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.