In the latest episode of NEDAS Live!, episode 63 features a fresh and vital perspective on the data center industry with Luke Adams, analyst at DPGlobal Assets and the co-founder of Data Center Youngbloods. Host, and CEO of iMiller Public Relations, Ilissa Miller explores how this young leader is paving the way for new talent and greater inclusivity in the digital infrastructure sector.​

Creating Opportunity in the Foundation of AI

DPGlobal Assets specializes in global digital infrastructure development, particularly data centers, from ideation through operation. Adams, who transitioned from being a college graduate to an industry analyst, shares what drew him to the sector: the realization that data centers are at the heart of the AI revolution and the backbone of the digital world. “Data centers are the reason that ChatGPT exists, and they’re the reason that AI will continue to skyrocket,” Adams explains, reflecting on how the sector’s unseen complexity offers immense opportunities for recent graduates willing to learn and grow.​

Launching Data Center Youngbloods

Noting the disconnect between academia and the industry, Adams co-founded Data Center Youngbloods with his brother to fix the pipeline. Adams observed that most industry events were filled with seasoned professionals, making young entrants feel like the odd ones who were out of place. Data Center Youngbloods aims to make digital infrastructure careers visible, accessible, and welcoming by bridging the workforce gap and connecting newcomers with mentorship, certification pathways, and a growing peer community. “We’re building the community that I wish existed when I first started out,” says Adams.​

Empowerment, Mentorship, and Debunking Myths

Adams also highlights the power of mentorship and networking. Young professionals often get discouraged by strict experience requirements, but he urges them to be curious, proactive, and fearless in asking questions. He credits mentorship for his rapid growth and emphasizes that skills and knowledge can be gained on the job with the right attitude. Data Center Youngbloods is cultivating in-person events, virtual meetings, and access to supportive mentors, resources that Adams lacked when he began.​

Driving Change One Conversation at a Time

As Data Center Youngbloods’ network expands, Adams’s message centers on paying it forward and breaking down barriers for newcomers. The initiative welcomes both seasoned professionals and emerging talent, offering a booking portal for mentorship and building their community through LinkedIn and direct outreach. Adams’s core advice for future leaders: “Everything is learnable. Be proactive, get involved, and don’t be afraid to reach out, no matter your background”.​

To continue the conversation, listen to episode 63 of the podcast here.

The post Building the Next Generation of Data Center Leaders: A Conversation with Luke Adams appeared first on Data Center POST.

As artificial intelligence accelerates across global data centers, conversations often focus on compute, power density, and next-generation infrastructure. But according to Nabeel Mahmood, Strategic Advisor at ZincFive and Brandon Smith, Vice President of Global Sales and Product at ZincFive, the most crucial element of AI scalability isn’t hardware. It’s people.

Moderated by Ilissa Miller, CEO of iMiller Public Relations, this webinar uncovered why the AI workforce, not compute, is the true limitation and what must change for sustainable growth.

People Are the Real Bottleneck in AI Scalability

Mahmood explained that scaling AI isn’t just a matter of adding more servers or GPUs. It requires practitioners who understand data pipelines, model governance, operational resiliency, and infrastructure design. Without skilled talent, organizations face operational risks despite abundant compute. Smith highlighted that AI and machine learning job postings have increased significantly, noting a recent figure showing a 450 percent rise, far outpacing available expertise.

Technical Silos Are Creating a New Skills Crisis

The discussion emphasized a growing gap across disciplines. Electrical, mechanical, IT, and data science teams frequently operate in isolation despite the interdependent nature of modern AI data centers. This fragmentation leads to delays, inefficiencies, and architectures unable to handle today’s dynamic workloads. Smith described the shift from traditional “white space versus black space” to today’s “blended gray space”, where cross-functional knowledge is essential. Mahmood added that the inability to transfer knowledge horizontally and vertically across teams is a major obstacle to scaling AI systems.

Energy Innovation Is Essential for AI Expansion

AI’s spiking, unpredictable workloads challenge a grid that was never designed for ultra-dense compute. Mahmood and Smith both pointed to advanced energy storage solutions, including ZincFive’s high-power nickel-zinc technology, as the key to unlocking performance. These innovations smooth electrical spikes, maximize usable capacity, and support emerging off-grid compute models that reduce dependence on constrained utilities.

Preparing the Future AI Workforce

Both speakers agreed that organizations must treat talent as core infrastructure. That means forecasting future skills, investing in upskilling programs, partnering with universities, and fostering environments where engineers can innovate across disciplines. As Smith noted, the strongest teams of tomorrow will be adaptive, coachable, and ready to evolve alongside rapidly changing AI infrastructure demands.

Watch the webinar below:

The post Why AI Still Needs People: The Workforce Behind the Machines appeared first on Data Center POST.

Episode 62 of the NEDAS Live! Podcast shines a spotlight on Brian Moon, CEO of Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC), who joined host Ilissa Miller, CEO of iMiller Public Relations, for an in-depth conversation ahead of PTC’s 2026 Annual Conference. As PTC prepares for its 48th year connecting the digital infrastructure community, Moon shares how the organization is adapting to the age of AI, meeting evolving industry needs, empowering members, and fostering innovation.

