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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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/⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sometimes the most transformative technology comes from the most unexpected places. In this episode, we go below the surface—literally—to explore how hydro excavation is changing data center construction, winter operations, and workplace culture in ways that extend far beyond digging.

Kristy Black didn't start Black Hydrovac because she discovered a passion for construction equipment. She started it because she wanted to build teams of people who could think, solve problems, and grow in an industry that too often treats skilled workers as interchangeable parts. What emerged is a company that's revolutionizing both excavation safety and leadership culture.

From heated water systems that keep projects moving through frozen ground to spatial intelligence that makes machines extensions of operators' bodies, this conversation reveals how the right technology paired with people-first leadership creates competitive advantages that go far beyond any single tool or process.

Key Insights You'll Discover:

• Why "best guess" utility location creates massive risk in data center construction—and how precision excavation protects both workers and existing infrastructure

• The winter operations advantage that keeps projects moving when others shut down—using heated water systems to melt frozen ground and maintain year-round capability

• How to identify and develop spatial intelligence in technical roles—recognizing the natural talent that makes some operators exceptional with complex equipment

• The discipline of delegation that prevents endless process reinvention—why the best leaders document systems and trust teams to execute and improve them

• Building safety culture through mentorship accountability—making experienced workers responsible for training and protecting newer team members

• Environmental precision that serves both efficiency and stewardship—reducing soil disruption and runoff while maintaining operational excellence

• The vulnerability required for effective leadership—honestly assessing limitations and surrounding yourself with complementary strengths

This isn't just about construction technology—it's about what becomes possible when you combine smart tools with smarter people management, consistent processes with the flexibility to adapt, and the confidence to let talented people do what they do best.

Whether you're managing mission-critical infrastructure projects, developing technical teams, or building operational resilience, Kristy's insights on leadership, innovation, and human development offer lessons that extend far beyond any single industry.

Connect with Kristy Black:

Kristy Black - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristy-black-ab605538/

Black Hydrovac - https://blackhydrovac.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/⁠⁠⁠

What happens when AI meets data center infrastructure? Dan Molloy—known throughout the industry as "Fiber Dan"—brings decades of networking expertise and bold predictions about the future of mission-critical systems. From his early days discovering the internet in high school to his current role as a fiber infrastructure expert, Dan offers a unique perspective on how artificial intelligence will reshape everything from workforce training to blockchain applications in hyperscale environments.

Key Insights & Bold Takes

• AI isn't coming for technical jobs first—it's targeting middle management decision-making while making hands-on expertise more valuable than ever

• The knowledge transfer crisis is real—as Valerie noted, "We've got to change the way we share information" rather than keeping expertise locked away in NDAs and proprietary environments

• Fiber infrastructure demands are exploding as AI workloads require "giant hive minds" where everything communicates in real time

• Predictive analytics will connect seemingly unrelated data points—weather patterns, internet usage, and system failures in ways humans would never think to explore

• Blockchain applications in data centers focus on trust and accountability—imagine automatic SLA violation credits without disputes or delays

• Training through AI-powered simulation offers safer, scalable alternatives to learning on dangerous live power systems

• The sustainability tension between AI's massive energy demands and environmental goals requires innovative solutions, not compromise

Dan Molloy Bio & Connect

Dan Molloy, known as "Fiber Dan," brings over two decades of networking and infrastructure expertise to the data center industry. After discovering the early internet in high school and serving in the Air Force at Fort Meade, Dan navigated the dot-com boom and bust before finding his calling in mission-critical infrastructure. For the past nine years, he has become a recognized voice in fiber optics, AI integration, and the future of hyperscale operations.

Connect with Dan:

Website: FiberDan.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/⁠⁠⁠

What happens when you combine decades of commissioning expertise with a vision for transforming how we develop the next generation of infrastructure talent? You get a conversation that challenges everything from when commissioning should start to how we can solve the workforce crisis while building better facilities.

Lillian Rivera and Jim McEnteggart are launching 21st Century Ops with a bold approach that flips traditional commissioning on its head. Instead of bringing operational expertise in at the end of projects, they're advocating for "operationally directed design" that considers the humans who'll operate these systems for the next 20 years. Their apprenticeship model doesn't just train people—it creates pathways for students to become the operators who truly understand the facilities they helped commission.

