30572_Kao Data Critical Careers_Pages - Flipbook - Page 64
Lizzy
McDowell
Director of Marketing,
Kao Data
How did you get into the data
centre industry?
y journey into the data centre industry was
completely unexpected. Before this, I was stuck
in the photocopier industry, which was honestly
miserable. It was during COVID, and while I tried to make
the best of a bad situation, the job was draining, and my
self-con昀椀dence took a real hit.
M
Out of nowhere, six days before my wedding, I got
contacted by a recruiter about a job in the data centre
industry. I had never even heard of a data centre let alone
knew there was a whole industry, but I wasn’t happy
where I was so I 昀椀gured it wouldn’t hurt to give it a shot.
Two days before my wedding, I had my 昀椀rst interview at
Kao Data and everything just clicked. I got married, went
on my honeymoon, and came back to a second interview
that felt like fate.
At the time, I didn’t even know what the data centre
industry was, but looking back that leap of faith was
the best decision I could have made. The industry is so
supportive of women, and it has such a forward-thinking,
opportunity-focused vibe compared to the archaic
environment I came from. The women (and men) I’ve met
have been so supportive, and it’s made me feel like I
truly belong.
I absolutely love what I do and I’m so grateful that the
data centre industry found me. If I had known about it
earlier, I would have chosen it in a heartbeat.
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