30572_Kao Data Critical Careers_Pages - Flipbook - Page 72
What drew you to the digital infrastructure industry?
fter law school, where I initially
focused on criminal law, family law
and litigation, I discovered a passion
for real estate law while working at a general
practice 昀椀rm. This interest in negotiation and
large transactions guided my transition to
American Tower, where I managed a team and
handled signi昀椀cant acquisitions, doubling the
company’s infrastructure asset portfolio. This
role not only honed my leadership skills but
also deepened my expertise in transactional
law and technical infrastructure.
A
Melanie
Kiely
Global Head, Site Selection &
Expansion Strategy, Oracle
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Subsequently, a recruiter approached me
for a role at T-Mobile, leading to a 13-year
tenure where I took on various legal and
business responsibilities, from enhancing
tower portfolio valuations to facilitating
major mergers like the MetroPCS & Sprint
integrations. At T-Mobile, I expanded my
skill set further into cloud technology and
IT, supporting digital transformations and
learning about the infrastructure underlying
modern telecommunications.
transitioned into a business executive role as
Director of Network Engineering & Operations,
where a led a team of engineers, TPMs and real
estate professionals optimizing T-Mobile’s
asset portfolio.
I
Later, I joined Microsoft’s Cloud Operations &
Innovation department, where I established a
Lease Centre of Excellence and led the Portfolio
Management Organisation, securing Microsoft’s
leased data centre portfolio for the long-term.
In 2024, I moved to Oracle to lead the global
site selection organisation—a role leveraging my
leadership and commercial negotiation experience.
This industry demands a proactive approach to career
development, a willingness to embrace change, and
an eagerness to learn from each new role. My advice to
anyone entering this 昀椀eld is to seize every opportunity,
continuously expand your skill set, and remain
adaptable—an approach that has proven essential for
success in the dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape
of digital infrastructure.
