30572_Kao Data Critical Careers_Pages - Flipbook - Page 46
Julie
Callagee
CFO,
Atmosphere Data Centres
What has been your path into
digital infrastructure?
y journey into the industry actually began
in a way I never could have anticipated. I
started as the controller for a construction
company, which, at the time, felt far removed from
where I’d ultimately land. But looking back, it turned
out to be a perfect foundation for my role as CFO in
the data centre industry—after all, data centres are
deeply intertwined with construction.
M
However, I was looking for something more dynamic
and global, something that aligned with my
aspirations for a fast-paced, exciting career. That’s
when I decided to pivot into technology, driven
by what people were calling “this thing called the
Internet.” I saw a job posting for a position at Lycos,
an internet search engine company. Although there
wasn’t a position suited to me, I took a chance and
sent my resume with a letter explaining why I wanted
to be part of their team. That bold move paid off—
they created a role for me, and that’s how I began my
tech career.
Later, a former coworker from Lycos recruited me
to join Verne Global, a company that was still in its
infancy—a mere concept. When I joined Verne, I was
the 昀椀rst accountant there, juggling everything from
paying the 昀椀rst bill and running payroll to hiring the
昀椀rst team members. It was incredibly hands-on and I
was exposed to so many facets of the company as I
was there from day one.
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