Technology shifts come in waves, from cloud, to mobility, and automation; each has reshaped how the channel operates and competes. But artificial intelligence (AI) isn’t just another wave. It’s a step-change. And for the first time, everyone in the ecosystem is standing at the same starting line.  

In the latest episode of The High-Growth Equation, TD SYNNEX’s Reza Honarmand, Senior Vice President, Global Hybrid Cloud and Transformation, brings the perspective of a 25-year technology leader with experience in guiding partners through major digital shifts. He’s joined by Reyna Thompson, President, North America, a seasoned executive with more than 30 years of experience leading growth across cloud, security, data, and AI solutions. Together, they unpack the realities of AI adoption, what makes this different from past transformations, and where partners can turn potential into real, repeatable business growth.  

• Why the AI Era Feels Different (00:50)  

• Inside TD SYNNEX’s Agentic AI Framework (02:27)  

• Building an AI Fluent Workforce (04:15)  

• Monetizable Use Cases Partners Can Act on Now (06:13)  

• Where Leaders Should Invest Their Time (07:58)  

Why This AI Moment Is Different  

Thompson notes that the channel has seen many major technology inflection points, but none that have looked like this one.  

“There doesn’t appear to be any real experts yet. Distribution, partners, OEMs, we’re all learning at the same pace. That makes this moment incredibly exciting because it’s anybody’s game.”  

Rather than wait for the hype to settle, Thompson argues the opposite: partners who engage early will be the ones who build the muscle, mastery, and market edge needed to compete as AI matures.  

A Framework for Action: Agentic AI at TD SYNNEX  

Honarmand and Thompson also discuss TD SYNNEX’s strategy for operationalizing Agentic AI. Designed to guide TD SYNNEX’s own transformation—and help partners accelerate theirs—Thompson’s approach is built on a simple premise: operationalizing Agentic AI is not a single initiative. It’s an end-to-end shift in how work gets done.   

To make that shift achievable, repeatable, and scalable, TD SYNNEX is aligning action around three pillars:  

1. TD SYNNEX as Customer Zero  

The first pillar begins at home: TD SYNNEX is acting as Customer Zero, applying AI across core operational processes to learn what works, what breaks, and what truly drives impact. The focus isn’t on experimenting in isolation—it’s on transforming workflows end-to-end in ways that measurably improve outcomes.  

At its core, this pillar is about operational performance:  

• Speed: reducing cycle time and accelerating execution  

• Accuracy: improving quality, consistency, and decision-making  

• Higher-value outcomes: enabling teams to spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time on strategic work.   

Partners often ask, “Where do we start?” By treating internal transformation as the proving ground, TD SYNNEX is building a real-world playbook—one informed by implementation experience, adoption realities, and measurable results.  

2. Deploying an Agentic Workforce for Partners  

The second pillar extends transformation outward—turning TD SYNNEX’s operational learning into partner-facing acceleration. As agent-based capabilities mature, partners need access to more than point solutions; they need AI-driven resources that unlock new paths to solution development and enable faster commercialization.  

The intended outcome is a partner ecosystem that can move from AI curiosity to AI execution—with fewer barriers, faster build cycles, and clearer paths to customer value.  

3. AI Fluency Across Co-workers  

Enabling coworkers to adopt AI tools, build trust with technology, and rethink how they work.  

“We’re learning alongside our co-workers first,” Thompson explains. “Once we enable our internal teams, we’ll extend that same enablement out into the channel.”  

A Leadership Moment: What Executives Must Do Now  

Honarmand and Thompson conclude the interview by emphasizing a clear message to leaders across the ecosystem: use the tools yourself.  

“Leaders must make space to learn, experiment, and rethink how they work, or they can’t effectively guide others through this shift,” Thompson says.   

With TD SYNNEX’s Destination AI™ and recently launched AI Game Plan partners have concrete pathways to adopt AI with confidence, develop repeatable use cases, and build the skills needed to compete in an AI-driven economy. Together, these programs provide structured guidance, enablement, and real-world frameworks that help partners move from experimentation to scalable, revenue generating AI solutions. world frameworks that help partners move from experimentation to scalable, revenue generating AI solutions.  

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