From Small-Town India to Deploying Massive AI Campuses with Abhishek Garg

On this episode of the Nomad Futurist Podcast, cohosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence sit down with Abhishek Garg, Senior Real Estate Development Manager at Amazon Web Services (AWS) and an Nomad Futurist Foundation Ambassador. Abhishek shares his journey from a curious child in a small Indian border town to designing and building massive AI-ready data center campuses that power the cloud. Along the way, he explains why digital infrastructure and the skilled trades that support it are the unsung backbone of the AI era. Abhishek describes his role at AWS as his “dream job”, combining engineering, finance, and real estate to deliver the physical foundations of AI. His non-linear career — from engineering in India to real estate strategy at Ernst & Young — taught him to value power, kilowatts, and infrastructure in addition to traditional square footage: "The coding you are doing, the software development you are creating, that’s going to be stored somewhere, and that’s the physical infrastructure I’m there to provide." Curiosity shaped Abhishek’s path from an early age. Watching his father develop properties, he became fascinated by turning empty land into buildings. Although he first pursued engineering, he later returned to real estate, earning a master’s degree at Arizona State University for hands-on development experience. Throughout the episode, he stresses that the cloud is physical: concrete, steel, and power. Building AI campuses is a complex, multi-year process requiring vast land, utilities, and coordination. Many underestimate the scale behind tech infrastructure: "I believe a lot of people think cloud is abstract, but it actually requires millions of square feet of land and building. I help build cloud and provide it a home.” Recognizing the human capital gap in digital infrastructure, Abhishek encourages valuing the transferable skills of electricians, engineers, and construction professionals. He advocates for short, intensive programs to expose students and mid-career professionals to the industry and its high-paying opportunities: "No matter what degree or background you have, if you are curious and willing to learn, you can definitely get into it. There’s no stopping you." He stresses the importance of educating communities about the critical role of data centers and AI in daily life and uses platforms like Nomad Futurist to bridge knowledge gaps. While optimistic about AI’s potential, he reinforces that human intelligence remains essential: "AI is the groundwork for everything. Help build it and get excited about it… This is just the beginning." Abhishek’s journey shows that building the future of technology requires vision, persistence, and a willingness to embrace unconventional paths. His story reminds us that the most powerful innovations are grounded in curiosity, human skill, and the infrastructure that makes it all possible. Connect with Abhishek Garg on LinkedIn and carry forward his final piece of advice: "Curiosity will lead you everywhere. Your career is not linear. Stick to your path and stay interested in the world."

The latest episode of the Nomad Futurist Podcast features Dr. Casey Eldringhoff, in conversation with co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence, and it’s a powerful exploration of leadership, resilience, and humanity in mission-critical infrastructure.From the U.S. Navy’s nuclear power program to senior leadership at QTS Data Centers, Eldringhoff’s journey is defined by technical excellence, courage, and an unwavering commitment to people. But it was not one that began with encouragement, but rather with a challenge.At the start of her career, she was told she didn’t belong in the Navy’s nuclear program simply because she was a woman. For many, that kind of doubt might have closed a door. For her, it lit a fire. Instead of backing down, she chose to prove that determination outpaces bias every time:“They told me I couldn’t do it ’cause I was a girl, which meant I’m gonna do it.”She went on to become one of the first women to reenter the program, setting a new standard for what leadership looks like in high-stakes environments. That defining chapter forged her belief that real leadership demands both excellence and bravery.What sets her apart today is her rare fusion of technical mastery and deep emotional intelligence. While advancing her engineering career, she also pursued studies in psychology and ministry, strengthening her ability to lead not just systems, but people:“I just always try to use my superpower for good and not evil.” That combination of engineering rigor and emotional intelligence now informs how she leads high-performing teams in high-pressure data center environments, where operational excellence must coexist with empathy, trust, and clarity.A central theme of the episode is retention and mentorship for women in STEM and data centers. Drawing on her doctoral research into women’s mentorship and retention, Casey challenges organizations to move beyond recruitment metrics:“We can recruit and recruit and recruit, and we can have really great talent acquisition numbers. But if we’re not doing the right things to keep them, did it really matter that we recruited them?”She offers actionable insight into building mentorship ecosystems, fostering belonging, and creating workplace cultures where women — and all professionals — can stay, grow, and lead.This conversation also dives into the realities of operational “frenzy,” leadership during crisis, foster parenting during COVID, and Casey’s vision for a more inclusive, resilient future for the digital infrastructure industry.If you’re passionate about data centers, resilient leadership, or cultivating workplaces where people genuinely thrive, this episode is one you won’t want to miss. Listen in for an honest, energizing conversation with Dr. Casey Eldringhoff and be sure to connect with her on LinkedIn to keep the dialogue going.

