Nomad Futurist

Peter Gross has watched the data center industry transform from modest, one-megawatt builds serving financial institutions into the early stages of AI-driven, gigawatt-scale infrastructure reshaping the global digital landscape. In this conversation on the Nomad Futurist Podcast with co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence, he reflects on how quickly the landscape has shifted, and how unprepared parts of the industry may be for what comes next.
Peter is direct about what worries him most: the workforce simply isn’t scaling at the pace of infrastructure demand.
“One of the main concerns about the future of this industry is the fact that there are no real AI data centers in operations yet… we’re going to see this avalanche of giga data centers… and my concern is that we have a shortage of good commissioning agents today.”
As systems grow more complex, the skill set required is also shifting. The boundaries between IT and facilities continue to blur, with technicians now expected to navigate high-voltage DC systems, advanced power distribution, and liquid cooling technologies directly within the server environment.
After decades of relatively consistent design principles, Peter describes a moment of structural reinvention across the industry.
“The architecture has not changed much since I started in this business… Now the whole thing has turned around, and the data center of the future will be fundamentally different… using solid-state transformers and multi-port devices that integrate multiple power sources regardless of voltage or frequency.”
What is taking shape reflects a redesign of core systems rather than incremental upgrades, driven largely by the scale and intensity of AI workloads.
The speed of AI-driven demand caught much of the industry off guard, even among long-time veterans.
“The demand was flat for so long… this whole AI thing came out of nowhere… a company in gaming suddenly discovered its GPUs could be used for something much more useful. It happened extremely fast.”
That acceleration has placed new strain on infrastructure planning, particularly around power delivery. Peter highlights transmission and distribution as the most immediate constraint, as grids struggle to keep pace with where power is needed and when.
Peter’s perspective captures an industry in transition, where infrastructure, technology, and workforce development are all being reshaped at once. His experience underscores a clear reality: the pace of change is being driven by AI, while the ability to support that change depends on how quickly the industry can adapt its systems and develop its people alongside them.
To to learn more about Peter Gross, connect with him on LinkedIn.

Adam Lewis, Managing Director at Citizens M&A Advisory, joins the Nomad Futurist podcast with co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Philip Koblence for a conversation that pulls back the curtain on how telecom, capital markets, and digital infrastructure are colliding in the age of AI — and what it really takes to keep up.
What sets Adam apart is how he learned the business: not just behind a desk, but on the ground. Early in his career, he went beyond financial models and into the environments where networks actually live: carrier hotels, central offices, and the physical backbone of the internet.
That decision to pair finance with firsthand operational insight gave him an edge that continues to define his work today, a mindset that still shapes how he advises in an increasingly complex industry:
“I really wanted to understand the business, not just from a finance lens, but from an operational perspective.”
That complexity has only intensified with the rise of AI. Adam reflects on just how dramatically the landscape has shifted, from modest 5 MW deployments to massive, multi-hundred-megawatt campuses pushing toward gigawatt scale. But this isn’t just growth for growth’s sake. He frames it as a fundamental response to AI’s demands: more compute, denser chips, and entirely new levels of infrastructure. At the same time, he brings a grounded perspective, reminding us that real-world constraints like power and supply chains will ultimately define how far and how fast this expansion can go:
“I certainly didn’t anticipate AI, the scale of demand, the size of data centers, and how mainstream it’s become.”
The conversation also gets personal, turning to careers and the human side of a rapidly evolving industry. Adam views AI as a powerful tool, but only in the hands of people willing to learn, adapt, and stay curious. And while technology will continue to change how we work, his advice cuts through the noise: fulfillment still matters.
“Do what you like… it really sucks to wake up every morning and hate your job.”
This episode is a candid look at an industry in motion told through the lens of someone who has seen it from every angle. If you’re trying to understand where digital infrastructure is heading, how AI is reshaping the landscape, or what it takes to build a meaningful career within it, this is a conversation worth tuning into.
To learn more about Adam Lewis, connect with him on LinkedIn.

In the latest Nomad Futurist episode, co‑hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Philip Koblence welcome Joe Kava, former VP of Data Centers at Google, about the hidden engines powering our digital world. Joe takes listeners from his early dreams of becoming a fighter pilot to leading one of the most advanced digital infrastructure platforms on the planet, sharing insights on technology, leadership, and the real-world impact of data centers.
He calls data centers the “unseen backbone of daily life,” comparing our use of the internet to flipping a light switch without thinking about the power grid behind it. From video calls and online shopping to texting about golf, Joe points out:
“Almost everything we do in our daily lives today happens through and because of data center infrastructure… People really misunderstand how much data centers are part of our lives.”
Joe explains how controlling the entire technology stack — servers, cooling, networks, storage, and software — unlocked unprecedented efficiency at Google. Equally important was a culture that embraces mistakes, uses them to teach thousands of engineers, and drives innovation rather than hiding failure:
“When you optimize every step of the vertical stack as one integrated system, the efficiency and cost savings are incredible.”
He also encourages young people to see digital infrastructure as a long-term, 40-year career with stability, challenge, and the chance to shape an AI-driven future. Thoughtfully built data centers, he adds, can revitalize local communities, fund schools, and open doors for students who might otherwise never encounter technology:
“You can build a career, support your family, and be part of something that actually changes the world.”
Joe’s story reminds us that data centers are more than machines; they’re engines of opportunity, innovation, and community transformation. From powering our everyday lives to shaping long-term careers and uplifting local neighborhoods, the work behind the walls of these facilities touches millions in ways we rarely see.
To learn more about Joe Kava and the power of data centers, connect with him on LinkedIn.

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.