Episode 26

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Published on:

21st Oct 2024

Engineering Challenges and Tech Breakthroughs

Greg Ratcliff, Chief Innovation Officer at Vertiv, shares his insights and experiences on the Nomad Futurist podcast with co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence. With over three decades of industry experience, Ratcliff leads Vertiv's global innovation initiatives, focusing on identifying and leveraging cutting-edge technologies for product development:

“One of the things I do [that’s] so rewarding is gather[ing] technology from startups, from universities, from other businesses, from even the most sophisticated customers and clients. [I] package it up and allow our internal technology teams to leverage that for new products and designs. It's probably the coolest job in the world, and it's definitely the coolest job I've ever had."


This unique position enables Ratcliff to act as a conduit between emerging technologies and their practical applications within Vertiv, fostering innovation across the company.

Ratcliff attributes his early interest in technology to his "odd uncle," who introduced him to electronics and ham radio. This personal experience shaped Ratcliff's approach to innovation and his commitment to nurturing new talent in the field.

Ratcliff’s journey into engineering wasn't without obstacles. He recounts a pivotal moment from his time at Ohio State University:


"The Assistant Dean sat down with me and said ‘Greg, we don't feel you're cut out for engineering. Maybe you should move to mathematics.’ And I did, and about 6 months later, that same dean… decided to go out on his own and start a company to do microprocessor development."


This experience led Ratcliff to join a startup that eventually found success, demonstrating his resilience and passion for technology despite initial discouragement. He further discusses the development of data center monitoring and management systems, highlighting the critical nature of real-time data:


"From a data perspective, I think the big thing to keep in mind is that time matters. So as the power systems became more and more critical to the operation, you needed to have an immediate alert.”


This insight underscores the vital role of real-time monitoring in modern data centers, where even brief power interruptions can have significant consequences.

Ratcliff continues to drive Vertiv's technological advancements, bridging the gap between emerging technologies and practical applications in the data center industry. Stay connected with Greg Ratcliff and follow his journey on LinkedIn.

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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.