30572_Kao Data Critical Careers_Pages - Flipbook - Page 34
What drew you into the data
centre industry?
What unique qualities do
women bring to the industry?
hold a degree in chemical engineering and initially
pursued a career in the oil and gas industry, managing
operations of re昀椀nery plants. As one of the few women
managing large teams, often upwards of 50 to 70 men, I
quickly adapted to the predominantly male-dominated
environment. This early career experience shaped my
approach to leadership and team dynamics.
ne of the key strengths women often
contribute is practicality combined with
a direct and focused approach. This
can streamline discussions and decision-making
processes, making it easier to zero in on the core
aspects of any issue or project.
I
While I was there I was managing 24/7 critical operations,
coupled with an important focus on risk management.
After about eight years in petrochemicals, I was
approached via LinkedIn for an opportunity with Google.
They were setting up a new data centre in Denmark and
recruited me to oversee the technical operations from the
ground up, starting with construction and moving through
to fully operational status.
Cláudia
Alves
Strategic Negotiator,
Google
34
Once the Denmark operations were running smoothly,
I was ready for a new challenge and shifted my focus
to Google’s third-party facilities, particularly colocation
centres. I relocated to Italy to support the expansion of
our cloud services, managing datacentre operations in
across Italy and Spain.
During this time, I also pursued an executive MBA to
learn more about business management and 昀椀nance. This
education helped pave the way for my current role, where
I blend my extensive technical expertise in data centre
operations with my passion for business negotiation and
investment 昀椀nance . This mix of skills has proven essential
in my role, allowing me to effectively contribute to and
lead within my current team.
O
Women also tend to be natural problem solvers. In
many cases, women at the table focus on resolving
issues rather than competing for credit.
This orientation towards 昀椀xing and improving rather
than merely winning can lead to more sustainable
and constructive outcomes.
Overall, the presence of women in the data centre
industry brings a balance that is essential for holistic
problem-solving and innovation. By integrating
different perspectives and approaches, teams can
achieve more balanced and effective solutions,
ultimately driving the industry forward in a more
comprehensive and thoughtful manner.