The latest episode of the Nomad Futurist Podcast, recorded live at the DCF Trends Summit, features Robert (Bob) Cassiliano, Chairman and CEO of 7x24 Exchange, in conversation with co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence. Drawing on more than three decades in mission-critical infrastructure, Bob reflects on where the industry began and what it must confront next. From the earliest days of digital infrastructure, a divide existed between technology and facilities teams. Bob shares how 7x24 Exchange was founded to close that gap, bringing both sides together around a shared focus on resilience, reliability, and uptime: “The whole purpose was to bring both groups together so they would understand each other’s challenges. Because in the end, it’s all about business objectives.” As the industry evolved from mainframes to today’s high-density environments, expectations around uptime, power, and complexity skyrocketed. While the tools and scale have changed dramatically, Bob notes that many of the core challenges remain; only intensified by the pace of growth: “The challenges that existed in 1990 are still here; they’ve just grown faster and become more complex.” AI now sits at the center of this transformation. Bob discusses how it’s driving unprecedented power densities and forcing a reexamination of energy sourcing, cooling strategies, and site selection, while also raising broader concerns about speed, responsibility, and oversight: “If you build this so quickly without guardrails, you’re not just going to accelerate good things, you’re going to accelerate bad things.” Workforce development naturally becomes a central thread in the conversation, as Bob reflects on how early outreach efforts focused on universities ultimately revealed a more fundamental challenge: many people simply weren’t aware that data center careers even exist. That insight reshaped 7x24 Exchange’s approach, prompting a strategic shift further upstream to engage students and families before career paths begin to take shape: “We were hitting universities, but we really had to get to elementary students and their parents because they didn’t know these careers were even an option.” Bob brings clarity and context to the challenges shaping digital infrastructure today. Connect with him on LinkedIn to follow his ongoing insights and industry leadership.

On the latest Nomad Futurist Podcast, co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence sit down with Adam Gibson, Director of techvox and a Nomad Futurist Foundation Ambassador, to discuss his unconventional journey into data centers and fiber. The conversation spans his work across Australia, New Zealand, and APAC, highlighting how curiosity, community, and fundamentals can drive a long, global career in digital infrastructure. Adam’s journey begins in his early teens, as a 13-year-old immersed in video games, building LANs with friends and running grassroots events that unknowingly set the foundation for his first data center role: “I came straight from high school into the space and haven’t looked back… I’m still technically uneducated. However, data centers make you run fast and learn quick.” Throughout the episode, Adam underscores a core truth of the industry: today’s AI platforms, hyperscale campuses, and cloud services are built on the same foundational principles he first encountered in early server farms and the dial-up gaming era. He argues that the Internet has become a true utility, selected alongside power, water, and gas when moving into a home, yet its physical foundations are often taken for granted: “We still need the fundamentals… people’s crazy cat videos, AI videos, e-mails and everything else need to be stored somewhere, cooled somewhere, powered somewhere and connected somewhere.” That perspective carries into Adam’s work as a Nomad Futurist Foundation Ambassador, where he is focused on attracting new talent as data center and subsea investment accelerates across APAC. He highlights Australia’s role in global subsea connectivity and New Zealand’s renewable energy strength as forces turning the region into a critical digital crossroads in need of skilled people. His message to newcomers is clear and encouraging. Opportunities span mechanical systems, networking, AI, and operations, and success comes from respecting the fundamentals and staying curious: “Don’t just jump in as a VP going ‘I’ve got this’… work yourself into it; there’s a spot for you.” The episode also shows the human side of a global career: Adam relies on music, movement, and simple meals to stay grounded while traveling for industry events and work, logging more than 100 flights and navigating relentless time zones. He highlights major event hosts, all partners and supporters of the Foundation, showcasing the community-driven side of the industry. While he plans to slow down, his commitment to the field remains unwavering: “I’ll never miss a PTC, I’ll never miss an ITW, I’ll never miss a Capacity or a DataCloud… but at some point it’s about lifestyle and support.” Connect with Adam Gibson on LinkedIn to continue the conversation and learn more about his work across APAC, digital infrastructure, and talent development.

