In this interview, Richard Tubb speaks to Todd Thibodeaux, President and Chief Executive Officer of CompTIA, a nonprofit organisation that supports MSPs and IT businesses.
An Interview With Todd Thibodeaux
*UPDATE* Since this interview was recorded, CompTIA have been acquired by Thoma Bravo and HIG. These private equity firms have plans to split the organisation. So, from 2025, there will be a for-profit business and a separate non-profit trade association.
This means that the community can thrive, as there will be dedicated teams to focus on each element specifically, including the training and certification side. You can read more about the plans and what it means for the members in their official press release, and in this article from Channel E2E.
Todd’s Journey with CompTIA
Todd started his career early on, with a part-time job at a lumber yard aged 12. After briefly considering becoming a welder, he found a job at the Electronic Industries Association.
“And when I left, the job at CompTIA opened right up. I’ve been with the organisation 16 years now, and I love it. I’ve travelled the world. And I get to see the latest tech developments, which I’ve been passionate about since I was a kid.”
Todd also shares what he’s proudest of from the last 16 years: “It’s probably the events. Because when I started there was only one community organisation, and they didn’t see a need for another one. So we built our community and events together, to better serve MSPs.”
CompTIA Research
CompTIA have their own, in-house research team, who produce helpful reports for MSPs. As Todd explains: “We do the longitudinal studies that other people won’t do, to provide people with tracking information.
“So a priority for us to repeat studies year after year so MSPs can see how things change and spot trends. Plus, we look at the state of the IT industry, growth and other factors.
“And we survey our membership, too. This allows us to really dig into customer behaviour, how services are delivered, adoption rates and so on. And we don’t do these on behalf of anyone else, so we can be independent. Our reports are free to access, too.”
How can MSPs Stand Out From the Competition?
Todd admits that it’s not easy to stand out in any industry. “But it’s easy to find out whether someone is a good actor or not. Ratings and reviews give customers information to make a decision on a business.
“But to really prove that you’re the right choice, is to provide good service over a long period of time. Understand your clients’ needs and introduce new solutions that will help them. Don’t add unnecessary services to their package just to make more money from them.
“Always put the customer first and show that you want to help their business. Ultimately, you differentiate yourself by the way you treat your customers over a longer period of time.”
Todd’s Approach to Interviewing CompTIA Event Guests
If you’ve ever seen Todd interview people on stage, at CompTIA ChannelCon or other events, you’ll know how good he is at getting them to share valuable insights. But surprisingly, he doesn’t do much prep beforehand. He shares his approach, which might be useful if you want to have a podcast, video show or even run events.
“I draft a few questions to get me started. But I don’t want to know too much about them, because I prefer to be spontaneous. That lets me get some really good answers from them. And it creates better engagement.
“So my key tip is to ask questions that will interest you and the guest. You’re trying to find common ground, and keep the energy high. And you NEVER disagree with your interviewee. Let them shine, because they’re the VIP in this situation.”
Todd’s Advice for Future-Focused MSPs
Not everyone embraces emerging technologies, says Todd. “But some people really embrace it, and look at is a competitive advantage. They get their information direct from the companies. They’re not relying on their vendors to educate them about what’s new.
“You can’t always prepare for new developments, though. Because sometimes there’s a period where there’s an influx of new technology all of a sudden. AI was like that. But they open up opportunities people had never seen, so you need to be adaptable.
“And our responsibility is to do the research and educate MSPs. That’s what CompTIA strives to do. We make sure our members are kept informed. But we’re not here to support people who don’t want to grow. We support the people who embrace the future, so we give them the tools to grow.”
Emerging Tech MSPs Should be Excited About
There are a few emerging tech solutions that Todd is excited about. “Of course, AI is one of the big ones. It’s virtually free right now, so how can you use it to increase productivity and lower costs? What about using it for automation?
“But the curve doesn’t move as fast as you think. Sometimes there are tiny iterations that can compound to make a big difference. For instance, Sophos are always developing new innovative tools and capacities. So look for tools you can use on a daily basis.
“Think about the systems you and your clients need within your businesses. Because I think there’s some incrementally innovative new technologies that are different from things that exist today. And these will change how people operate.”
How to Connect With Todd Thibodeaux
- CompTIA
- Follow CompTIA on LinkedIn
- Like CompTIA on Facebook
- Follow CompTIA on X
- Connect with Todd on LinkedIn
- Email Todd
How to Connect With Me
- Subscribe to TubbTalk RSS feed
- Subscribe, rate and review TubbTalk on iTunes
- Subscribe and rate TubbTalk on Spotify
- Follow TubbTalk on iHeartRadio
- Follow @tubblog on Twitter
Mentioned in This Episode
- Peer group: The Tech Tribe
- Peer group: Network Group
- Peer group: SBSC Northwest
- CompTIA ChannelCon
Tech Event: Consumer Electronics Show hosted by the Consumer Technology Association - Richard’s interview with MJ Shoer, CompTIA’s Chief Community Officer
- Richard’s interview with Rob Rae, Pax8‘s Corporate Vice President of Community and Ecosystems
- Cybersecurity Framework from the National Institute of Standards and Technology
- Richard’s interview with Tracy Pound, Managing Director at Maximity and CompTIA board member
- Electric generator: ECAT
You Might Also be Interested in
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
All PostsYou might like:
Comments