Real conversations, real change
What does collaboration look like in action? On a September afternoon at our London office, data centre professionals from Equinix, and other companies, came together for the “Women Powering Data Centres: Talent & Transformation” roundtable. The goal: to get honest about our shared talent challenges and spark new ways to work together.
Behind the scenes: where ideas meet action
This wasn’t your typical industry event. The energy was open, the conversations candid. Attendees were divided into small groups, each with a mix of backgrounds and expertise. Guided by thought-provoking questions, the groups explored topics like:
- How do we raise awareness of data centre careers among young people?
- What barriers do women and underrepresented groups face in our industry?
- How can apprenticeship programs be designed to attract and support diverse talent?
- What does true collaboration between companies look like?
Throughout the afternoon, participants swapped stories, shared what’s working (and what isn’t), and leaned into building a talent pipeline in a sector that’s quietly powering the world.
What we learned together
As the groups came together to share their insights, several clear themes emerged. Industry awareness is a major challenge - young people rarely know what data centres are, even though they rely on them every day. There was a strong consensus that unified branding and outreach would have a much greater impact than isolated efforts by individual companies.
The discussion also highlighted the power of apprenticeships. Attendees saw co-created programs and shared standards as a way to open doors for talent and showcase the wide range of career paths available - from engineering and environmental controls to shift management and customer operations.
Perhaps most importantly, the event underscored a genuine willingness to collaborate across company lines. Competitors became partners, eager to share best practices and address talent gaps together.
Collaboration over competition
What made this event special was the spirit of collaboration. Competitors became partners, united by a common goal: to make the data centre industry more visible, accessible, and inclusive.
“Collaboration was definitely a theme across it all. It's easier to solve it together than it is separately.”- Claire Jones
What’s next?
The journey doesn’t end here. The message is clear: now is the time to join forces, share best practices, and build a talent pipeline that’s resilient, inclusive, and future-ready.
If you’re a data centre professional facing similar challenges, let’s start a conversation. The future of our industry depends on our ability to work together, invest in apprenticeships, and raise awareness of the vital work we do. Equinix is committed to leading the way, but real change happens when everyone has a seat at the table.