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What do you think has emerged as the technology trend of 2021 and why ?
I believe the biggest trend we ’ ve seen emerge is Digital Transformation , which has accelerated during the pandemic . DX can mean many different things to businesses , but if we look at the current climate , we have seen a dramatic shift in how businesses have operated their day-to-day environments during the last 16 months .
Whether it ’ s been an organisation supporting its staff to work from home , or a company that has had to shift its business to an online model and meet the change in demand , Digital Transformation has had a major effect on every sector possible . Data centres have been paramount in this shift and technology has had to move at a fast pace to ensure it meets end-user demands . Working in the data centre sector , I have seen unprecedented growth in the last couple of years which has brought up several challenges in itself – whether that ’ s power consumption , capacity requirements , the need for greater energy efficiency , or demands for more sustainability .
What do you currently identify as the major areas of investment in your industry ?
If we look at the market in Europe , there ’ s a huge trend towards sustainability being driven by hyperscalers and by members of the colocation community . Many companies have signed up to the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact , which requires operators to prove efficiency with measurable targets ; utilise 100 % renewable energy ; prioritise water conservation ; and embrace the Circular Economy by recycling servers .
On the other hand , however , rack and power densities are increasing and end-users want to leverage more processing and computational power . High Performance Computing ( HPC ), GPU ’ s and AI technologies are placing increased demands on data centres from a performance , power and cooling perspective . This means new data centres have to be designed for sustainable operations , but be flexible to accommodate the needs of GPUs , chip and processor power . However , the real challenge lies within legacy facilities , which also need to be modernised and become more efficient . This is crucial in the quest for net zero and will help reduce Operating Expenditure ( OPEX ), energy consumption and Greenhouse Gas ( GHG ) emissions .
How do you deal with stress and unwind outside of the office ?
I believe it ’ s really important to create a work / life balance . Working from home during the pandemic has meant this is more important than ever , so for me it means switching off at the end of the day and making a clear distinction between work life and home life .
That can be as simple as cooking for the family each night . Not only do I enjoy it , but it helps me refocus and enjoy family time .
If you could go back and change one career decision , what would it be ?
Over time there are so many decisions you make ; some work out some don ’ t . But that ’ s all part of the learning process .
At the time you do what you believe will drive the results you want , be it a specific role you take on , a customer you work with , or a hire you make . The important thing is to understand why it didn ’ t work out how you wanted , what you could have done differently and what you can learn from it .
What are the region-specific challenges when implementing new technologies in Europe ?
It ’ s important to remember that Europe is not one state , it ’ s a region made up of different countries and cultures . That may sound obvious , but when you are looking to expand a business into Europe you need to take this into account . Within some countries , it ’ s essential you have a local presence and understand how the locals do business . Sometimes the biggest challenge is really in understanding how you achieve this .
What changes to your job role have you seen in the last year and how do you see these developing in the next 12 months ?
For me personally it has been an interesting 12 months . Starting a new role during the pandemic is not without its challenges , especially with everything being conducted remotely . I personally cannot wait to start having faceto-face meetings , as no matter how important video calls have become , nothing beats meeting customers personally and building relationships .
What advice would you offer somebody aspiring to obtain C-level position in your industry ?
The great thing about our industry is it is always evolving . New technologies come and go , innovation is key to everything and with this , career opportunities are limitless . p
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