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EP279 - How to Build a High Performing Team – MSP Show Power Panel with Zoe Chatley, Julie Hutchison, Phylip Morgan, and Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

Release Date: 04/05/2026

EP298 - Why Your Summer Holiday is the Ultimate MSP Leadership Test with Ian Luckett show art EP298 - Why Your Summer Holiday is the Ultimate MSP Leadership Test with Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, I explain why your summer holiday is the ultimate MSP leadership test. It is that time of year again, when the sun is out, the diary clears a little, and MSP owners either head off on holiday or spend the whole time thinking about it. This episode is not really about holidays at all. It is about what happens to your business when you step away from it, and what that reveals about the leadership you have built.    I ask a simple question early on. Can you truly switch off when you go away, or are you still checking emails by the pool...

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EP297 - How to Use Vendor MDF for MSPs so Everyone Wins with Gemma Telford and Ian Luckett show art EP297 - How to Use Vendor MDF for MSPs so Everyone Wins with Gemma Telford and Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, I sit down with Gemma Telford from the Archer Agency to unpack one of the most underused resources available to growing MSPs, vendor Marketing Development Funds, or MDF. With two decades of experience across tech marketing, including roles at Ingram Micro, Sage and Palo Alto Networks, Gemma Telford brings a rare view from both sides of the channel, having worked with vendors, distributors and partners alike.    We open with a wider discussion on why so many MSP owners struggle to embrace marketing in the first place. Many...

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EP296 - Beyond the Money, What Wealth Really Means for MSP Business Owners with Ian Luckett show art EP296 - Beyond the Money, What Wealth Really Means for MSP Business Owners with Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, I take a step back from the usual growth tactics and invite you into a conversation about what wealth really means for MSP owners. We are past the midpoint of 2026, and rather than waiting until year end to reflect, I wanted to offer a checkup from the neck up right now, while there is still time to make the second half count.     I talk through the MSP journey many of us recognise. You start in survive, move into drive, then into thrive, and eventually reach arrive, the point where the business works for you rather than the...

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EP295 - How Smashing Down Invisible Ceilings in Your MSP Can Help Your Culture Grow with Yvonne Matzk and Ian Luckett show art EP295 - How Smashing Down Invisible Ceilings in Your MSP Can Help Your Culture Grow with Yvonne Matzk and Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, I sit down with Yvonne Matzk to explore a subject I rarely get the chance to talk about on this show, the invisible ceilings that hold back talent, culture, and growth inside our businesses. Yvonne Matzk is the founder of Coachere, a coaching and consulting practice supporting leaders and the next generation of talent in the IT industry, and also the founder of the Channel Community, a free network built to help emerging talent find mentoring in a safe and inclusive environment. I loved hearing the story behind her book, Smashing the Class...

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EP294 - The Real Reason your MSP Marketing Didn't Work with Ian Luckett show art EP294 - The Real Reason your MSP Marketing Didn't Work with Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, I tackle one of the most common frustrations I hear from MSP owners every single week, the belief that MSP marketing simply does not work. I hear it constantly. Someone has tried an agency, a friend who knows social media, some pay per click, or a few Facebook ads, and each time the results fell flat. The real issue, as I explain, is not the tactic itself. It is the absence of a system that connects every activity back to booked calls and revenue.    I open by challenging you to interrogate your marketing agency with one question,...

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EP293 - Intelligent MSP Operations – AI, Automation and Observability at Scale – The MSP Insights Panel Discussion show art EP293 - Intelligent MSP Operations – AI, Automation and Observability at Scale – The MSP Insights Panel Discussion

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, I hosted an MSP Insights Roundtable on AI, automation, and observability at scale, bringing together three brilliant guests, Joe Burns, Fiona Challis, and Nick Horner. What struck me straight away was how all three agreed on one thing before we even got into the detail. AI, automation, and observability only work when you understand your own processes first. Joe walked us through how his MSP, Reformed, built its operational maturity by identifying repetitive tasks, spotting where human error crept in, and asking his team what...

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EP292 - Inside The MSP Growth Hub - May 2026 Intensive Roundup with Stuart Warwick, Julie Hutchison, Peter Williamson and Ian Luckett show art EP292 - Inside The MSP Growth Hub - May 2026 Intensive Roundup with Stuart Warwick, Julie Hutchison, Peter Williamson and Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, we take you inside The MSP Growth Hub for a look at what happened during the May 2026 Intensive event. Ian Luckett is joined by his business partner Stuart Warwick and coaches Julie Hutchison and Peter Williamson, each sharing what unfolded across two days dedicated to helping MSP owners build stronger, more capable teams. At the heart of the conversation is MSP team alignment, and why it sits right at the centre of scaling a business with confidence.     Stuart opens by explaining the theory behind the Intensive itself. The MSP...

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EP291 - The Real Lessons Learned from a £500k MSP Ransomware Attack with Ken Roulston & Ian Luckett show art EP291 - The Real Lessons Learned from a £500k MSP Ransomware Attack with Ken Roulston & Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, we share one of the most honest and eye-opening conversations we have ever had about a ransomware attack and the devastating impact it can have on an MSP. Ken Roulston joins me to openly discuss the events that led to a real world cyber incident which ultimately cost more than £500,000, challenged every part of the business, and tested the resilience of the leadership team in ways few business owners ever experience.     This conversation is not designed to create fear. It is designed to create...