Nomad Futurist kicks off 2026 with a powerful conversation led by co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence, highlighting Liliya Valihun, whose work sits at the intersection of education, technology, and humanitarian impact. In this episode, she shares how a personal calling to serve Ukrainian orphans evolved into a full ecosystem that uses tech skills to create dignity, opportunity, and national resilience in a time of war. Liliya is open about not coming from a tech background and how curiosity, not credentials, pulled her into data and infrastructure. Her mindset sets the tone for anyone wondering if they “belong” in technology: “I think it’s not about what you are inclined towards. It’s about your willingness to learn something new every day, be curious and just, you know, be open to anything new.” Liliya explains how witnessing both the potential of Ukrainian orphans and the effects of conflict inspired her and her husband to create a tangible solution. That solution became Hebron Academy, a comprehensive environment for disadvantaged youth: “We bought a big facility, we call it Stanford for Orphans…providing not only education, future and hope to disadvantaged youth orphans in Ukraine, but also room and board, life skills, physical support, mental health care.” She also speaks candidly about the human cost of war and the work needed to rebuild a nation beyond its infrastructure. For Liliya, trauma can become a source of resilience and strength: “The biggest need…is not just rebuilding and investing into structures… but in people, helping them with the trauma…that trauma is not their weakness, but it’s their strengths…redirecting the pain into power.” Liliya closes by highlighting that lasting change comes from service, community, and long-term relationships; not just technology or capital. Her story embodies the values at the heart of the Nomad Futurist Foundation: curiosity, courage, and compassion can turn even the darkest challenges into opportunities for innovation, growth, and meaningful impact. To learn more about Liliya Valihun, connect with her on LinkedIn.

Six seasons in, the Nomad Futurist end-of-year episode feels less like a traditional recap and more like a stake in the ground for where the Foundation, and the industry, go next. Co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence look back on a year where education, access, and community-building around digital infrastructure evolved from a passion project into a global movement, while also setting the stage for a more focused, accountable next phase. “This doesn’t feel like just another year. It feels like a turning point, and what’s different now is that the conversations are turning into commitments.” From AI’s breakneck acceleration to heightened scrutiny around power, sustainability, and talent, Nabeel and Phil reflect on how digital infrastructure has shifted from a background utility to a front-page story, and how the Nomad Futurist Foundation has stepped into that spotlight to demystify the space for students, career-changers, and communities worldwide. Nabeel underscores this shift, noting: “At some point, watching becomes a choice. This industry doesn’t need more spectators; it needs participants.” The episode also explores what it truly means to build an organization that leads with action, not optics. As Nabeel reflects on the Foundation’s decision to take action and help bridge the digital gap: “What I’m most proud of is that we didn’t wait for permission.” The two speak candidly about the challenges of turning a podcast into a nonprofit, the reality of building a “volunteer army,” and the deliberate choice to keep the Foundation grounded in service rather than self-promotion. Nabeel highlights the Foundation’s approach, with Phil contributing his perspective on the importance of staying mission-driven: “Nomad Futurist isn’t about branding; it’s about building pathways, and we’ve shown that a global foundation can move fast and still stay grounded.” Looking ahead, the conversation shifts from growth to intentionality: “The next phase is about depth, not just reach.” Nabeel and Phil share plans to strengthen regional ecosystems, expand global efforts from North America and Europe to ANZ, and create frameworks and programs that outlast any individual, while keeping authenticity and measurable impact at the center. They highlight Mana Hui, a new “powerful gathering” launching at PTC in Hawaii, as an example of how curated, values-driven convenings can unite communities and leaders while honoring culture, responsibility, and true collaboration. “The curation of Mana Hui reminds me that collaboration isn’t transactional; it’s relational, and the gathering isn’t about visibility, it’s about alignment.” They close with both an invitation and a challenge to anyone who feels a stake in the future of technology, talent, and infrastructure: “The future isn’t something we wait for; it’s something we build together. And I’m optimistic, not because it’s easy, but because people are finally stepping up.” This episode is both a heartfelt reflection on all that the Nomad Futurist Foundation has accomplished this year and a rallying call for those ready to help shape what comes next, with gratitude for the progress made and excitement for what 2026 holds. To learn more and get involved, visit the Foundation’s website here.

