30572_Kao Data Critical Careers_Pages - Flipbook - Page 9
What has been your journey into
digital infrastructure?
Have there been any moments
that have reinforced your
decision?
What has surprised you
about being a woman in
the industry?
’m originally from Croatia, where I completed my
bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering,
specialising in power systems and high voltage. After
working in Croatia for a year and participating in a student
exchange and internship abroad, I moved to the UK for a
graduate job.
fter that initial switch to data centres,
everything seemed to align perfectly; I was
able to utilise my potential and knowledge
much more effectively, and even accelerate my
learning curve.
What’s truly fascinating about this 昀椀eld is the rapid
pace at which it evolves.
y experience has been unexpectedly
positive. I’ve been pleasantly surprised
by the level of support I’ve received,
predominantly from male colleagues, which is
noteworthy given the industry’s male-dominated
reputation. I never felt that my gender was
a barrier to opportunities or that I was at a
disadvantage.
Every day brings something new—whether it’s a novel
application of existing technology, advancements
in equipment, or breakthroughs in sustainability.
These developments require us to constantly rethink
and strategise, ensuring we’re not just following old
practices without understanding why, but actively
seeking the best solutions.
Perhaps it’s also a re昀氀ection of my perspective,
but I haven’t really encountered any limitations
based solely on being a woman. I’ve been
fortunate to work with very open-minded and
supportive people who have always encouraged
me to pursue my ambitions as they recognised
my drive and potential.
Moreover, the opportunity to work alongside driven,
intelligent people has been incredibly rewarding.
It’s a community that values deep diving into details
and appreciating the preparatory work involved in
proposing innovative solutions. No one ever questions
the time spent researching or exploring alternatives;
instead, they appreciate the thoroughness and
commitment to 昀椀nding the best path forward.
This positive environment has reinforced that, in
my experience, what truly matters is the quality
of ideas, the work itself, and technological
breakthroughs, rather than any other factor. It’s
been a reaf昀椀rming journey, and it’s great to see
that the focus is rightly placed on competence
and innovation.
I
Initially, I worked in the building services industry, but I felt that
I wasn’t fully utilising my engineering background. Eventually,
I discovered an opportunity within a consultancy I worked for
that had a specialised department for critical systems and
data centres. Intrigued by the relevance to my studies and the
high-power demands of data centres, I decided to learn more
and soon transitioned into that department.
I ended up working remotely for the team based in London,
handling projects for well-known hyperscale clients. Working
with hyperscale clients was exhilarating. I loved the fast-paced
environment and the fact that age didn’t matter here—if you
had a good idea or the right answer, people listened. It was
incredibly refreshing and ful昀椀lling.
There’s a part of me that wishes I had discovered the data
centre industry earlier as I could have gained even more
experience by now. But you can’t change the past; you can
only in昀氀uence what happens in the future. I think by sharing
our experiences, we can encourage more women to consider
this exciting 昀椀eld right out of university, giving them a head
start in their careers.
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