Lizzy McDowell, Director of Marketing at Kao Data, argues it’s time we stopped letting digital infrastructure stay ‘invisible’ – and started telling the stories that bring new people into the industry.

I absolutely love what I do, and I’m grateful every day that the data centre industry found me. If I’d known about it earlier, I would have chosen it in a heartbeat. But that’s the problem – I didn’t know. Most people don’t.

That realisation was the initial spark behind Critical Careers, an initiative we launched at Kao Data to celebrate the remarkable women powering digital infrastructure. We started with a simple question: why does an industry this important, this dynamic, and this full of opportunity remain so invisible to the people who could thrive in it?

The answer, we found, wasn’t a lack of interesting stories; it was that nobody was telling them. So we decided to change that. We began by speaking to women across the sector – from engineers to executives, from those just starting out to industry veterans.

What emerged was a coffee-table style book featuring honest, in-depth conversations about careers, challenges, and what it really means to work in an industry that underpins modern life. No two stories were the same, but together they painted a picture of possibility that we felt the world needed to see.

How it’s going

The response has been extraordinary. Since launching Critical Careers in June 2025, we’ve hosted events, launched a podcast series, and built a community of people who share our belief that this industry deserves better representation.

What’s struck me most is how personal the conversations have become. At a recent event, I watched as women from across the sector connected over shared experiences – the same doubts, the same breakthroughs, the same determination to prove that digital infrastructure isn’t just a boys’ club. One attendee told me afterwards that seeing herself reflected in these stories made her realise she belonged here. That’s exactly what we set out to achieve.

We’re determined to challenge the outdated perception that data centres are grey boxes staffed by grey-haired people. The reality couldn’t be more different. This is an industry building society’s future, and it needs fresh perspectives, diverse thinking, and people who actually see problems differently.

The podcast has given us a platform to have deeper conversations that let people share their journeys in their own words – unfiltered and authentic. It’s become one of my favourite parts of this initiative.

Where we’re heading

This column marks a new chapter for the project. Each month, I’ll be sharing thoughts, stories, and perspectives from across the digital infrastructure community – sometimes my own, sometimes from the brilliant people I meet through the Critical Careers movement.

My ambition is simple: I want this industry to be one that people actively choose, not one they stumble into. That means continuing to tell stories that inspire, challenge stereotypes, and showcase the breadth of opportunity that lies within the digital infrastructure sector. It means creating spaces where people feel they belong, regardless of their background or how they found their way to data centres.

We’re also focused on turning inspiration into action. Critical Careers isn’t just about awareness – it’s about building a community that supports each other, opens doors, and constantly works to make this industry more inclusive. That means connecting with schools, universities, and people wanting a new career change who’ve never considered digital infrastructure as a destination.

The digital infrastructure industry is growing faster than almost any other sector, and investment in it is unprecedented. The question is whether we can grow the talent pipeline to match.

I believe we can – but only if we unite across the industry and get serious about telling our story.

This is just the beginning. I hope you’ll join me.