In this episode of the Nomad Futurist Podcast, co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence are joined by Lovisa Tedestedt, Strategic Account Executive for Cloud & Service Providers at Schneider Electric. Lovisa shares her unique journey from studying economics in Sweden to building a career that spans textiles, entrepreneurship, and leading complex technology accounts globally. Lovisa opens up about the importance of following your passions while embracing unexpected career pivots. She reflects on how her early experiences — studying textiles, interning at APC, and later moving to China — shaped her approach to business and leadership: "Very rarely in life do we get a chance to press the stop button or pause button and rediscover what we want to do in life." Her story highlights the value of cross-industry learning. Lovisa explains how the skills she developed running her own small fashion business translated seamlessly into managing large-scale accounts in the tech sector: "The way I approached the job was the same way I approached growing a small fashion company. It's all about scaling, it's all about resources, it's about understanding the customer, understanding the business." Lovisa also emphasizes the need for purpose and continuous learning. After years in corporate leadership, she recently returned to school to deepen her technical knowledge in data center systems, enhancing her ability to authentically connect with customers: "If I could deepen my knowledge of everything I talk about every day with customers, that would give me purpose, that would kind of give me a sense of achievement." Finally, Lovisa offers practical advice for young people entering the workforce, urging them to consider trades and technical fields as viable and lucrative career paths. She stresses the combination of skill, opportunity, and entrepreneurship in shaping meaningful, high-impact careers. This episode is a fascinating exploration of adaptability, lifelong learning, and bridging diverse experiences to create professional success. To stay connected with Lovisa Tedestedt and learn more about her work, follow her on LinkedIn. 

In this Nomad Futurist episode, GEICO’s Head of Infrastructure — and newly appointed Nomad Futurist Foundation Ambassador — Rebecca Weekly joins co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence to share how a curious kid dismantling gadgets grew into a leader shaping large-scale infrastructure and AI-driven environments. Through stories of early experiments, career pivots, and lessons in adaptability, she offers an authentic blueprint for the next generation of technologists, particularly young women in STEM. Rebecca traces her path from taking apart transparent phones and building her first server at age 12 to overseeing power, cooling, connectivity, data centers, and cloud operations across GEICO’s 349 sites and expansive multi-cloud footprint. She distills her responsibilities with clarity: “Everything that we own, every site that we own, I own power, cooling, connectivity. I own all of the logical assets and physical assets at those locations.” Raised in a non-engineering family in Sacramento, Rebecca found a sense of belonging in the computer lab, where tech-minded counterculture kids and musicians helped root her in engineering. She reflects on that formative moment: “I found my people in the nerds. It had nothing to do with family... The tech came in from the nerds hanging out in the school.” Throughout the conversation, Rebecca underscores the importance of adaptability, long-term thinking, and focusing on the “so what” behind technology — capabilities she developed across roles in banking, fabs, semiconductors, EDA, and product management before moving into large-scale infrastructure leadership. Her advice for her younger self, and for today’s emerging technologists, is both simple and profound: “Stay curious. Hang out with the nerds… It is absolutely who you surround yourself with and where you focus your energy that defines your outcomes, especially in the world of AI.” Rebecca also speaks candidly about navigating male-dominated environments in finance, fabrication, and high-tech engineering, explaining how being an outsider ultimately became a leadership asset. She urges listeners not to let the experience of being “the only one” diminish their voice: “Being an outlier early, the hardest part is your own mental load. Worry less about what [people] think of you or that you think differently. Worry more about just asking the question.”  In the end, Rebecca’s story is a testament to curiosity, resilience, and the power of community. Her journey demonstrates how embracing difference, seeking out passionate peers, and staying focused on meaningful impact can shape not just a career, but the future of technology itself. To learn more about Rebecca Weekly, connect with her on LinkedIn.  

