Wired for Connection 4: Passion, Positivity and Finding Your People in the MSP Space

Lenka Koppova

Wired for Connection 4: Passion, Positivity and Finding Your People in the MSP Space image

Isobelle Coventry leads M&A and Expansion Efforts at Evergreen Services Group across the UK and Ireland, spending her time building relationships within the MSP community, helping business owners navigate what can often be a deeply personal transition.

Her background in private equity gives her a sharp eye for business, but it’s her people first mindset that truly sets her apart. She’s passionate about legacy and growth and finding the next great MSP partner.

An Interview With Isobelle Coventry

How Isobelle Found Passion for her Work

Evergreen acquires managed services businesses and looks after them so that they continue to grow. Isobelle explains: “I think that we’re custodians of those businesses, and that’s a privilege for us. We retain the employees and nurture the culture, and that’s a big responsibility.

“The owners of those businesses are passionate and knowledgeable, and they trust us to continue their legacy. Everyone shares in the success of all the businesses we have. They want to support each other to grow and do well.

“We get to know the owners before the acquisition and I feel honoured that they choose us to help them find a new role or bring in new talent to take the business forward. We’re their forever partner, and it’s hard not to be passionate when you do this kind of work.”

The Importance of Finding People to Support You

Isobelle says she’s had a lot of people rooting for her: “It fills me with gratitude, and there are a few people who’ve really helped me. Within work, my colleague Sydney, who’s VP of M&A has been a big part of my journey. She was the first person to see potential in me.

“And when I started at Evergreen she answered all of my questions and was always on hand to support me. She was transparent and upfront but also understanding and empathetic, which are great qualities in a mentor.

“I was also lucky to work with Craig Fulton, who’s had a lot of experience in the MSP space. He’s a good sounding board and shares his knowledge freely. And outside of work, my parents are my biggest cheerleaders. They always want to be part of my journey.”

Why Isobelle Tries to be a Positive Person

Isobelle says she’s always had a sunny disposition and been a positive person. “I’ve always been passionate about life and believed in finding something you care about and do everything with heart. And I’ve been fortunate to find it easy to care about a lot of things.

“Personally, I feel like it’s really important to care about what you do, whether that’s at work or at home. And often those blend, because you can make your work your vocation and your passion. I would struggle to do this job if it was monotonous, but it’s interesting and varied.

“I get to know all about the MSP owners, what matters to them and what they need to succeed. We rise by lifting others. I think we all have an opportunity to help one another, and you often help yourself at the same time. I always feel rewarded by making a contribution.”

Why are passion and positivity important when you work in the #MSP space? Isobelle Coventry of Evergreen shares her thoughts with Vera and Lenka. Click to Share

A High Point and a Low Moment in her Career

Isobelle highlights being invited to deliver the IT Nation Connect Europe keynote alongside Craig Fulton. This is a big achievement for her, as she’s not been in the industry for very long. She’s also proud of being involved in expanding operations into Ireland.

“It’s taken a lot of research and hard work and proving that it’s worth the leap for Evergreen. But I can see the opportunities are there.” Isobelle is also open about challenges that she’s faced in her career so far. “When things go wrong, you’ve got to pull yourself up by your boots.

“I knew that I wanted to change careers, but I couldn’t work out how to move into private equity without a finance background. I spent a year applying for roles, learning what I could and putting myself out there so I could make a change. It was frustrating and I felt that I might not ever succeed. I kept going, though, even when it was hard.”

Isobelle’s Favourite Part of the MSP Industry

Like so many people in the industry, Isobelle highlights the warm and welcoming community. “It’s so present and so special. Communities like this are so rare and I’d not experienced anything like it before.

“In my previous roles, I was supported, but I never saw anything like the level of knowledge sharing and celebrating each other’s successes. I see that it can be isolating to run a small business, but MSPs try to reduce that for their peers.

“People need to be able to learn and share experiences, but also tap into support and eliminate the feeling of being lost. So it’s the responsibility of everyone to contribute to that meaningfully and add value any way you can.”

One Thing Isobelle Would Change in the Industry

Isobelle’s role means she has a unique perspective in how MSPs plan for the future of their business. “In the UK market, there’s a hesitancy to think about that and to start conversations to explore options for MSP owners.

“I guess that they’re often receiving unsolicited queries and they’d prefer to focus on growing their business instead. They think it needs to be perfect before they even consider an M&A (merger and acquisition).

“I think you should have those conversations sooner. Because if you have a value in mind you’d like to realise, you need to chart a path to get there. It doesn’t happen overnight. So I’d like people to be more prepared and explore their options to make an M&A successful.”