As the global digital infrastructure industry evolves, leaders across the sector are rethinking how data centers are designed, built and staffed. In a recent feature highlighting International Women’s Day, Nancy Novak, Chief Innovation Officer Emeritus & Compass Ambassador, shared her perspective on how innovation and inclusive leadership are shaping the future of the industry.
The article explores Novak’s journey from construction job sites early in her career to leading innovation at Compass, and how new approaches to building infrastructure are opening the door to a broader and more diverse workforce.
At Compass, modular construction and off-site manufacturing are transforming the way data center campuses are delivered. Beyond improving speed, safety and efficiency, Novak notes that these methods also make the industry more accessible to new talent.
“We need to attract more people to careers in data centers, and the only way we can do that is to cast a wider net,” Novak explains.
By partnering with technical trade schools and developing “new collar” career pathways, Compass is helping create high-paying technical roles that do not require a traditional four-year degree — expanding access to careers in the rapidly growing digital infrastructure sector.
The feature also highlights how innovation in construction is reshaping workforce participation. At Compass, nearly all construction managers are women — a reflection of how safer, more predictable off-site manufacturing environments are changing who can participate in building the infrastructure powering the global economy.
For Novak, the future of data center development depends on both technological innovation and inclusive leadership.
“When an industry is moving this fast, there’s a temptation to rely on old habits,” Novak says. “But to scale sustainably and responsibly, you have to listen to your communities, partners and workforce.”
As demand for AI, cloud computing and digital services continues to accelerate, the infrastructure supporting that growth will require new ways of thinking — not only about technology, but also about the people building it.
Read the full article:
How Women Are Rewiring the Future of Data Centers this International Women’s Day →
