Microsoft Mentors

What happens when you start an IT business at 20 years old, wing it for years, scale it to a multi-million-pound MSP, and then realise the biggest problem in the industry isn’t technology, it’s trust? 

In this episode of Microsoft Mentors, Oli sits down with Mit Patel, founder of Netstar and now CEO of Assurix, to unpack a 25-year journey through the MSP and Microsoft Partner ecosystem. 

From early days learning IT by trial and error, to building and exiting a successful MSP, Mit shares why differentiation in the MSP market is broken, why most SMEs struggle to choose the right provider, and why “proof trumps the promise” when it comes to security and service delivery. 

This is a candid, insight-led conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, and what it really takes to raise standards across the MSP industry without fear-mongering or shortcuts. 
 
👉 If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to like, follow, and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. 
 
💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode 
How Mit built and scaled an MSP from scratch, starting at just 20 years old 

Why most MSPs sound identical to buyers, and how that hurts the whole industry 

The hidden problem of “invisible security” for SMEs 

Why trust, proof, and operational maturity matter more than marketing claims 

What changes when MSPs stop competing on price and start competing on outcomes 

How Assurix was born out of real-world MSP and buyer failures 

 
💬 Memorable Quotes 
“All MSPs sound the same to SMEs. They all say the same stuff.” 
“I had no idea about strategy. I had no idea what to do. We were pretty much winging it.” 
“They don’t understand when security isn’t good because it’s invisible.” 
“Proof trumps the promise.” 
“We’re trying to raise the bar in our industry and help good MSPs win.” 
 
📬 Enjoyed the Episode? 
Subscribe to the Microsoft Mentors Newsletter for insights, episodes, and hiring data across the Microsoft Partner ecosystem: 
👉 https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7175453155780915200 
 
🔗 Links & Resources 
Connect with Mit Patel on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitassurix/ 
Explore Assurix: https://assurix.com/ 
Connect with Oli Ridley on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/oli-ridley/
Follow Cloud Decisions on LinkedIn: 
https://www.linkedin.com/company/clouddecisions 
 
🏢 About Cloud Decisions 
Cloud Decisions helps Microsoft Partners and customers build world-class technical teams across Cloud, Data, Security, and AI. 

As a trusted Microsoft Talent Partner, we connect businesses with the skills and insight they need to scale effectively inside the Microsoft ecosystem. 

Our approach blends deep partner knowledge with data-led hiring strategies, helping organisations grow faster, smarter, and stronger.

When all MSPs sound the same, the wrong ones keep winning.

That’s the uncomfortable reality Mit Patel breaks down in this episode of Microsoft Mentors.

After 25 years building, scaling, and exiting an MSP, Mit explains why differentiation in the MSP market has failed, and how that failure creates real risk for customers and real frustration for high-quality providers.
We get into:
• Why buyers rely on the wrong signals• How promises replaced proof• Why security weaknesses stay hidden until it’s too late• And what has to change if MSPs want to compete on value, not price

This isn’t theory.
It’s the result of decades inside the ecosystem.

▶️ Watch the trailer.Full episode goes live tomorrow.

What happens when you grow up coding on an Amstrad and end up leading one of the UK’s most forward-thinking Microsoft Partners?
For Helen Gelling, curiosity wasn’t just a childhood hobby. It became the foundation for a career that’s spanned continents, cloud revolutions, and courageous leadership decisions. In this episode of Microsoft Mentors, Oli sits down with Helen Gerling, CEO of Shaping Cloud, to unpack her lifelong journey through technology, from dial-up modems and AOL chatrooms to leading cloud, data and AI transformation for UK organisations. Helen shares how an early fascination with technology shaped her worldview, why curiosity beats credentials when hiring, and the pivotal moment she turned down a senior government role to lead Shaping Cloud. It’s an honest, energising conversation about the people side of tech, and how staying curious can change the course of your career. 👉 If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to like, follow and subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube. 💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode How Helen’s early curiosity for technology sparked a lifelong career in cloud and data Why loving what you do matters more than formal qualifications in today’s tech landscape What makes a great leader in a rapidly changing Microsoft Partner ecosystem How Helen navigated a major career crossroads and chose leadership over comfort Why the best technologists are still the most curious learners 💬 Memorable Quotes “I feel like I was born into tech. By five or six I was coding on an Amstrad at home.” “Some of the hackers I met online tried to take over my computer and some of them succeeded! But I was just curious, not malicious.” “I’m less interested in qualifications. I look for hunger, that curiosity for all that tech can do.” “Don’t do tech just for the money. Do it because you love it, and there’s loads of opportunity if you do.” “It’s a rare opportunity to be gifted the chance to lead a company and make something of it.” 📬 Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe to the Microsoft Mentors Newsletter for insights, episodes, and hiring data across the Microsoft Partner ecosystem: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7175453155780915200 🔗 Links & Resources Connect with Helen Gelling on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/helen-gerling-b031093/Explore Shaping Cloud: http://www.shapingcloud.com/ Connect with Oli Ridley on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/oli-ridley/Follow Cloud Decisions on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cloud-decisions/🏢 About Cloud Decisions Cloud Decisions helps Microsoft Partners and customers build world-class technical teams across Cloud, Data, Security and AI. As a trusted Microsoft Talent Partner, we connect businesses with the skills and insights they need to accelerate transformation. Our team combines deep ecosystem knowledge with data-led hiring strategies, helping organisations grow faster, smarter, and stronger in the Microsoft Cloud.

Most tech careers don’t stall because the tools change.
They stall because judgement doesn’t.

This episode of Microsoft Mentors is about what actually compounds over time.

Not credentials.
Not frameworks.
But the decisions people make when there’s no clear answer.

We talk about:
Why long-term capability comes from how you think, not what you know
Making career calls that don’t make sense on paper, but matter years later
What still counts when the tech stack resets (again)

How leadership evolves as responsibility increases

This episode is for people playing the long game in tech — and for leaders who want to build teams that last.

🎧 Full episode drops tomorrow!

Most Microsoft partners don’t fail because of tech.
They fail because of decisions.

This is Trailer One for Microsoft Mentors — Series 3.

Five leaders.
20+ year careers.
No interest in hype.

This series breaks down:

Why “differentiation” usually isn’t

What actually drives long-term scale

How leaders survive multiple tech cycles

Why consistency beats intensity every time

Not motivation.
Operating principles.

This is the first drop.
More coming.

Series 3 launches Wednesday, 28 January.