Taking Action in Digital Infrastructure
Santiago Suinaga, CEO of Infrastructure Masons (iMasons), shares his compelling journey into the digital infrastructure sector during his recent appearance on the Nomad Futurist podcast with hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence. This episode takes on added significance in light of the newly announced partnership between iMasons and Nomad Futurist, two organizations dedicated to shaping the future of digital infrastructure.
Suinaga’s early fascination with technology, influenced by his father's passion, set the stage for his future career. Growing up in Mexico City, he was among the first kids to have a computer at home, an experience that laid the groundwork for his future in the field.
His entry into the data center industry was an unexpected turn during his business studies. He landed an internship at KIO Networks, Mexico's leading data center operator, initially in marketing and sales:
"I started as an intern, basically on the marketing and sales side of things… I was like the interim role supervising operations and nonetheless, my background wasn't technical.”
This blend of business acumen and technical curiosity set Suinaga apart, leading to increased responsibilities. He shares his commitment to learning, and pursuing certifications in data center design and management. Suinaga further emphasizes the importance of putting technical concepts into applicable terms for stakeholders:
"You need to translate to their financial language, to their business strategy language."
The conversation turns to Suinaga’s involvement with Infrastructure Masons in 2018, inspired by Dean Nelson's founding of the association. Particularly motivated by the Climate Accord initiative, which aims to unify industry efforts toward achieving net-zero goals, Suinaga reflects:
“I was one of the lucky ones that were present when the Climate Accord was born. And I remember that was a game-changing moment in my mindset because I remember I thought it was going to be another AC meeting.”
Suinaga's current leadership position at iMasons stems from a profound realization about his role in the industry. Reflecting on his two decades of experience, he shares a pivotal moment of self-awareness:
"For almost twenty years, [I’ve been| sitting here waiting for somebody else to figure it out and solve some of the challenges we have in our industry. Let somebody else figure it out… But I said, well no, let’s play a more active role and… give back to the industry.”
Suinaga's journey emphasizes the value of lifelong learning and adaptability. The collaboration between iMasons and Nomad Futurist enhances this mission in developing the next-generation workforce in the field.
Connect with Santiago on LinkedIn and stay updated on his journey with iMasons.
Nomad Futurist and Infrastructure Masons (IMasons) are aligning for something truly transformative. We can’t reveal all the details just yet, but let’s just say… the future of our industry is about to get even more exciting! Stay tuned for what’s next.
