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  • Voices That Move Markets: Live From the WiMCO Tech Summit

    Voices That Move Markets: Live From the WiMCO Tech Summit
    Jul 31 2025
    What happens when you really listen to the conversations happening in the margins? Four years ago, Jackie Pasierbowicz overheard women talking about professional isolation right after a networking event designed to support them. That moment of recognition sparked the 7x24 Exchange WiMCO Tech Summit – now a sold-out annual gathering that's redefining how we think about professional development in mission-critical industries. This episode takes you behind the scenes of building something the industry said it didn't need, why "love farming" (recruiting without adjusting culture) sets everyone up to fail, and how balancing technical excellence with emotional intelligence creates authentic professional growth. Key Insights from This Episode • The power of marginal conversations – The most important feedback often happens after official events end, in parking lots and side conversations where people feel safe to be honest • Why existing support systems fail – Happy hours and assigned mentorship programs create surface-level connections but don't address deeper professional development needs • The "love farming" problem – Recruiting diverse talent without adjusting organizational culture creates retention problems, not solutions • Technical + human = complete solutions – The most complex infrastructure challenges require both technical mastery and strong interpersonal leadership skills • Strategic discomfort drives growth – Pushing people outside comfort zones through activities like poker and golf helps them practice risk-taking in professional contexts • Building authentic community takes intention – Real professional relationships require deeper, more purposeful interaction than traditional networking provides • Mid-career recharging is essential – Strategic timing for professional development can help prevent burnout and sustain long-term career growth Sometimes the most important innovations come from having the courage to build something different when existing approaches clearly aren't working. This conversation challenges every leader to listen more carefully to what's not being said in official spaces and to create conditions where talent can actually thrive. Proudly sponsored by BCS Switchgear, Inc. WE ARE NOW AN OEM SWITCHBOARD MANUFACTURER UL-891 Connect with Our Guests Jackie Pasierbowicz https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-pasierbowicz-21b31820/ 7x24 Exchange WiMCO Tech Summit: https://wts2025.zohobackstage.com/7x24ExchangeRegionalWiMCOTechSummit2025#/?lang=en https://www.7x24exchange.org/wimco/ Lillian Rivera https://www.linkedin.com/in/lillian-rivera-4821a28/ Apply to be a Guest or Sponsor and follow along: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beyondthemegawatt.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-the-megawatt-podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Mara: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.marajadeconsulting.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterchic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Val: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-crafton-mba-0362b816/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://valconsultants.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    47 Min.
  • Disrupting the Grid: Veterans, Energy Innovation, and the Future of Modular Power

    Disrupting the Grid: Veterans, Energy Innovation, and the Future of Modular Power
    Jul 24 2025
    What happens when a Navy submarine veteran challenges everything the data center industry thinks it knows? You get a conversation that's equal parts uncomfortable and essential. Tony Grayson doesn't just question industry assumptions, he dismantles them with the precision of someone who's managed 14-megawatt floating data centers under conditions most of us can't imagine. Key Insights: • Why veterans managing submarine IT infrastructure are the data center operators we desperately need but consistently overlook • The uncomfortable truth about SMR timelines and why most nuclear promises won't deliver until it's too late • How China's chip constraints forced innovation that outperformed OpenAI at a fraction of the cost and what that means for U.S. infrastructure • Why we don't have a power problem, we have a distribution problem (and why that changes everything) • The $300 billion distributed computing market that nobody's preparing for • Why constraint-driven innovation beats throwing money at problems every time • What happens when AI hardware cycles every 12 months but infrastructure planning spans decades This isn't your typical industry conversation. Tony's background gives him permission to ask the audacious questions that make executives squirm: What's the actual ROI on massive AI campuses? Can we really manage 100,000 distributed sites? And why are we ignoring the workforce that's already proven they can handle complex technical systems under pressure? By the end of this episode, you'll question whether the industry is building for the right future... or just the most expensive one. Proudly sponsored by BCS Switchgear, Inc. WE ARE NOW AN OEM SWITCHBOARD MANUFACTURER UL-891 Connect with Tony Grayson: tgrayson@northstartgi.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonygraysonvet/ Apply to be a Guest or Sponsor and follow along: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beyondthemegawatt.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-the-megawatt-podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Mara: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.marajadeconsulting.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterchic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Val: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-crafton-mba-0362b816/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://valconsultants.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    49 Min.
  • Nuclear Power by 2026? The Data Center Energy Crisis

