Jeff Moerdler: The Laws of Connectivity, and the Code Behind the Megwatts
This episode of the Nomad Futurist podcast, co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence welcome Jeff Moerdler, a powerhouse in digital infrastructure law and the head of Real Estate and Communications at Mintz. Known for his sharp insights, signature humor, and the legendary “Mintz Mince,” Jeff takes us on a journey that began with a single rooftop satellite deal for American Express and evolved into decades of shaping the legal backbone of the data center and telecom industries. A third-generation attorney and proud Bronx native, Jeff charted his own path by venturing into real estate law — only to find himself at the forefront of a rapidly emerging telecom landscape. “Hope for the best. Plan for the worst. You have to have a plan B for everything,” he shares — a mantra that’s guided him through industry shifts, tech booms, bankruptcies, and the rise of AI. Jeff recalls how his early experience writing roof rights and riser agreements evolved into building legal frameworks for everything from fiber and DAS to today’s AI compute needs. He reflects on the surge of powered land deals and the legal challenges around alternative energy sources: “I think nuclear is the future of the data center industry — but it’s not today’s resource. It’s the next generation.” Despite the complexity and constant change, Jeff remains optimisitc for digital infrastructure. “The industry isn’t going away — AI is just the next expansion point in the evolution of data infrastructure.” This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the legal foundations that keep the digital world running. To stay connected with Jeff Moerdler, follow him on LinkedIn.
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Arnav Ahluwalia on Next Generation, New Perspective
In a special episode of the Nomad Futurist podcast, co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence sit down with Arnav Ahluwalia, Senior at New York University and Advocate for the Nomad Futurist Foundation, marking the show’s first interview with a student still entering the industry. Arnav shares his journey from New Delhi to New York, his family’s business background, and his growing passion for digital infrastructure, particularly in India’s rapidly expanding tech scene. Arnav's interest in digital infrastructure began unexpectedly during a Barclays internship, where he was tasked with researching NVIDIA. As he reviewed the company's financials, he discovered the data center industry’s massive profitability, which piqued his curiosity. “I saw that they were making a lot of money from this industry called data centers... their revenue increased by 200% from 2022 to 2023 and 250% from 2023 to 2024. And I’m like, okay, what is this?” Encouraged by his family and guided by the practical wisdom of his uncle, Arnav chose to study in the U.S., focusing on finance and technology — an intersection that has opened up new doors and perspectives. "My uncle is also in the financial industry [and joked that I was] being stupid applying to colleges in the UK. [He said,] ‘Apply for colleges in the U.S.; exposure is better, college education is better... markets are more mature." Later in the conversation, Arnav shares insights on the cultural transformation taking place in India, where younger generations are increasingly drawn to finance and entrepreneurship. He notes a shift in mindset—one that supports exploration beyond traditional career paths. "My parents have been very flexible in terms of, ‘what do you want to do?’... I was never forced to do anything in terms of choosing a career path." Arnav’s story is a testament to the power of curiosity and global support in shaping the future of young professionals in digital infrastructure. As he steps into the digital infrastructure space, his perspective brings a refreshing lens to the future of the industry — and the next generation shaping it. Want to follow Arnav’s journey after graduation? Connect with him on LinkedIn.
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Scott Charter on Adventures in AI
In this episode of the Nomad Futurist podcast, co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence welcome Scott Charter, Ambassador for the Nomad Futurist Foundation and Director of AI & Cloud Strategy at Oracle. Charter offers a refreshingly honest and human perspective on tech leadership, sharing the unconventional journey that took him from law school student to entrepreneur to AI strategist, with a few surprising detours along the way. Charter begins by recounting his unconventional entry into technology, driven by necessity while living out of his 1971 Volkswagen bus and attending law school: “I got a job working in technology for no other reason than they needed someone that spoke Spanish... Because of that, I was able to get into an apartment, get out of my VW bus, finish up law school, and stay in tech.” From there, Charter went on to found WBS Connect, building the business from the ground up. Despite its success, he offers a candid look behind the scenes of entrepreneurship: “Entrepreneurship is not as cool as it looks from the outside. There's a lot of work on the inside, [for instance], on Christmas morning - when all of my staff around the world were opening presents with their family, I was taking Tier 1, Tier 2 support.” His appetite for adventure and risk-taking is clear from stories like impulsively moving to Amsterdam and launching a travel business in Costa Rica. Today, at Oracle, Charter’s focus has shifted to the rapidly evolving world of AI and cloud strategy, where continuous learning is a must: “I get to go around and talk about what's going on in AI and... spend more time than I even did in law school reading. I just can't believe how much time it takes to keep up with the AI trends that are going on.” From living in a VW bus to shaping the future of AI strategy, Charter’s journey is a powerful testament to adaptability, risk-taking, and a relentless drive for innovation. To follow Scott Charter on his next adventure, connect with him on LinkedIn.
