Critical Careers - Women Building Careers in Digital Infrastructure - Book - Page 54
Critical Careers
MID CAREER
How did you 昀椀rst discover digital
infrastructure, and what led you to the
role you’re in today?
I’ve always been drawn to creative, design-led work. I studied interior
design and architecture at university in Leicester, UK, which is really
where my interest started. After that, I spent a couple of years working
as a kitchen designer, so still very much in that creative space, but in a
completely different way to what I do now.
I then went back home to Cardiff and ended up stepping into a role that
was much more technical and engineering-focused. It wasn’t something
I had deliberately set out to do but I quickly realised I really enjoyed that
side of the work. It challenged me in new ways and gave me a different
perspective on the industry.
About two years into that role, I was introduced to data centres, and that’s
where everything really changed for me. Since then, I’ve been in digital
infrastructure for around eight years, and over ten years in construction.
What’s kept me here is the pace and the scale of the industry. It’s fastmoving, constantly evolving, and there is always something new to learn.
It feels like you’re part of a growing industry that’s shaping the future,
which makes it really exciting.
Mariah
Naeem
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER | PAROC PANEL SYSTEM AND HOESCH
52