Martin Casado, Andreessen Horowitz (Menlo Park, Calif.)

Casado, whose work at Stanford University formed the basis for software-defined networking, previously co-founded and served as CTO of Nicira, which VMware acquired in 2012. He went on to serve as a senior vice president at VMware as well as general manager of the company's networking and security business unit -- which provided him with plenty of exposure to the channel world.

Casado said one trend the channel should be watching closely is the rise of software developers as key decision-makers about what sorts of technologies are being deployed in their companies. "As developers get involved, there's a very different tech acquisition cycle," Casado said. Developers are more accustomed to downloading software online and aren't used to taking classes or certifications, he said. "I'm confident in saying the buying pattern is changing, and that will impact the channel," Casado said.

But, he added, "the channel will not be cut out." Instead, organizations within the channel that can bring technical expertise will have a major opportunity as buying becomes more developer-centric within enterprises, Casado said. "There'll be new models of channel selling and delivering" that arise as IT infrastructure continues to evolve, he said.