Episode 101

full
Published on:

12th Dec 2021

[101] How to Build and Grow a Thriving MSP as a One-Woman-Band

In this episode, Richard is joined by Diana Giles. Diana is the president and owner of Skyline IT Management. She’s also the founder of sensible cyber parenting, a free resource website to help parents protect their children online.

She talks about her journey from teacher to owner of an IT company, the challenges of being a one-man-band and how she spots clients who won’t be a good fit.

Diana tells Richard about the tools she uses in her business and why having an RMM, a PSA and an outsourced helpdesk make things run smoothly. She also talks about her relationship with Microsoft as an MSP.

She talks openly about the challenges of running an MSP and being a mother and a business owner. Plus, she explains how her experiences of keeping her kids safe online led to her founding the Sensible Cyber Parenting website.

Diana also shares what it’s like being a woman in a male-dominated industry and her advice for women wanting to join it, the importance of authenticity, and how those in the MSP industry can encourage more young people into tech.

Mentioned in This Episode

Mentioned in this episode:

Get MSP Insights every Tuesday

Every Tuesday I share my thoughts on the business of IT with you, the Managed Services community. Thousands of Managed Service Providers already subscribe to MSP Insights. It’s easy to sign up, easy to cancel. MSP Insights is basically a short email from me, every Tuesday without fail, with advice on growing your IT business, plus cool resources I’ve found, discovered or starting exploring that week. It’s kind of like my diary of cool things, and often includes articles or books I’ve read, tools I’ve discovered, and events I think you’d be interested in, often sent to me by my friends and TubbTalk podcast guests. So, if that sounds fun, a short, tiny bite of MSP goodness every Tuesday, and you’d like to try it out, just go to https://go.tubb.co/tuesday, drop in your email and you’ll get the very next one.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for TubbTalk: The Podcast for Managed Service Providers

About the Podcast

TubbTalk: The Podcast for Managed Service Providers
Putting Managed Service Providers back in control!
Richard Tubb has been a leader and keynote speaker in the MSP community for the last two decades. At the helm of media company and MSP advisory business Tubblog, Richard loves to showcase tech companies disrupting the industry, as well as shining a light on new tools you might not be aware of.

His long-running and successful interview-style show, TubbTalk, features fireside style chats with the CEOs and CTOs of these businesses, to dig deep into how they got started in the industry, what inspired them to start something new and what their advice would be to anyone who wants to do the same.

But it's not all tech focused! As a former MSP owner himself, Richard knows that there are many facets to being a business owner, which is why his guests reflect that too.

Previous topics include mental health, sales, marketing, business growth, productivity, customer service and more. Wondering why you should listen? Well, as one fan put it: "It's like eavesdropping on a conversation between two friends, who are sharing their knowledge and wisdom with each other. You learn while you're being entertained."

About your host

Profile picture for Richard Tubb

Richard Tubb

Richard Tubb is one of the best-known experts within the global IT Managed Service Provider (MSP) community. He launched and sold his own MSP business before creating a leading MSP media and consultancy practice. Richard helps IT business owner’s take back control by freeing up their time and building a business that can run without them. He’s the author of the book “The IT Business Owner’s Survival Guide” and writer of the award-winning blog www.tubblog.co.uk