Key Insights:

• Early commissioning isn't optional anymore - Bringing commissioning agents in during design rather than construction prevents costly change orders and creates systems that actually work as intended, not just on paper

• Operationally directed design changes everything - Simple decisions like logical equipment naming and color-coded electrical rooms can eliminate entire categories of human error and make maintenance safer and more efficient

• The perfect training environment already exists - Commissioning phases offer hands-on learning with real equipment and real problems, but without the operational risk of live facilities where mistakes can be catastrophic

• AI workloads are breaking traditional infrastructure assumptions - Power loads that swing from 90% to 20% multiple times per minute are forcing the industry to rethink everything from equipment sizing to commissioning strategies

• Partnership beats procurement every time - When owners rebid every project to save upfront costs, they throw away institutional knowledge and force teams to relearn the same lessons repeatedly

• The college-or-nothing mentality is failing everyone - Students accumulate debt without direction while mission-critical industries struggle to find skilled talent, creating a lose-lose situation that apprenticeship programs can solve

The conversation gets real about human error in data centers, liquid cooling challenges, and why going back to 1960s water-cooled computing might be the future. Most importantly, it shows how innovative business models can solve workforce development challenges while building sustainable companies that create value for everyone involved.

Connect with Our Guests:

• Lillian Rivera - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lillian-rivera-4821a28/

• Jim McEnteggart - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcenteggart/

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/⁠⁠⁠

Welcome to our inaugural episode! Hosts Mara Ervin and Valerie Crafton sit down with psychotherapist and workplace wellbeing consultant Kate Ahl for an honest conversation about inclusion, allyship, and the hidden challenges facing professionals in mission-critical industries.

This isn't your typical diversity discussion. We dig into why women are leaving tech and construction as fast as they're entering, what neurodivergent thinking brings to complex problem-solving, and why creating inclusive workplaces benefits everyone—not just underrepresented groups.

Key Themes Explored:

• The disconnect between conference visibility and job site reality—why progress in one area doesn't equal systemic change

• How neurodivergent minds see solutions differently and why that's essential for innovation in technical spaces

• The real purpose behind women-only professional groups and why they're not exclusionary

• Why emotional intelligence and facilitation skills are mission-critical, not "soft" skills

• The unconscious bias that leads us to hire and promote people who think like us—and how to expand beyond that

• What men stand to gain from more inclusive workplace cultures (our audacious question!)

Surprising Insights:

The pandemic normalized something revolutionary: male colleagues managing family responsibilities during work hours. This shift didn't take anything away from anyone—it expanded possibilities for everyone. What if we could carry that energy into creating truly family-friendly policies that benefit all types of families?

The Bottom Line:

Mission-critical industries face unprecedented challenges that require the best thinking from everyone. Organizations that harness cognitive diversity and create psychologically safe environments won't just be doing the right thing—they'll have a competitive advantage in solving complex problems.

Ready to challenge your assumptions about inclusion, innovation, and the future of critical infrastructure work?

Beyond the Megawatt is proudly powered by our Tier 1 sponsor, Iron Box...trusted across the industry for delivering custom power cables and distribution solutions built for mission-critical environments. From hyperscale builds to edge deployments, Iron Box is known for fast turnaround, unmatched reliability, and power solutions that keep your infrastructure running strong. Interested in learning more? Reach out directly to Sarah Bradley or Brian Stigall...you can find them on LinkedIn or head over to ironbox.com to get connected. Thanks to Iron Box for helping us launch with power.

Connect with Kate Ahl:

Website: www.compassionateproductivity.org

Instagram: @compassionateproductivity

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-a-7083169/

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/⁠⁠⁠

Your Co-Hosts Mara Ervin & Valerie Crafton MBA are thrilled to share our latest episode, recorded live at the 3rd Annual Cloud Run hosted by the 7x24 Exchange DC Chapter.

This special edition kicks off with the race start, led by the dynamic Scott Davis with HazTek Safety Management, setting the tone for a day filled with energy and community spirit.

Throughout the event, we posed a seemingly simple question:

“What is or where is the cloud?”

The answers ranged from humorous takes by the younger attendees to insightful explanations from industry veterans, showcasing the diverse perspectives within our community.

A highlight of the episode is a captivating demonstration by Jennifer Andos, illustrating how the internet works in a way that’s both engaging and educational.

We wrap up with our signature audacious question, answered thoughtfully by Jayson Hamilton of ABM Industries, leaving us with much to ponder.

🔊 Note: The background music was lively! For the best experience, we recommend turning on closed captions.

This episode captures the essence of what makes our industry special, passion, knowledge, and a touch of fun.

Tune in to experience the event's vibrancy and the insights shared by our incredible guests. Thank You Brian Tinsman with POUNCE Solutions for letting Beyond the Megawatt join in the fun!

Hosts Mara and Val introduce their new podcast "Beyond the Megawatt" from Data Center World, created specifically to amplify the voices of tech leaders who are actually building data centers but rarely get heard at conferences. Tired of the same perspectives week after week, they're digging into the weeds to find the people tackling real pain points and asking the audacious question: "Is it actually working?"

Expect tough conversations, industry callouts, and plenty of laughter as they learn from those building infrastructure right now.

New episodes will drop every Thursday.

Connect with Mara & Val:

https://beyondthemegawatt.com/

https://www.marajadeconsulting.com/

https://valconsultants.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-the-megawatt-podcast

https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterchic/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-crafton-mba-0362b816/