In this episode of the Critical Careers podcast, Joyce Wady welcomes Kelly Phillips to explore the role that mentorship, allyship and community have played in shaping her career in data centres and digital infrastructure.
Kelly shares how her earliest work experiences - from growing up in a family business to working on cruise liners - taught her resilience, adaptability, high standards and the importance of connecting with people. She reflects on the moment a manager recognised her natural ability in business development, how that relationship became a long-term mentorship, and why trust-based relationships have continued to guide her career path.
The conversation looks at the difference between being managed and being mentored, the importance of being challenged by people who believe in your potential, and how allies can open doors and help you be seen. Kelly also discusses stepping into senior leadership, why she continues to seek mentorship even at C-suite level, and how she now uses mentoring as a core part of her own leadership style.
At the heart of the episode is a powerful message about paying it forward: when someone opens a door for you, the best way to repay it is to open the next one for someone else.
“Mentors help you grow, allies help you be seen.” - Kelly Phillips
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Key Takeaways
- Early career experiences can shape long-term strengths, even before you recognise them yourself.
- Kelly’s background in a family business and cruise liners helped her develop resilience, adaptability, customer service skills and the ability to connect with people.
- A single moment of recognition from the right person can completely change how someone sees their own potential.
- Business development is not just a process - it is about people, trust, relationships and long-term value.
- Mentorship and management are different: management focuses on the task, while mentorship invests in potential.
- Growth often happens when someone you trust pushes you beyond your comfort zone.
- Allies and mentors play different roles: mentors help you develop, while allies help open doors and create visibility.
- Senior leaders still need mentorship, especially when stepping into new responsibilities or unfamiliar markets.
- Kelly’s leadership style is rooted in mentoring: guiding people to find their own answers, build confidence and own their decisions.
- Supporting the next generation means being available, giving honest feedback, opening networks and helping others find their place.
- Real change happens when people continue the cycle of support by paying it forward.
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Thank you to our founding partner, Kao Data, and our season sponsors: CBRE, AVK, JLL, Eversheds Sutherland, and Mace Construct.
