Episode 7

full
Published on:

27th Apr 2026

Adam Lewis on the AI Gold Rush & the Infrastructure Powering It

Adam Lewis, Managing Director at Citizens M&A Advisory, joins the Nomad Futurist podcast with co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Philip Koblence for a conversation that pulls back the curtain on how telecom, capital markets, and digital infrastructure are colliding in the age of AI — and what it really takes to keep up.

What sets Adam apart is how he learned the business: not just behind a desk, but on the ground. Early in his career, he went beyond financial models and into the environments where networks actually live: carrier hotels, central offices, and the physical backbone of the internet.

That decision to pair finance with firsthand operational insight gave him an edge that continues to define his work today, a mindset that still shapes how he advises in an increasingly complex industry:

“I really wanted to understand the business, not just from a finance lens, but from an operational perspective.”

That complexity has only intensified with the rise of AI. Adam reflects on just how dramatically the landscape has shifted, from modest 5 MW deployments to massive, multi-hundred-megawatt campuses pushing toward gigawatt scale. But this isn’t just growth for growth’s sake. He frames it as a fundamental response to AI’s demands: more compute, denser chips, and entirely new levels of infrastructure. At the same time, he brings a grounded perspective, reminding us that real-world constraints like power and supply chains will ultimately define how far and how fast this expansion can go:

“I certainly didn’t anticipate AI, the scale of demand, the size of data centers, and how mainstream it’s become.”

The conversation also gets personal, turning to careers and the human side of a rapidly evolving industry. Adam views AI as a powerful tool, but only in the hands of people willing to learn, adapt, and stay curious. And while technology will continue to change how we work, his advice cuts through the noise: fulfillment still matters.

“Do what you like… it really sucks to wake up every morning and hate your job.”

This episode is a candid look at an industry in motion told through the lens of someone who has seen it from every angle. If you’re trying to understand where digital infrastructure is heading, how AI is reshaping the landscape, or what it takes to build a meaningful career within it, this is a conversation worth tuning into.

To learn more about Adam Lewis, connect with him on LinkedIn.

Next Episode All Episodes Previous Episode

Listen for free

Show artwork for Nomad Futurist

About the Podcast

Nomad Futurist
The #nomadfuturist show is a true tech podcast phenomenon. The two hosts are technologists and futurists, so they really know their stuff, and following their in-depth conversations feels like you have a backstage pass to a gathering of the best of the
The nomads put a new spin on the tech genre by shining a light not only on technology but also on the human side of the digital age. Tune in if you find yourself thinking about how to integrate into the digital landscape and be a part of the evolving industry.

For over two decades, Phil and Nabeel have provided a powerful catalyst for organizations to create a vision of the future and the will to innovate. As futurists, they deliver a dynamic and entertaining vision of change, blending technology, economics, demographics, culture, and human nature.

With real business experience and a deep understanding of technology, the two nomads know the difference between science fiction and useful forecasting. Rather than focusing on the distant future, they devote themselves to scanning the horizon for emerging technologies and disruptive shifts in human behavior, thereby sharing a compelling vision of tomorrow’s opportunities.