30572_Kao Data Critical Careers_Pages - Flipbook - Page 81
Can you share your
journey into the data
centre industry?
What are the biggest challenges
you’ve faced as a woman in the
data centre industry?
What attracted you to civil
engineering in the 昀椀rst place?
eventeen years ago, I began working
at IBM in Colombia where I was
responsible for overseeing the
infrastructure setup for our data centre
projects. This role involved ensuring that
everything from the access 昀氀oors to the
CRAC units was correctly implemented.
ome of the biggest challenges I’ve faced have
revolved around navigating the prevalent cultural
attitudes here in Latin America. The culture can be
quite chauvinistic. Being in a leadership role added another
layer of complexity, as it often meant I had to assert myself in
situations where my decisions were not readily accepted.
I
S
When I initially received the interview call
from IBM, I was surprised. They were aware
of my background in civil engineering, yet
that was precisely what they required. Once
I joined, I quickly grew to understand the
complexity of the data centre environment,
extending beyond traditional civil
engineering to encompass critical electrical
and electronic systems.
During this time my skills extended beyond
traditional engineering, introducing me to
the technical and operational demands of
data centres.
It’s been a rewarding journey, transforming
my professional outlook and opening new
avenues in the tech-oriented sector of
global real estate.
81
S
For instance, when I would make a decision, there was often
immediate pushback or debate, not necessarily because of
the decision itself, but because it was coming from me—a
woman. I noticed that if a male colleague had given the
same directive, the reaction might have been different.
Thankfully, I had a fantastic colleague who supported
me tremendously. Whenever I made a call on something
and it was questioned, he would reinforce my decision by
reminding the team that it was 昀椀nal. His support helped me
push initiatives forward and maintain authority within the
team. We became great friends, and I think his respect for
me and his willingness to back me up made a
signi昀椀cant difference.
Overcoming these challenges wasn’t easy, but knowing
what I was getting into when I chose this career path helped
me prepare mentally and emotionally. Being aware of the
potential pushback made me more resilient and taught me
how to assert my expertise and leadership more effectively,
despite the challenges.
knew I wanted to be an engineer, but wasn’t sure
which type. In Colombia, where I studied, there
were two main universities to consider. One allowed
you to defer choosing your speci昀椀c engineering
discipline until after you’d started, giving you time to
explore basic subjects like physics that all engineers
need. The other university, where I ended up enrolling,
required you to choose your 昀椀eld of engineering right
from the start.
They offered four types of engineering: systems,
industrial, electronic, and civil. I went through a process
of elimination with each option. It was almost like
saying, “Not this one, not this one... Okay, let’s go with
this one.” Looking back, I’m really glad I chose civil
engineering. Even though I don’t always do typical civil
engineering work now, it’s been an important element
throughout my career.
What I love most about civil engineering is the tangible
aspect—you can actually see and touch what you’ve
built. Whether it’s imagining and constructing a house
or any other structure, you see your work come to life,
and its success is a direct re昀氀ection of your skills. It’s
incredibly rewarding. So, while it might have started
from a place of uncertainty, my choice led me to a 昀椀eld
I genuinely love.