    Nuclear Power by 2026? The Data Center Energy Crisis
    Jul 17 2025
    The energy conversation in data centers just got real. In this episode, we dive deep with Alison Krager Hahn from the Department of Energy and Rhea Williams from E3 Energy Partners on the hybrid strategies reshaping how we power digital infrastructure. From nuclear timelines that will surprise you to the natural gas bridges we need today, this conversation cuts through the noise to deliver the hard truths about America's power crisis. Key Insights from This Episode: • Nuclear deployment is accelerating faster than expected - with concrete 2026 timelines and construction already underway for commercial advanced reactors • Natural gas represents the critical bridge solution - but requires understanding molecular markets, capacity agreements, and complex integration challenges most people don't grasp • This isn't just a data center problem - we're facing a national infrastructure crisis with legacy transmission systems that haven't been updated in decades • Community engagement is non-negotiable for nuclear success - transparent education and local outreach will determine which projects move forward • Sustainability conversations are full of dangerous misconceptions - especially around grid power composition and the reality of renewable energy as prime power • Very few people in the industry actually know what they're doing - we're making reactive decisions instead of strategic, methodical planning • Data center capital can reshape America's energy infrastructure - but only if we think beyond just meeting our own power needs This episode isn't just about energy solutions—it's about the opportunity and responsibility the data center industry has to lead America's infrastructure transformation. The capital is there. The technology is advancing. The question is whether we'll step up strategically or continue acting like our pants are on fire. Proudly sponsored by BCS Switchgear, Inc. WE ARE NOW AN OEM SWITCHBOARD MANUFACTURER UL-891 Guest Information: Alison Krager Hahn - Office of Nuclear Energy, Department of Energy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-krager-hahn-9342b5275/ Rhea Williams - E3 Energy Partners LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rheawilliams/ Apply to be a Guest or Sponsor and follow along: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beyondthemegawatt.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-the-megawatt-podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Mara: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.marajadeconsulting.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterchic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Val: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-crafton-mba-0362b816/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://valconsultants.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    40 Min.
  • The Eight-Week Mark: What We’ve Learned, and What Comes Next

    The Eight-Week Mark: What We’ve Learned, and What Comes Next
    Jul 10 2025
    Eight weeks into Beyond the Megawatt, Mara and Val pause to reflect on what they've learned about starting a podcast, challenging industry norms, and amplifying voices that typically don't get heard. This honest conversation reveals the real motivations behind their platform and why non-traditional career paths might be exactly what the data center industry needs. Key Insights: • The shame of non-traditional paths - Why many successful professionals hide their unconventional routes into infrastructure and construction • Breaking conference barriers - How arbitrary rules keep fresh voices off industry panels and what needs to change • Strategic networking - Practical tips for making genuine connections at industry events instead of collecting business cards • The power of preparation - Why women-focused networking events create stronger industry participation, not separation • Redefining success metrics - Moving beyond traditional credentials to recognize diverse forms of expertise and intelligence • Taking the show on the road - Upcoming live appearances and the mission to interview voices behind the scenes This episode challenges listeners to examine their own assumptions about who belongs in mission-critical industries and whose perspectives deserve platforms. Mara and Val demonstrate that the most powerful conversations happen when you stop trying to be perfect and start being honest about the real challenges facing infrastructure professionals. What's Next: Look for Beyond the Megawatt at upcoming industry events including WIMCO Tech Summit, YADA, Data Center World Power, and DCAC/Data Cloud, where they'll be conducting live interviews with the people actually building our digital infrastructure. Proudly sponsored by BCS Switchgear, Inc. Apply to be a Guest or Sponsor and follow along: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beyondthemegawatt.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-the-megawatt-podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Mara: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.marajadeconsulting.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterchic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Val: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-crafton-mba-0362b816/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://valconsultants.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    51 Min.
  • Talent That Scales: Redefining People Strategy in Mission Critical Infrastructure