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Mike Nguyen on Building the Future of Digital Connectivity
In the latest episode of the Nomad Futurist Podcast, co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence, sit down with Mike Nguyen, CEO and Founder of Inflect, for a compelling conversation that bridges personal history, entrepreneurial drive, and the future of digital infrastructure. Nguyen’s career took an unexpected turn when he discovered his passion for medicine was actually driven by a desire to run a business, not practice medicine. This realization led him to explore telecom sales during the dot-com boom, ultimately paving the way for his entrepreneurial ventures: "The appeal of being a doctor, when I really broke it down, was becoming a businessperson. It wasn’t actually the medicine aspects of it." At Inflect, Nguyen built a platform that simplifies global access to digital infrastructure, enabling organizations to easily connect with the resources they need. With a clear vision and a user-first approach, he and his team are redefining how businesses access critical digital tools: "Our simple mission is to make it easy for anybody in the world to find the infrastructure they need to build great apps and connect to their employees, their customers, themselves." The conversation takes a personal turn as Nguyen reflects on his Vietnamese-American immigrant experience, sharing how his family’s escape from post-war Vietnam shaped his resilience and entrepreneurial spirit: "For us, it wasn’t really a dream — it was escaping a nightmare… It was about getting to a point where you can be somewhat stable and start rebuilding a community." Nguyen encountered significant setbacks throughout his career, including positions at companies that collapsed during the telecom bust. However, he turned these challenges into opportunities by launching his own ventures: "Every company I touched ended up collapsing… Then I started a business, and they keep trying to kill me, but they can’t." His determination exemplifies the resilience needed to succeed in volatile industries, showcasing how personal history, adaptability, and entrepreneurial vision can come together to drive success. To stay connected with Mike Nguyen, follow him on LinkedIn.
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Mark Thiele on Balancing Success and Fulfillment
In this insightful Nomad Futurist episode, co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence engage in a thought-provoking conversation with tech industry veteran, Mark Thiele, most recently serving as CEO and Co-Founder of Edgevana. Together, they explore career growth, the evolving concept of retirement, and the invaluable wisdom he has gained throughout his journey. Thiele reflects on his decision to step away from the corporate grind, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing personal passions and meaningful connections. He candidly shares the sacrifices he made throughout his career and the realization that true fulfillment comes from dedicating time to the people and experiences that matter most: "I'm going to find the time to do the things that I've always wanted to do and spend the time with the people that I've always wanted to spend time with. There was a big portion of my career where I was gone 50-70% of the time year after year." Sharing his unconventional entry into the tech world, Thiele highlights the industry’s vast opportunities for growth, reinforcing the idea that determination and hard work can pave the way to success: "I came into the industry without a college degree. I started at the bottom — which is, you know, like it or not, kind of how we're trying to bring in new people. Start at the bottom. The opportunities to move up are almost endless." Thiele also stresses the importance of seeing the bigger picture, urging professionals to go beyond technical skills and understand how their work fits into the broader ecosystem: "Don't let yourself get caught up in just being the best C++ programmer...or best HVAC or airflow planner... Understand what those things are a part of. Understand what influences the reasons for people to use the things that you work on or that you build or that you deploy." Thiele’s insights provide valuable guidance for professionals at all stages, emphasizing continuous learning, a broad perspective, and work-life balance in an ever-evolving industry. Stay connected with Mark Thiele on LinkedIn.
The nomads put a new spin on the tech genre by shining a light not only on technology but also on the human side of the digital age. Tune in if you find yourself thinking about how to integrate into the digital landscape and be a part of the evolving industry.
For over two decades, Phil and Nabeel have provided a powerful catalyst for organizations to create a vision of the future and the will to innovate. As futurists, they deliver a dynamic and entertaining vision of change, blending technology, economics, demographics, culture, and human nature.
With real business experience and a deep understanding of technology, the two nomads know the difference between science fiction and useful forecasting. Rather than focusing on the distant future, they devote themselves to scanning the horizon for emerging technologies and disruptive shifts in human behavior, thereby sharing a compelling vision of tomorrow’s opportunities.
South Africa