This article first appeared in UC Advanced magazine: issue #18
Transformation doesn’t come from technology alone – it comes from people too
That was the message that rang clear across each session at GX Summit 2025. Numerous senior IT, CX and technology leaders arrived at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre to network with peers and collaborate over solving common industry challenges. As always, GX Summit 2025 was a celebration of progress, partnership and possibility, under the banner of being ‘Good Together’.
Organisations from Enterprise and the Public Sector saw first-hand how real power comes from being together. Whether it was on stage or in the Expo Area, all those who attended this year’s GX Summit discovered new ways of thinking and what technologies are shaping the industry’s landscape.
Each session focused on technology’s real-world impact, brought to life through real customer stories and expert panels. Take the opening session around the ‘Makers, Shakers and Takers’ of AI adoption with Reed’s Henry Lee and Cisco’s Hendrik Blokhuis. It’s a piece of technology that needs to be woven into the roadmap rather than just bolted on. Always remember the why, or else people will start asking where you’re going on your AI journey.
Managing Director of Gamma Enterprise Markets, David Macfarlane, also provided an insightful look into the modern-day challenges CIOs are facing. Cyber security threat landscapes, budgetary pressures, skills gaps – it’s never easy. All those insights came from customer conversations and those close-knit relationships.
It led into Gamma CEO Andrew Belshaw outlining Gamma’s next stage of growth, and what it means for their customers. The portfolio is growing, the number of acquisitions is increasing, and Gamma’s strategy remains driven by customer conversations. Their presence in the UK is special, and “[Gamma knows they] can take that success to more customers across Europe.”
Part of that strategy involves shifting that focus on “digital transformation” to “digital evolution.” Solutions Director Richard McPhee and Director of Enterprise Operations Thomas Connelly explained how transformation might be “the big bang”, but it’s the evolution where “real optimisation happens.” They covered the launch of new solutions and programmes, including GammaUCX and Project One, that will help customers “feel like they’re dealing with Gamma” rather than multiple teams or tools.
As always, the customer and their interests come first.
While customers always come first for Gamma, those customers need a security-first mindset. Solutions Sales Director Laurence Malthouse and Gamma Secure Director Jason Simper headed a powerful and collaborative session on converging networking and security through SASE. Joined on stage by Cisco’s VP of Product Management Lee Peterson, the three discussed why SASE is the model needed for a new era, especially through its capabilities to break down organisational silos and respond proactively. Never has it been more important for customers to “build with a security-first mindset from day one.”
It’s key to remember that we don’t play favourites at GX Summit, but the inaugural GX Game Show was certainly a crowd-pleaser. Solutions Consultant Jack Carr was a real presence on stage, and put contestants through their paces on the important trends shaping CX and EX. This light-hearted, insight-rich portion of GX Summit showed how Gamma’s CX and EX focus was more than just platforms and products – it’s about those frictionless, human-first experiences powered by technology. “Experience is everything”, as Jack aptly put it.
The keynote speakers, Jenny ‘The People Hacker’ Radcliffe and Sir Lenny Henry, also divulged their own wisdom. As a ‘burglar for hire’, Jenny has spent her entire career testing real-world security in organisations, and how emotions and over-sharing can lead to disaster. Later in the day, Lenny brought GX Summit to a close through a powerful, yet hilarious, address on why courage changes lives and the importance of inclusive innovation.
Away from the stage, the Expo Area brought multiple vendors and solutions together to showcase the building blocks for long-term success. Gamma’s own expertise in networking, security and business communications was on full display. Sponsors, including KnowBe4 and Akixi, were there with their own technological expertise that gave attendees plenty to think about on the future of the wider industry. Through live demos and peer-to-peer networking, everyone at GX Summit 2025 saw how to drive business value through technology in the flesh.
Honestly, it’s difficult to do this year’s GX Summit justice in just two pages. But, if anyone was to come away with anything, Sir Lenny Henry has hit the nail on the head:
“Have courage. Be brave. Work with people who are smarter than you – and you might just learn something.”
The GX Summit is available to view on demand, please speak to a member of the team, or visit gammagroup.co
This article first appeared in UC Advanced magazine: issue #18
