What if your next big career move wasn’t about leaving, but about growing where you’re already planted?
For many, career progression means looking for the next company, the next role, the next big thing. But what if the greatest opportunities for growth are right where you are? Sarah Davey’s journey from a senior design manager to Director of Digital Infrastructure, Design and Construction at Equinix is a powerful testament to this idea—a story of how ambition, opportunity, and a culture of support can create an extraordinary career path from within.
Her story isn’t just about a promotion; it’s about how she embraced a new challenge without leaving behind the work and people she valued. It’s for anyone who has ever felt that mix of excitement and self-doubt when considering a bigger role. In our Inside Moves series, we celebrate real stories of internal mobility and career advancement at Equinix, and Sarah’s experience is a perfect example of what’s possible when you’re empowered to grow.
She wasn’t looking. The right opportunity found her anyway.
Sarah wasn’t actively searching for a new role. She was happy as a senior design manager, valued her team, and felt settled in her work. But when a colleague mentioned an opening on a team she already respected and enjoyed collaborating with, she paused. “The people you work with are a huge part of your career,” Sarah explained. “This role offered the chance to lead a regional team and develop my leadership skills.”
That’s how it started—not on a job board search, but with a conversation. She checked the listing on Equinix’s internal job hub, spoke with existing team members, and connected with the hiring manager before formally applying. It was a deliberate, informed decision and not a leap into the unknown.
The power of a strong support system
What stands out most in Sarah’s story isn’t the opportunity itself, but the people who helped her get there. Her previous manager was, in her words, “incredibly supportive and generous.” A leadership style that prioritizes your growth, even when it means losing a strong team member, isn’t accidental. It reflects a culture where managers are invested in people, not just performance metrics. Her current manager was equally candid, offering honest context about the team’s challenges and direction.
Beyond her direct managers, Sarah leaned on mentors, trusted colleagues, and formal mentorship programs ahead of the move. “Formal mentorship was especially helpful in preparing for the transition,” she said. “I also spoke with mentors to get objective, outside perspectives.” This is what a genuine support system looks like in practice: real people, real conversations and a real investment in your next step.
Thriving in her new role
Since making the move, Sarah has brought greater consistency to new build projects across EMEA, improved support for data center connectivity and built strong cross-functional relationships that have accelerated team goals.
But the professional growth she describes goes beyond deliverables. She’s expanded her technical knowledge, worked alongside people with diverse expertise and gained a broader view of what Equinix achieves at a global level. “I’m more excited than ever about future opportunities and challenges here, I’m continually inspired by the talented people I work with in the data center industry.”
Career growth is built into how we work
Sarah’s path isn’t an exception. It’s an example of what’s possible when an organization genuinely invests in its people—when managers champion growth, when mobility is encouraged rather than just permitted, and when the culture makes space for people to stretch into their potential. Whether you’re early in your career or already an experienced professional, Equinix offers the kind of environment where ambition has room to grow.
Explore open opportunities on the Equinix Design and Construction team.