In the latest episode of the Nomad Futurist Podcast, co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence sit down with Chris Pruitt, Senior Director of Data Center Operations at CoreSite, and a seasoned veteran of the digital infrastructure world whose personal journey offers a masterclass in resilience, curiosity, and transformation. Once a behind-the-scenes part of the tech ecosystem, data centers are now in the spotlight, sparking conversations in local communities and capturing public interest like never before. As Chris puts it: "Our worlds have officially collided with the rest of the outside world, more acutely, I think, in the last 12 months than in the previous 29 years.” Chris’s story begins in Tennessee, marked by early manual labor, a detour in college, and a pivotal turn through the U.S. Navy. Instead of letting early setbacks define him, he turned them into stepping stones, propelled by strong mentorship and relentless drive. His advice to anyone finding their way in tech rings clear: “Look for a mentor. If you find something you’re passionate about, a mentor can help guide you."  And it's not just talk. Chris’s career proves that failure isn’t final, but rather often the foundation of future success: “Just because you failed doesn’t mean you can’t make it.” For newcomers curious about the industry, Chris offers one of the simplest — and most powerful — pieces of advice: ask questions. "If you want to ask [an industry veteran] something, they're more than happy to tell you all you want to know... That’s the thing kids, you got to start asking. Start probing.”   Whether you’re a student, a career changer, or a technologist looking to deepen your impact, Chris Pruitt’s story is a blueprint for building a meaningful career in digital infrastructure. His message is timeless: resilience, mentorship, curiosity, and openness are the keys to thriving in an industry that’s evolving faster, and mattering more, than ever. Stay connected with Chris Pruit on LinkedIn to learn more.   

In this special live edition of the Nomad Futurist Podcast, recorded at the Data Center Frontier Trends Summit, co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence sit down with industry veteran Doug Recker, founder of Duos Edge AI, for a conversation that traces his remarkable journey through the evolving world of digital infrastructure. From his beginnings as a U.S. Marine to building and selling multiple data center companies, Doug’s career is a masterclass in grit, intuition, and purpose-driven innovation. Over more than three decades, he’s helped shape — and reshape — some of the most successful edge computing models in the industry. At the heart of Doug’s mission lies a deep belief in opportunity and education, especially for those too often overlooked. Inspired by a high school teacher who recognized his natural gift for connecting with people, Doug has built his career around opening doors for others. That teacher once told him: “You interact with people. You know how to treat people. And if you have a product, you can tell you’re passionate about it.” Today, through Duos Edge AI, Doug and his team are deploying modular “pods” across Texas school districts, bringing compute and connectivity closer to rural communities while helping schools cut costs and strengthen their networks. “We’re showing them about a 30% savings — while giving them redundancy, better connectivity, and even new ways to generate revenue.” But his vision goes far beyond infrastructure. Doug is working to install training pods directly on school campuses, giving students hands-on experience in data center operations, from racking and stacking to integration and design. It’s not just about building pipelines into the industry; it’s about creating pathways to lasting opportunity. Doug’s story is also one of humility and integrity. He’s experienced the highs of major exits and the lows of failed launches, yet his principles have never wavered: “When you owe somebody, you’ve got to pay them back — and you’ve got to give it 110%.” That mindset has earned him not only success, but deep trust from investors, partners, and peers alike. As Doug puts it: “I’m not the smartest guy in the room, but I surround myself with people who are smart in their own ways. Cancel all the outside noise. Do what you’re going to do — and do it until you hit the finish line.” Doug Recker continues to empower the next generation through education and opportunity, a mission that closely aligns with the Nomad Futurist Foundation’s vision of inspiring future leaders in digital infrastructure. To stay connected with Doug, follow him on LinkedIn.