Nomad Futurist

• The Power of Purpose: Doug Recker’s Journey Through Digital Infrastructure

  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.

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• Escaping War, Empowering the Future: Emil Sayegh’s Journey

  In this deeply inspiring episode of the Nomad Futurist Podcast, Emil Sayegh — visionary CEO, innovator, and data center industry trailblazer — joins co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence for a powerful, personal conversation that bridges war, entrepreneurship, and the human side of technology. Emil shares how growing up amid Lebanon’s civil war shaped his perspective, leadership, and passion for innovation. From escaping a war zone by boat to leading transformative cloud and cybersecurity companies, his journey is a testament to courage, adaptability, and relentless optimism. Reflecting on his childhood during the conflict, Emil draws a profound connection between surviving chaos and thriving in high-stakes business environments: “When things are kind of dark, there’s always a sliver of hope… you’ve got to figure out what that light is and then chase it hard.” That spirit of resilience permeates both his life and leadership. Even in moments of crisis, Emil stresses perspective: “As long as nobody’s dying, you’re going to live another day — and you’re going to be stronger because of the experience.” His outlook on hardship offers timeless guidance for entrepreneurs navigating uncertainty and change. As Emil recounts his evolution from engineer to CEO of leading technology firms, he distills what separates truly impactful leaders: “Always behave like an owner, not an employee.” This mindset, he explains, transforms how people approach decision-making, accountability, and innovation. At the heart of Emil’s philosophy is a belief that leadership is ultimately about service and impact. In his forthcoming book, Make a Difference, he distills decades of experience into actionable insights for the next generation: “The way that you bring value to this short life that we live is by adding value to others.” From mentoring emerging professionals to championing ethical innovation, Emil’s message is both simple and profound: technology must elevate humanity. His story reminds us that greatness isn’t measured by titles or valuations, but by the people and communities we uplift along the way. To stay connected with Emil Sayegh, follow him on LinkedIn.

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• The human side of the data centers with Bryon and Stephanie

  Data centers may power the digital world, but behind the servers are the people who make it all run and building that workforce is no small challenge. In the latest Nomad Futurist Podcast, Bryon Price and Stephanie Zimmerman of JLL pull back the curtain on the human side of the data center industry. They discuss with co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence how the data center industry attracts talent from all walks of life — from military veterans to teachers to finance professionals — while highlighting career pathways, skill transferability, and inclusive opportunities. Drawing on her own experience, Stephanie highlights the importance of guiding potential candidates into the sector and nurturing their growth from the very beginning: “I have a lot of passion around employee experience. For a lot of years, data center engineers and other roles based in a data center were often times overlooked or forgotten because people didn’t know about them or didn’t understand them.” A recurring theme was the value of curiosity, relationship-building, and proactive learning. Bryon and Stephanie stress that attributes such as asking questions, researching solutions, and building relationships are more important than any one technical credential. Stephanie observes: “Nobody expects you to know the answer to every single question, but they do expect you to know how to find the answer to that question.” This mindset is crucial in a rapidly evolving industry, where documented processes and ongoing upskilling are essential to success. The JLL leaders applauded efforts to demystify and democratize access to data center careers. They discuss the company's partnership with the Nomad Futurist Academy, which delivers foundational, free training to entrants of all backgrounds, helping, as Bryon puts it, to: “Give someone exactly what we need when we’re looking for a data center person... a minimum set of knowledge that you would expect from somebody who's got some experience in data centers.” The conversation covers the need for industry-wide collaboration, continual education, and the integration of emerging technologies like AR, VR, and AI in workforce development. Both guests emphasize the importance of community, mentorship, and a culture that makes employees feel at home and invested in their growth. This episode offers valuable insights for anyone interested in a career in digital infrastructure, no matter their background. Hear the full stories from Bryon Price and Stephanie Zimmerman on the latest Nomad Futurist Podcast and connect with them on LinkedIn.

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• Snehar Shah’s Blueprint for Africa’s Digital Revolution

  The latest episode of the Nomad Futurist Podcast spotlights Snehar Shah, a visionary technology leader who’s transforming Africa’s digital landscape. As CEO of IXAFRICA Data Centre and Ambassador of the Nomad Futurist Foundation, Snehar bridges continents, industries, and ideas, driving innovation on a global scale. Co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence sit down with Snehar to trace his remarkable journey: from his small-town beginnings in Eldoret, Kenya, to the fast-paced finance and telecom hubs of the UK, and ultimately back home to Kenya, where he’s shaping Africa’s digital future. Snehar’s path is one of intentional pivots and multidisciplinary mastery. Armed with an electrical engineering degree from Imperial College London and sharpened by years in global finance, he has cultivated a unique hybrid perspective: “I always considered it a superpower to have that ability to understand both worlds.” A central theme of this episode is Africa’s extraordinary leapfrogging potential: building world-class digital infrastructure without being constrained by legacy systems. Snehar underscores this through a striking example: “Kenya is the birthplace of mobile money... even today, M-Pesa does more transactions than Western Union does globally. More than 80% of Kenya’s GDP runs on the mobile phone.” Snehar’s vision extends well beyond infrastructure. Through Moringa School, an edtech platform training thousands of software engineers and data scientists, he is fostering local talent and driving growth by building strong networks and strategic partnerships: “In order to succeed, I believe in building the right ecosystem. Without it, if you’re doing it on your own, you’ll struggle." His ultimate vision for the future is ambitious yet clear: to help drive sustainable growth in African tech infrastructure and talent and export those successes globally. Want to follow along on Snehar’s journey? Connect with him on LinkedIn and witness how he’s driving the next wave of global digital transformation.

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• Nothing Is Off the Table: Brian Smith Gets Real About Powering the Future

  Brian Smith, former Navy officer, federal executive, and now Director of Nuclear Reactor Development at Idaho National Laboratory, joins the latest Nomad Futurist Podcast with co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence. He shares his unexpected journey and how it prepared him to help solve one of today’s most critical challenges: powering the digital age. “Nothing is off the table.” With that bold opener, Brian set the tone for an honest and wide-ranging discussion — the kind needed in an industry we strive to demystify. Brian’s path didn’t start in labs or government halls but rather began on golf courses. Once immersed in the world of elite tournaments with the USGA, he seemed destined for a future in sports. But after the tragic events of 9/11, and drawn by a family legacy of service, Brian answered the call and joined the Navy, where he rose quickly through the ranks: “I thought golf was my future… but I’ve always felt a call to serve. That call to service was pretty widespread for folks like me.” That sense of purpose carried him into the Navy’s nuclear propulsion program, where he discovered a passion for technology and translating complex ideas into action, especially for policy and government decision-makers. Now, Brian sits at the intersection of advanced nuclear development and the surging energy demands of AI and hyperscale infrastructure. With a deep background in defense nuclear policy and a sharp understanding of both systems and people, he offers a rare perspective on what's next: “The data center industry is starting to view nuclear power the same way the Navy views nuclear submarines.” Yet despite the scale and complexity of his work, Brian grounds his success, and the industry’s future, in something deeply human: “This is a human-driven business.... And the beauty is [we] are representative of our industry... [And] the networks in this industry are what make it [thrive].” Brian’s story is a masterclass in adaptability, service, and communication. It’s a reminder that curiosity, commitment, and community are what truly power progress. Connect with Brian Smith on LinkedIn to follow his insights on powering the next generation of infrastructure.

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