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EP290 - The Impact of Self-Awareness on You, Your Team, and Your Business with Mark Stevens, Julie Hutchison, and Ian Luckett show art EP290 - The Impact of Self-Awareness on You, Your Team, and Your Business with Mark Stevens, Julie Hutchison, and Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, we explore one of the most powerful leadership skills any MSP owner can develop: self-awareness. While many business conversations focus on strategy, sales, systems, and growth, this discussion takes a different path. I am joined by leadership coach Julie Hutchison and Managing Director of Mark1 IT Mark Stevens to unpack how self-awareness impacts you, your team, and ultimately the success of your business.     The conversation begins with Mark sharing his own leadership journey and the challenges...

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EP289 -  Having a Stand vs Mastering the Show – Why Most MSPs Get Events Wrong with Steve Lloyd and Ian Luckett show art EP289 - Having a Stand vs Mastering the Show – Why Most MSPs Get Events Wrong with Steve Lloyd and Ian Luckett

IT Experts Podcast with Ian Luckett

In this episode of the IT Experts Podcast, we explore one of the most overlooked opportunities for MSP growth: exhibitions and events. If you have ever invested time and money into a trade show, only to come away wondering whether it was worth it, this conversation with Steve Lloyd is essential listening.     Many MSP owners know they need to get out into the market, meet potential clients, build relationships, and generate fresh opportunities. The challenge is that exhibitions can often feel uncomfortable, especially for technical founders who are far more...

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More Episodes

In this episode of The IT Experts Podcast, we explore what it really takes to build a high performing team inside your MSP, and why so many leaders feel stuck when trying to get there. I am joined by an expert power panel featuring Zoe Chatley, Phylip Morgan, and Julie Hutchison, bringing together real world experience from leadership, recruitment, and growth to give you practical insight into how to move from confusion to clarity when building your team. 

  

The conversation opens with a simple yet powerful truth. Every business is moving from one place to another. The challenge is that many MSP owners have not clearly defined where they are heading. As Phylip Morgan explains, leadership is about moving from here to there, and without that clarity, building a high performing team becomes difficult because no one truly knows what success looks like. Vision is not a corporate exercise. It is a practical tool that gives your team direction, confidence, and purpose. 

  

Julie Hutchison brings this to life by highlighting that most leaders do have a vision, although it is often blurred. Many MSP owners stay on the hamster wheel of doing, without stopping to think about what they really want. Creating a high performing team starts with stepping back and defining a clear, specific outcome that your team can align with and work towards together. 

  

Once that clarity is in place, everything begins to shift. A high performing team is not built through pressure or control. It is built through alignment. When your team understands where the business is going, they can make better decisions, take ownership, and move forward with confidence. This is where leadership becomes less about doing everything and more about guiding others to succeed. 

  

A key theme throughout this episode is accountability. Julie Hutchison explains that accountability is not about pressure. It is about creating an environment where people know what is expected and feel supported to deliver it. A high performing team thrives when individuals are clear on their role, understand what good looks like, and have the confidence to take action within clear guide rails. 

  

Phylip Morgan reinforces this by sharing the importance of clarity in expectations. When people know what is expected of them, have the right tools, and are given the opportunity to do what they do best, performance improves naturally. A high performing team is built on this foundation of clarity, communication, and trust. 

  

Zoe Chatley adds a critical perspective from recruitment and team building. Many MSPs hire out of urgency rather than strategy, which makes it harder to build a high performing team. When you are clear on your vision, you can attract people who believe in what you are building. This creates stronger alignment, better retention, and a team that grows with your business over time. 

  

The panel also highlights the importance of learning through experience. Building a high performing team is not about getting everything right the first time. It is about making informed decisions, learning from mistakes, and refining your approach as your business grows. With the right leadership mindset, these lessons become the foundation for long term success. 

  

What stands out in this episode is how simple the fundamentals really are. Building a high performing team is not about complex frameworks. It is about clarity, consistency, and leadership that creates trust. When you combine these elements, you create a business where people want to contribute, grow, and succeed together. 

  

If you are looking to build a high performing team in your MSP, this episode will help you focus on what truly matters. Start by getting clear on your direction, create the right environment for your people, and lead with intention. The results will follow. 

 

Connect with Zoe Chatley through her LinkedIn by clicking HERE. 

Connect with Phylip Morgan through his LinkedIn by clicking HERE.    

 

Make sure to check out our Ultimate MSP Growth Guide, a free guide that walks you through a proven process to take your MSP from stuck to scalable, without working even more hours. It’s 44 pages rammed with advice, insights and inspiration to help you decide what support is available to you now if you want to grow and scale your business. Click HERE to get your copy. 

Connect on LinkedIn HERE with Ian and also with Stuart by clicking this LINK 

And when you’re ready to take the next step in growing your MSP, come and take the Scale with Confidence MSP Mastery QuizIn just three minutes, you’ll get a 360-degree scan of your MSP and identify the one or two tactics that could help you find more time, engage & align your people and generate more leads. 

OR  

To join our amazing Facebook Group of over 400 MSPs where we are helping you Scale Up with Confidence, then click HERE 

Until next time, look after yourself and I’ll catch up with you soon!