    Talent That Scales: Redefining People Strategy in Mission Critical Infrastructure
    Jul 3 2025
    Half of all data center talent will retire within the next decade. At the same time, we need to double our workforce to meet exploding infrastructure demand. This isn't just another workforce challenge—it's an existential threat to the mission-critical systems that power our digital economy. Dr. Tracy Brown (Chief of Staff) and Lisa Stevens (Head of HR at CleanArc Data Centers) join Valerie Crafton to tackle the hard truths about talent development in mission-critical infrastructure. From the cultural disconnect veterans face transitioning to corporate environments to the performance review theater that wastes everyone's time, this conversation challenges every assumption about how we develop, manage, and retain human capital in high-stakes technical environments. Key Insights • The 10% Management Rule: Effective people development requires 10% of a manager's capacity for each direct report - but most organizations don't staff for this reality • Military-to-Corporate Culture Shock: Veterans transition from environments where everyone flows in the same direction to corporate teams where people often compete against each other • The Skills vs. Mindset Revolution: Interview for competencies first, skills second - the right mindset can learn the industry, but the wrong mindset cannot • AI Amplifies What You Feed It: Organizations rushing to implement AI solutions are building on foundations of inconsistent, poorly organized data • Performance Review Theater: Most performance management processes feel inauthentic and unproductive because they are - it's time to scrap the administrative burden and build something that actually develops people • Professional Development as Survival: In a knowledge-driven industry facing massive talent shortages, making professional development mandatory isn't nice-to-have - it's competitive necessity • The Human Factor Changes Everything: Technical excellence attracts talent, but human connection and purpose-driven work retains it The conversation reveals why traditional talent strategies are failing and offers a roadmap for organizations ready to invest in sustainable workforce development. The choice is simple: evolve your people strategy now, or spend the next decade scrambling to keep the lights on. Connect with Our Guests Connect with Dr. Tracy Brown: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drtcbrown/ https://drtre.com/ Connect with Lisa Stevens: ⁠www.cleanarcdatacenters.com⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-stevens-phr-2a581a29/ Apply to be a Guest or Sponsor and follow along: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beyondthemegawatt.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-the-megawatt-podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Mara: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.marajadeconsulting.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterchic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Val: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-crafton-mba-0362b816/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://valconsultants.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    39 Min.
  • Can Data Centers Ever Be Sustainable? These Women Say Yes!

    Can Data Centers Ever Be Sustainable? These Women Say Yes!
    Jun 26 2025
    What happens when you put three sustainability leaders in one room and ask them to call BS on industry practices? You get the most honest conversation about data center sustainability we've had yet. Karen Cooper (DLR Group), Jenna Middaugh (Green Building Initiative), and Patricia Leyva (Equinix) didn't hold back. From fear-based pricing to parallel study failures, this episode tackles why sustainability initiatives keep getting blamed for project problems—and what to do about it. Key Insights From This Episode: • Sustainability should be code-required, not optional — No one argues about fire safety compliance because lives depend on it. Planetary resources deserve the same treatment. • The "green premium" is often a fear premium — Unfamiliar methods get risk contingencies baked into bids. In markets where sustainable construction is normal, it's competitively priced. • We're tracking the wrong data — Most projects blame sustainability for delays without running parallel estimates of what traditional methods would have cost under identical conditions. • Culture beats checklists — Sustainable practices succeed when teams embrace efficiency optimization, not when they're forced to check environmental boxes. • Small steps create big momentum — Perfect sustainability isn't the goal. Continuous improvement builds institutional knowledge and confidence across projects. • Community pressure is making sustainability essential — Local governments are asking tough questions about water usage and energy consumption before approving new developments. • The economics argument wins — When positioned as operational efficiency and resource optimization rather than environmental activism, sustainability finds broader support. This conversation cuts through the corporate speak to address real challenges facing data center professionals who want to build better but need practical strategies that actually work. Connect With Our Guests: Karen Cooper - Architect, DLR Group https://www.linkedin.com/in/krcoopdesigns/ Jenna Middaugh - COO, Green Building Initiative https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenna-middaugh-8a060137/ GBI's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/green-building-initiative/ Patricia Leyva - Sustainability Expert, Equinix https://www.linkedin.com/in/paleyva Apply to be a Guest or Sponsor and follow along: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beyondthemegawatt.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-the-megawatt-podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Mara: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.marajadeconsulting.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterchic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Val: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-crafton-mba-0362b816/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://valconsultants.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    41 Min.
  • Redefining Power: Transformational Leadership in a Transactional Industry