Evolving Beyond Tradition: PTC’s Growth in the Age of AI

PTC has long been recognized for its January conference in Honolulu, a staple for global industry leaders from across wireline, wireless, subsea, satellite, and data center sectors. Brian Moon traces PTC’s evolution from its origins as a Pacific-focused membership meeting to its current role as a global convener, now at the convergence of AI, edge, and cloud innovation. “It isn’t siloed anymore. AI is interconnecting and converging all the other industries. Nothing works without each other now,” Moon notes. Recent conference sell-outs reflect the enthusiastic embrace of PTC’s refreshed programming and more diverse, tech-forward offerings.​

Member-First Mentality and Year-Round Value

Recognizing that industry professionals want more than a once-a-year event, Moon highlights how PTC reinvests its not-for-profit proceeds to support members. From providing meeting spaces at major industry events to organizing exclusive luncheons and ongoing education programs, PTC prioritizes networking, knowledge-sharing, and tangible benefits. “We want to make sure our members see that their dues are going towards something meaningful,” Moon explains. The upcoming conference’s robust member benefits, accessible pricing, and expanded activities demonstrate a commitment to value and inclusion.​

Leadership, Talent, and Next-Gen Empowerment

A major theme this year is leadership, which is embodied by the debut of the Alaka‘i Stage (meaning “to lead” or “to guide” in Hawaiian), which reimagines thought leadership sessions to foster deeper connections between attendees and top executives. PTC is also addressing industry succession with two leadership development initiatives: the Academy Master Class for mid-career professionals and the Top Talent Leadership program in partnership with Columbia Business School. “These are just a few ways that we’re contributing back to the industry,” explains Moon.

Inclusion Initiatives: Laulima and Industry Diversity

PTC’s new Week of Laulima, Hawaiian for “many hands coming together”, puts a spotlight on women in critical infrastructure. Featuring tracks and safe spaces for networking, coaching, and peer celebration, this program is helping drive strong female representation and engagement at the annual event. “We want all participants to feel they belong and can thrive here,” Moon says, as surging engagement in industry group chats and programming shows the impact.​

Looking Ahead: Convening, Educating, and Innovating

As the intersection of AI, data centers, and connectivity accelerates, Moon underscores PTC’s dual role as convener and educator, providing factual context when public perceptions of the digital infrastructure sector are at stake, including environmental and community impacts. The organization aims to support industry growth and keep their members ahead of the curve, whether through connection, education, or advocacy.

With the PTC Annual Conference on the horizon, the organization continues to shape the global conversation, bringing together the leaders, innovators, and future talent driving the digital economy forward.

The PTC’26 event takes place in Honolulu at the Hilton Hawaiian Village starting Sunday, January 18 through Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The invite-only member’s soiree kicks off the festivities on Saturday, January 17, 2026.

For more information about the event, membership and to register for a pass, visit ptc.org.

To continue the conversation, listen to the full podcast episode here.

The post Beyond the Conference: PTC’s Commitment to Connection, Innovation, and Industry Empowerment with Brian Moon appeared first on Data Center POST.

In the latest episode of NEDAS Live!, host, and founder and CEO of iMiller Public Relations, Ilissa Miller sits down with Marci Nigro, Founder and CEO of Purpose Consulting Services. With nearly three decades of experience behind her, Nigro offers a candid, industry-grounded perspective on how artificial intelligence is redefining leadership and talent priorities within digital infrastructure.​

Beginning the conversation in Episode 61, Nigro highlights a dramatic shift: organizations and investors are now evaluating executives through a much broader operational and environmental lens. The new era of leadership demands not only technical expertise, but also a capacity to navigate hypergrowth, manage complex environments, and cultivate innovation. On top of this, leaders are expected to also navigate capital markets and investors.​

She notes a rising need for cross-sector skills, especially in convergence areas like energy and utilities, which were seldom client requirements even a few years ago. Hybrid leadership roles are increasingly sought, ones that combine a myriad of mindsets including, strategist, technologist, and philosopher. Emotional intelligence (EQ) and relational skills have become as vital as industry knowledge, particularly as leaders must excel in high-stakes, fast-paced environments.​

Despite automation’s growing reach, Nigro insists that true success hinges on human-centered leadership. Empathy, vulnerability, and a purposeful approach to relationships matter more than ever, especially at the executive level. Successful leaders align talent to company culture and strategy, refusing to rely on personal connections alone, which is a major change from past hiring habits.​

Culture fit, Nigro stresses, is paramount. “If the culture piece isn’t aligned, it will damage success for both the company and individual,” she observes. Her advice for next-generation executives: invest in self-education, leverage peer knowledge, and remain adaptable as AI reshapes expectations.​

To continue the conversation, listen to the full podcast episode here.

The post Leadership in the Age of AI appeared first on Data Center POST.