Ben Spector is 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.

An Interview With Ben SpectorWhat it Means to be Part of the MSP Community

Ben explains that he has a personal reason for being heavily involved in the MSP community – because it’s an industry that underpins so many other businesses. “MSPs drove the growth of early technology in SMBs.

“And now we’re delivering business transformation through leveraging AI within those clients’ businesses. I think MSPs are always at the forefront of what small businesses are doing, but crucially also what those SMBs need to do to stay relevant and operational.

“If we look at the community aspect in particular, I’m from the LGBTQ community, which I feel is bit underrepresented within the MSP space. I want inclusive spaces where people’s voices are heard and they feel comfortable. I want to show up and be a friendly, supportive face for people who may need it.”

Ben’s Take on Diversity and Equality Initiatives

It’s an unfortunate reality that in many organisations the DEI programmes are being scaled back. For smaller companies, they don’t even have funding, Ben says, and anything they do to promote DEI comes from leaders taking the initiative.

“I think that when a leader cares about DEI they’ll do whatever they can to prioritise it – they won’t scale back or cut funding for those programmes. Most of the people I work with are at the smaller end of the market, and they’re working hard to support DEI. Often they have personal experience, which is why it matters to them.

“So I’d like some of those SMB owners being given opportunities to engage with people who have lived experience of discrimination or being excluded. That’s why I want to be a face within the community so people feel comfortable with sharing those stories. That’s how we drive change.”

Helping People to Tell Their Stories

We often struggle to see things from other people’s point of view, which makes us less tolerant or empathetic than we could be. Ben has learned from therapy to be more curious about other people as a way to understand what they’re going through and what’s on their mind.

“That advice was given to me about a personal situation, but it applies in business too. It helps you to reframe how you feel about the interactions you have with someone, and it can improve relationships. Especially for leaders, we need to be curious about the people we work with, especially where diversity is concerned.

“We need to ask people how they feel and what’s going on in their lives. But rather than putting pressure on them to speak up and tell their stories, we should look for ways to pull it out over time. We need to be mindful of the fact that everyone has different requirements to feel comfortable at work.”

What Ben Would Change About the IT Industry

Ben says the one thing he would change in the IT industry is around inclusion and making the space more welcoming. “It’s a very male, pale and sale environment. Even though that sounds like a sweeping generalisation, I think it’s true. We need more diversity.

“If I could wave a wand and change things suddenly overnight, I would absolutely love to. What I love about the community is the collaborative element. People are quite honest about being incompetent in some things. And they can ask for help and get support.

“There are so many people willing to help in all sorts of ways, whether it’s business growth, challenges, personal challenges, technical challenges. It’s a very collaborative, supportive environment. But I would love to see more diversity of perspective and voices within it.”

One Thing he Loves About the Industry

Ben says: “MSPs are uniquely positioned in that they are one of the few services that all businesses need and they have the ability to truly transform the way their clients do business. We need to deliver true business transformation through AI, and very few people have the ability to do it.

“The thing that’s most exciting about the MSP world is the ability to make quite big changes very fast for clients and truly deliver value and growth. Accountants and lawyers can’t say that they do that. They’re mostly fixing the past.

“But MSPs, on the other hand, do genuinely get to shape the future for their clients. And if they do a good job of it, it’s going to be a great future. Equally, if they do a poor job of it, it’s going to be a difficult future. And that’s a lot of responsibility for us.”

One Key Piece of Advice

Ben’s biggest piece of advice builds on his earlier comments about the importance of being curious about other people’s experiences. “We can all be so much better if we do that. And it doesn’t matter whether it’s personal or professional; just ask really simple questions.

“By asking how something makes people feel and the impact it has on them, you’ll learn so much. Frame the questions around the other person and just be curious. It’ll make you a better person and a better leader.

“Of course, you won’t be able to fix everything. You have to accept that and you shouldn’t try to, because a lot of the time that’s not what people want from you. They want your support and to feel heard. So take what you hear and think about what you can do to make their lives better.”

How to Connect With Ben SpectorZomentuminforcerVisit Ben’s websiteLike Ben on FacebookFollow Ben on XConnect with Ben on LinkedInHow to Connect With Lenka and VeraSubscribe to the Wired for Connection RSS FeedFollow @tubblog_msp on InstagramConnect with Lenka on LinkedInVisit Vera’s website: T-ConsultingFollow T-Consulting on LinkedInFollow T-Consulting on FacebookFollow T-Consulting on TwitterConnect with Vera on LinkedInMentioned in This EpisodeMSP community: GTIAYou Might Also be Interested inPodcast: How to Accelerate Your MSP Sales for Business GrowthInvest in Mental Health for a Happy MSP TeamSchedule Thinking Time for MSP Business Growth