Women in Digital Infrastructure
The women making waves
in digital infrastructure
Andrea Stosic
What has been your journey into digital infrastructure?
I’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.
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 fulfilling.
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 influence what happens in the future. I think by sharing our experiences, we can encourage more women to consider this exciting field right out of university, giving them a head start in their careers.
Barbara Sacha
What has been your journey into the data centre industry?
Coming from a family of mechanical engineers, pursuing a technical career felt like a natural choice, and I had a strong foundation in maths and physics. I studied building services engineering and started my career in construction, working on large-scale projects across residential, hospitality, and healthcare sectors in the Middle East for a decade.
These projects were fast-paced, multidisciplinary, and required complex engineering solutions, which prepared me well for what came next. In 2017, I moved to London and, by chance, found myself in the data centre sector when I joined Cundall. The company was looking to build out its design management function for large projects, and my experience in leading diverse, high-intensity projects fit perfectly.
Since then, I’ve been deeply involved in data centre design management, overseeing all aspects of the process and growing a strong team within Cundall’s critical systems division. Now, mechanical, electrical, and design management are at the heart of what we do, driving the sector forward. Looking back, while I didn’t plan for this career path, the transition into data centres made perfect sense.
Bijal Mehta
How did you come to be in the digital infrastructure industry?
I come from an architectural background and have spent about 20 years working in architecture. My first data centre project happened while I was completing my degree. I worked with Imagination Technologies designing a data centre as part of my final case study piece. This was something I could lead independently, helping me showcase my skills as an architect.
In the years that followed I’ve worked on projects for a variety of different industries and purposes. For the London Olympics I supported the IT team to deliver results, timing, and scoring rooms for the test events in 2011. I’ve also worked on schools, student accommodation, science labs, and retail. All of which require meticulous attention to specifications and must integrate considerations like fire safety, acoustics, and structural integrity.
More recently, working with MCa in Nottingham, I worked with Kao Data to deliver KLON-2. That project was like my baby as I was involved from start to finish and something I was very proud of. Today I’m working for RPS to lead a multidisciplinary team on the design of a hyperscale data centre campus. Whilst doing the day-to-day, I assist the team with feasibility studies for prospective DC sites. Data centres bring their unique set of challenges and opportunities, so it’s an exciting industry to work in.
Candace Kumi
How did you join the digital infrastructure industry?
The way I got involved in the digital infrastructure industry happened organically through exposure during my previous role at a University Technical College, UTC Heathrow. At the time, I was managing an initiative called the Digital Futures Programme, designed to bridge the gap between students and a career in the digital infrastructure industry. My role involved organising workshops and inviting industry professionals to campus to give students a real insight into what happens inside data centres. There was a strong focus on revealing the exciting but unseen career paths available for the younger generation within the sector.
I knew that staying in education wasn’t my endgame and whilst on my search an opportunity presented itself at LMG, which opened the door to a trainee position in project management.
The transition has been seamless. LMG’s commitment has equipped me with a diverse skill set which has enabled me for future success, through various courses. It has not been just about mastering the technical details but also honing my skills in project management. The training has given me the essential tools and techniques that will be critical to my success moving forward.
Catriona Shearer
What drew you to the digital infrastructure industry?
The digital infrastructure industry is my third career pivot. Initially, I started in sales, progressing from field sales to sales and marketing directorships. I developed a knack for handling challenging accounts and situations because I had an innate ability to say no, but then quickly find an alternative that worked for both the company and the client.
This skill in reframing situations led me into turnaround roles, where I focused on merging parts of a business or improving profitability.
After several strenuous assignments, I realised I needed a change from the all-encompassing environment of business turnarounds to something more operational. Despite my extensive experience, making the move into a direct operational role proved challenging as no one would interview me because I didn’t have direct experience in the role. Frustrated but determined, I decided to go the self-employed route, gaining project management qualifications and engaging in various consulting roles that ranged from sales and leadership training to more traditional consulting projects across several industries.
Charlotte Blackburn
Can you share your journey into the data centre industry?
What drew me to this field initially was the operational excellence aspect of the work, which I found really interesting.
In data centres, you’re constantly on high alert because so many things need to function perfectly at all times. The risk of something failing is significant, and managing these risks effectively requires a tight-knit team and a dynamic approach.
This environment, where operational excellence is critical, and the pace is fast, really appealed to me.
I enjoyed the team spirit and the dynamic nature of the industry, which is rapidly evolving and attracting a lot of interest. In 2019, I joined Gyron, which shortly thereafter became part of NTT Global Data Centres due to a major merger. However, as NTT transitioned into a vast global entity, I felt the need to be part of a smaller, more agile organization where I could have a more impactful role.
That’s when I moved to Kao Data. Kao Data is still in the earlier stages of its growth, and that’s exciting because it allows me to be more involved and help shape the direction of the company.
The opportunity to join Kao Data came at just the right time, and I was very happy to accept it, looking forward to contributing to and growing with the company in this vibrant industry.
Claire Ayles
How did you get into the tech industry?
I started with a degree in geography, which had nothing to do with tech—it was just my favorite subject. My first job after university was as a trainee chartered accountant, but due to a recession at the time, my start date was delayed. I ended up doing temp work in a role at BT working on internal comms around sustainability and recycling.
After going back to accountancy to begin my trainee role, I realised very quickly it wasn’t the right fit for me. The experience at BT helped me recognise that I was good at comms, so I decided to pursue a career in PR.
I ended up in tech PR, largely due to the timing—the dot-com bubble was in full swing in 2000, and there were plenty of tech PR jobs. On the face of it, it wasn’t glamorous work compared to consumer or travel PR, but that’s how I stumbled into the industry. It was a steep learning curve, especially since it was B2B tech, which was complex and specific. But getting that job with Johnson King was a life-changing moment for me.
Critical Careers: Women in Digital Infrastructure celebrates the achievements of women in this vital industry and shows the many different faces of success. Our aim was simple: to shine a light on the stories of remarkable women, across all ages, backgrounds, disciplines, geographies, and career stages, who are thriving in digital infrastructure.
Recognition in our industry often comes through ‘Top 10’ or ‘Top 100’ lists. While these moments of celebration have their value, they can’t always capture the countless, impactful contributions of women whose dedication and talent quietly power the heart of our industry. Through honest, inspiring interviews, we share the stories of both well-known leaders and the many women whose names may be less familiar, but whose impact is just as meaningful.
The women above are pioneering an industry and doing so while bringing their full, authentic selves to work. What’s emerging is a community defined by belonging, possibility, and purpose. One of the themes that came through loud and clear is how much this industry values diverse perspectives. Digital infrastructure isn’t just about technology; it’s about creativity, resilience, agility and a willingness to adapt and grow. The women featured here have taken all kinds of paths to get where they are, proving that there’s no single route to success in this field. Whether they came from engineering, real estate, law, marketing, human resources or completely different industries, each one found a place where their skills and passion could thrive
Thank you for celebrating these incredible women with us. The future of our industry is brighter because of them—and because of all those who will follow.