectWise. She leads a global team dedicated to turning complex partner challenges into solutions - and with nearly a decade in the MSP world, she knows what it takes to support people through the tough stuff and help them thrive. Her own career path took a big turn when a leader saw her potential and encouraged her to step into something new - a reminder of just how powerful it can be when someone believes in you. But Jessica’s story doesn’t stop at tech. She helps run a UK-registered dog rescue charity and also volunteers with a therapy dog organisation - work that keeps her grounded in compassion and reminds her daily of the importance of care, whether for people or pets. Jessica shares her journey into the tech industry before going into specifics about her work in partner care. She talks about how she de-escalates difficult situations and how often she’s a sounding board for people. She tells Lenka and Vera why she thinks we all need empathy training and why keynote speakers should use more positive reinforcement in their talks. She shares who’s in her support group and how she deals with frustrations. Vera asks Jessica to share her best and worst days in business, one things she’d change about the industry and what she loves about it. Mentioned in This Episode ConnectWiseMSP Community: The IT Nation

    57 min
  3. [6] Wired for Connection: Empowering MSP Teams to Deliver Better Customer Services

    20/07/2025

    [6] Wired for Connection: Empowering MSP Teams to Deliver Better Customer Services

    In this episode of Wired for Connection, Lenka and Vera are joined by Michelle Coombs. With 25+ years of experience, Michelle specialises in transforming IT operations and service delivery for MSPs and internal IT teams. Her expertise combines business performance management, IT service  management, and leadership development. She focuses on helping MSPs move from "in the business" to "on the business" thinking while addressing operational costs and customer satisfaction challenges. Her mission to eliminate "Wild West Service Desks" and create streamlined Service Control Centres demonstrates her strategic approach to operational transformation.  She shares how she got started in the tech space, a fun fact about herself and her biggest piece of advice for MSPs, as well as how her experiences in the industry helped her to develop a coaching mindset. Michelle talks about problem-solving as a manager, how to support your teams to make their own decisions and how to help them with career progression. She also talks about the importance of peer support for MSP leaders. Vera asks Michelle her thoughts on how recruitment and training of staff has evolved over the years, how to help a team to overcome problems and how to ensure they’re all following the same procedure when it comes to helpdesk support. Michelle also shares her thoughts on business bottlenecks, how to give better customer service and why even a tech-driven industry needs to consider the human touch more. Finally, Vera asks Michelle about a career high and a career low, one thing she loves about the industry and one thing she’d change if she could. Mentioned in This Episode Visit the Tech Leader websiteVisit the Oprising websiteSMB IT Expert: Robert CioffiMSP peer group: GTIAMSP peer group: The Tech Tribe

    58 min
  4. [2] Wired for Connection: Tips and Advice From a Trailblazing Woman in Tech

    04/05/2025

    [2] Wired for Connection: Tips and Advice From a Trailblazing Woman in Tech

    In this episode of Wired for Connection, Vera and Lenka talk to Amanda Stewart. She’s the managing director and CTO of Illuminate, an Edinburgh-based MSP with a big heart and even bigger mission. Amanda is also a trailblazer in encouraging young women into tech and she recently became chair of the Advancing Women in IT group of GTIA. Amanda shares her journey in the tech space and some of the early challenges she faced as a woman in IT. She discusses peer groups, the managers who inspired her and the ones who taught her what not to do. Lenka and Vera ask Amanda to share one challenge and one success as a business owner, how to manage stress and the benefits of being part of a peer group, as well as finding mentors as you progress. Amanda gives her tips on how to manage stress and why she thinks women struggle to value their own skills and experience. She shares the best part about working in IT and the one thing she’d change in the industry. As someone passionate about encouraging young women into tech, Amanda has some advice on how parents and MSP owners can do that, and fun ways to get younger children to engage with STEM subjects too. Mentioned in This Episode Illuminate ITEnvironmental business certification: BCorpMSP community group: GTIA (formerly CompTIA)Senior Director, Regional Groups at GTIA: Estelle JohannesBook: Caroline Criado-Perez: Invisible Women: the Sunday Times number one bestseller exposing the gender bias women face every dayBook series: Rebel Girls Dream Big Box SetVolunteer mentors: STEM Ambassadors

    55 min

About

TubbTalk: Wired for Connection is a women-led spinoff of TubbTalk: The Podcast for Managed Service Providers. Wired for Connection was created to amplify the diverse, underrepresented voices shaping the IT & MSP industry. Unlike traditional MSP podcasts focused on tools and tactics, we dive into the real, human stories of those redefining leadership in tech.