Women, Data Centers, and the Digital Revolution: A triad with a Feminine Approach

In Latin America, women are demonstrating that talent has no gender. They are defying popular paradigms about women not excelling in STEM-related careers and are transforming how the predominantly male data center sector is perceived. With vision and determination, they are paving the way for greater inclusion and equity in a field that continues to grow and evolve rapidly.

While a 2022 study by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) shows that women's participation in digital transformation processes is less than 50% in about half of the organizations surveyed, the profiled leaders below are blazing the way, making their marks and helping to inspire and support a new generation of women in the data center industry.

From Law to Data Servers

As a child, Adriana Rivera, current Executive Director of the Mexican Data Center Association (MEXDC), dreamed of becoming the President of Mexico. Her father advised her to study law, as at that time, most of the country's leaders had that profession.

She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in law, focusing on Environmental Management, aligning with new passions she discovered during her schooling. She spent 25 years in public service within that specialization until she transitioned to data centers to apply her legal knowledge to sustainability issues and promote the use of renewable energies.

As a single mother, Adriana worked while also raising her daughter. With her family's support, she balanced her personal and professional life until she reached her current position. She has also experienced support in the data center industry from women and male colleagues who have shown openness towards her role. This encouragement motivates her for further development and growth.

“I believe it is our duty, as women, to continue responding to the call for professionalization among young professionals. In this regard, I can say that the MEXDC association has launched a pilot scholarship program for young people to acquire the skills and knowledge necessary for the Data Centers industry, and 75% of the scholarships have been awarded to women. This reflects a significant change: women are embracing technology and specializing in areas considered male-dominated. It is inspiring and reminds us that we must open our minds to all development opportunities. The data center industry is booming and will need diverse talent to tackle the challenges of artificial intelligence, 5G, and the metaverse in the coming years,” she explained.

From a Factory to the Commercial Area

As a lover of mathematics and the daughter of an engineer, Rosalinda Pérez, Spanish Data Center Sales Manager at Vertiv LATAM, decided to study industrial engineering to have a “wider scope” in her career. She started by working as an engineer in a factory that produced structured cabling for telecommunications. Her passion for technology was always present, so when she was offered a position in the commercial area, moving from manufacturing to sales executive, she jumped at the chance.

Rosalinda took the opportunity to enter a “completely different world” and specialize in the data center market. Currently, she leads a balanced team with talented men and women, demonstrating that gender is not a determining factor for success, but looks instead for versatility and eagerness to learn.

“In my teams, I have always had men and women, but I want to emphasize that gender has not been the determining factor. Rather, it's been about professional capacity and the advantages women bring to this market, which provide us with a differential. Not everything is inequality in a negative sense; there are opportunities we must seize. It's very encouraging to see women in sales in an industry dominated by men,” she said.

This March, Rosalinda completes her first year at Vertiv, which she considers a great opportunity. Therefore, she invites women who are still thinking about what to study or where to apply for a position to consider the data center industry as a market that is 'not only the present but also the future' as it continues to evolve with technological trends such as artificial intelligence, the internet, and 5G.

From Data to the Cloud

After 30 years of working for technology service companies, Heidy Bauer, Director of Cloud & Data Center Services at SONDA Chile, still wonders how she ended up in the data center industry, as she originally preferred to be surrounded by numbers, algorithms, and algebra. She studied her bachelor's degree in Mathematics and Computer Science; however, shortly after, she veered towards IT services, and from then on, she never strayed from the realm of technological outsourcing, spending a significant portion of her day involved with data centers. After several years in account management roles in data systems and IT services, she ended up leading the unit dedicated to technological outsourcing at SONDA.

With so many years of experience behind her, she witnessed firsthand the transformative impact that women can have on the data center industry.

“I am absolutely convinced that, at least in terms of work, we are the architects of our own destiny. So, I want to say that we should not underestimate our capacity and we should not create barriers where there are none. We often impose this preconception on ourselves, and the 'from' is starting with the belief that we are all on equal footing," she stated.

In an ever-changing environment like data centers, Heidy believes that diversity promotes innovation, and that is one of many benefits of incorporating more women into the industry.

The stories of Adriana, Rosalinda, and Heidy are a reminder that talent has no gender, and that the future belongs to those who wish to challenge expectations and pursue their dreams. Therefore, as we continue to advance into the digital age, it is crucial to recognize and celebrate the contributions of women in the data center industry, a triad with a feminine vision that transforms our society.

To learn more stories about the women driving data centers in Latin America, click here.