    Redefining Power: Transformational Leadership in a Transactional Industry
    Jun 19 2025
    Leadership in mission-critical industries isn't broken—it's being measured all wrong. This conversation with executive coach Lori Severson and leadership expert Andrea Janzen exposes the invisible barriers keeping transformational leaders stuck and offers a bold roadmap for change. Key Revelations: • Why women's leadership journey feels like "dying by a thousand cuts"—and how those small moments add up to systemic exclusion • The missing metrics that keep our most effective leaders overlooked while rewarding outdated transactional behaviors • How to handle "you're too aggressive" criticism in real-time without losing your authentic leadership style • The authenticity antidote that turns perceived weaknesses into competitive advantages • What leadership redesign looks like when you measure inspiration instead of intimidation • The double bind that traps women between "too nice" and "too bossy"—and how to escape it • Why younger professionals are rejecting traditional leadership roles (hint: it's the same reason women hesitate) This isn't about fixing women to fit broken systems. It's about building leadership cultures that recognize and reward the skills our complex industry actually needs. Guest Information: Lori Severson - Executive coach and author with 20+ years in Fortune 500 leadership roles. Now focused on helping women rise through strategic coaching and consulting. https://www.linkedin.com/in/loriseverson1/ Andrea Janzen - Founder of Ambition Theory, a leadership development company specializing in transformational leadership for construction and engineering professionals. https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreajanzen/ https://ambitiontheory.com/ Apply to be a Guest or Sponsor and follow along: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beyondthemegawatt.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-the-megawatt-podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Mara: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.marajadeconsulting.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterchic/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Val: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-crafton-mba-0362b816/⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://valconsultants.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    48 Min.
  • AI, Audacity & the Education Reboot We’re Too Scared to Start

    AI, Audacity & the Education Reboot We’re Too Scared to Start
    Jun 12 2025
    What if the solution to the data center workforce crisis starts in kindergarten? Dr. Sharon Jones, founder of the Dottie Rose Foundation, joins us for a conversation that challenges everything you think you know about AI education, workforce development, and the future of technical careers. From her unexpected journey from DJ dreams to computer science advocacy, Sharon reveals why "the power of the blend" - human creativity combined with AI capabilities - is the key to thriving in our rapidly evolving industry. Key Insights: • Start AI literacy early - Digital literacy conversations should begin in kindergarten, not college • Embrace human-AI collaboration - MIT research proves that human + AI teams outperform either working alone • Apply the TAM model - Technology adoption depends on perceived usefulness and ease of use • Implement just-in-time learning - 5-7 minute focused training sessions with immediate application • Support the education pipeline - The teacher shortage directly impacts our future workforce • Think frameworks, not rigid curricula - Flexibility and personalization are essential for effective learning • Education as the great equalizer - Exposure and opportunity bring humanity together Dr. Sharon's passion for closing the gender gap in tech shines through as she shares practical strategies for building inclusive, AI-literate workforces. Whether you're leading a team, developing training programs, or wondering how to prepare for an AI-enhanced future, this conversation provides the roadmap. Connect with Dr. Sharon Jones: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-sharon-torrence-jones-a9b264a6/ https://dottierosefoundation.org/ https://thedotconsulting.co/ Resources Mentioned in this Episode: E2D (Eliminate the Digital Divide): https://www.e-2-d.org Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) by Dr. Fred Davis MIT-IBM Watson AI Lab research on human-AI collaboration Apply to be a Guest or Sponsor and follow along: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://beyondthemegawatt.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-the-megawatt-podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Mara: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.marajadeconsulting.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterchic/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Val: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-crafton-mba-0362b816/⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://valconsultants.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    45 Min.