At the 2024 infra/STRUCTURE Summit, held at the Wynn, Las Vegas, a panel of industry leaders shared their insights on workforce optimization in the data center and cloud sectors. Moderated by Elya McCleave, Founder and CEO of Innovorg, the panel executives from the data center and cloud space, including Jeremy Pease, CEO of Hivelocity, Raul Martynek, CEO of DataBank, and Emil Sayegh, CEO of Profit Growth Insights.
Watch or listen to the full panel discussion here and read on for highlights from the discussion.
The discussion covered several key challenges facing the industry, including remote work, talent acquisition, and the impact of AI on the workforce. Jeremy Pease highlighted the complexities of managing a hybrid workforce in the data center industry, noting the difficulty in balancing on-site requirements with remote work flexibility. Raul Martynek emphasized the diverse skill sets required in the industry, stating, "We have like three or four different companies in the same company... very different skill sets, very different groups of people, very different mindsets."
On the topic of AI's impact, Emil Sayegh noted, "The most entry-level jobs I would say will be at risk... and the jobs that are going to be at risk are the ones or the people that are not going to know how to use AI properly." The panel agreed that while AI is being adopted in areas such as software development and cybersecurity, its implementation in customer support and other areas is still in its early stages.
The CEOs also shared their strategies for maintaining company culture and employee engagement, especially in the context of mergers and acquisitions. Raul Martynek discussed DataBank's approach to creating a unified culture, which they call "the DataBank way." This includes implementing specific leadership behaviors, such as "collaborate before you escalate," to address organizational challenges and promote trust among team members.
Emil Sayegh emphasized the importance of creating a meaningful work environment, stating, "People want to be valued members of a winning team on an inspiring mission." He stressed the significance of helping employees understand the broader impact of their work, beyond just building data centers, to maintain motivation and engagement.
The panel concluded with valuable advice on onboarding new employees. The consensus was to "hire for attitude, aptitude, train for skills," as summarized by Emil Sayegh. This approach emphasizes the importance of finding candidates with the right mindset and potential, then investing in their skill development. This philosophy aligns with the growing trend in the industry to prioritize continuous learning and adaptability in the face of rapidly evolving technologies and business needs.
For more information on how Innovorg can help you optimize your team’s future learning and ongoing professional development training and management strategies, contact us here.