In this episode of the Critical Careers podcast, Joyce Wady is joined by Adam Nethersole from Kao Data, Justin Hewitt-Coleman from CBRE and Lawrence Olney from Mace for a conversation about allyship, leadership and why men have an important role to play in supporting greater diversity across the data centre industry.
Together, the conversation explores why Critical Careers matters, why male allies need to be active participants in the conversation, and how the industry can create a more inclusive future by recognising talent, broadening perspectives and building stronger relationships.
“I often am the person that waves the wand. But the real magic happens with other people.” - Adam
“If everyone’s travelled the same path, they’ll identify the same blind spots.” - Justin
“It’s not diversity for the sake of diversity. It’s diversity of thought. It’s diversity of perspective.” - Lawrence
-----Key Takeaways - Critical Careers was created to showcase the breadth of women’s talent across the data centre industry, from apprentices to CEOs. - Adam reflects on how many of the most important role models and mentors in his life have been women, shaping his view of leadership and opportunity. - Women in the industry are often recognised through narrow rankings or senior lists, which can miss younger talent, emerging leaders and those working across different functions. - Critical Careers aims to give a more rounded picture of where women fit into digital infrastructure and how many different career paths exist. - Male allies have an important role to play because some audiences may listen differently when men actively support and amplify the conversation. - Justin highlights that data centre operations depend on safe environments where people feel confident to speak up, challenge assumptions and raise concerns. - Leaders need to do more than say their door is open. They need to actively invite different voices into the room and act when concerns are raised. - Inclusion and operational resilience are closely connected because diverse thinking helps teams identify risks, blind spots and better solutions. - Allyship is not just a label. It requires action, empathy, support and a willingness to meet people where they are. - Lawrence reflects on how leadership changes as you move from focusing on your own role to bringing others with you on a shared journey. - Accountability, responsibility and communication are key leadership qualities for the future of the industry. - Understanding people’s individual motivations, needs and circumstances helps leaders get the best from their teams. - Diverse teams are not about optics. They help solve complex problems by bringing different perspectives, experiences and personality types into decision-making. - The industry’s future depends on attracting, retaining and developing young talent while continuing to make progress on gender balance and inclusion. To learn more about Critical Careers, or to get involved with the Critical Careers community, head to the Critical Careers website or search “Critical Careers”. Thank you to our founding partner, Kao Data, and our season sponsors: CBRE, AVK, JLL, Eversheds Sutherland and Mace Construct.
