 Welcome, welcome, everyone, to Know Before You Go. I'm your host, Jamie Skado-Kataya, CEO and founder of JSA. And as you can see, we have a whole lineup of incredible bot leaders, but let's first talk about what conference we are talking about today we are briefing on. Well, it is no other than DCD Connect Virginia, taking place November 6th through the 7th at the Landstown Resort and Spa in Leesburg, Virginia. And you guys can see that the QR code is over our shoulders. So go ahead and scale that anytime you want and it'll take you right to the event page. All right, so first up, we are so happy to be joined by Omar Alisa. He's a distinguished technologist, hybrid cloud worldwide for none other than Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Omar, one of the featured speakers, of course, at this year's DCD Connect Virginia Conference. Welcome, Omar. Good morning, Jamie, thank you for having me. Oh, we are so honored and let's get right to it. What are the most, what are you most excited about when it comes to this year's conference? So I have to tell you, DCD is my most favorite and highly respected data center community knowledge event. I've been at Indy and a sponsor for many, many, many years and I'm excited to be a panel speaker this year at Connect Virginia. This event is in the heart of that center alley, so I'm very passionate about that. I'm excited about the latest technology innovations, big investments being made in our industry and of course always excited to catch up with old friends and networking with new ones. So also especially the younger generation that we actually need to get them excited about technology and our data center industry. So well said. DCD always incredible events from that team and DCD Connect Virginia unlike any other really magical like you said, it's location, the DC alley, but also it's the topics. What do you think is going to be talked about most at the conference and why? So as we very well know, data center dynamics is one of those perfect places for like-minded technology leaders, developers, technologists and engineers to come together and explore the latest in technologies innovation. But we also help each other explore and find technology solutions for real world problems. So I think we'll be bringing our everyday business and life technology challenges and ideas to this event. I think one of the number one topics has to be artificial intelligence. I think is the top of mind for most of us in the industry. Most likely that would be followed by ideas and solving challenges with our national power grid, both generation and distribution, as well as on-site and micro grid power generation. I think these are gonna be kind of at the heart of the event. Last but not least, we can't forget about sustainability in the data centers, ESG or environmental, social and governance. These concerns are front and center for most organizations of all sizes. And I think this topic will round up my top three at this event for our community. And so timely too. I mean, President Biden just issuing that executive order what yesterday, the day before. So we are talking AI, the enablement of AI, our power grid, sustainability, how does innovation really hope to solve some of these really big challenges we're facing as not just a nation, but as a world. And of course, as we mentioned, you are a featured speaker. Can you share some details on what you think your panel may cover and what you want hopefully attendees to walk away with? Absolutely. So it's no surprise as the number one topic I mentioned that we'd be addressed at the event by many, our panel is going to discuss AI in the data center. And I will be joined actually by two other industry peers for Frani from JLL and Daji Barn from Salesforce. So I think we're gonna have a lot of knowledge at this panel to share with the community. We're gonna focus on three areas that are relevant to this community of data center participants. We're gonna talk about operational advantages, strategic foresight and investment clarity. And in these areas, we're going to discuss the design of the next generation data centers and how do we move from the typical enterprise work workload into artificial intelligence applications and addressing the power, cooling, network connectivity, as well as exploring different facility sourcing options to achieve these solutions. We will discuss what the organizations need to do, how to place their investments relevant to each of their businesses. And then finally, we're gonna discuss the impact of AI on the data center design operational aspect, through things like the digital twin, automation, predictive maintenance, DCIM, as in data center infrastructure management. All these aspects where artificial intelligence will actually influence the data center, but also how the data center design and overall industry has to react to implementing AI for the masses. That is so exciting. I cannot wait. I can just imagine what you and your peers, what insight and knowledge that you're going to bring to these topics. Of course, data centers and AI being top of mind for so many of us and to have such an elite lineup. I really am so excited. Cannot wait. Thank you so much, Omar, for joining us today as you give us a little preview of your panel. And we look forward to seeing you in Virginia soon. Thank you, Jimmy. I look forward to the event. Up next, guys, we are joined by another featured speaker at DCD Connect Virginia, Ms. Miranda Gardner, Executive Director of the AI Masons Climate Accord. Miranda, welcome. Welcome. Good morning, Jamie. Glad to be here. Thanks. And I have to say, of course, we are honored AI Masons members, many of us here at JSA. So we love you guys. Just fine bar. But let's get to it. Miranda, DCD Connect Virginia organizers have determined four major themes to this year's conference, one of which, of course, sustainability and the carbon reporting challenge, one of ours that are near and dear to our hearts. So in yours as well, what type of conversations are you expecting attendees to be having in terms of sustainability? Great, great question. Obviously a real hot topic on everyone's mind these days, I think as Omar kind of nicely put it, we'll be probably talking about regenerative AI and what we've seen in terms of technology shifts over the past year and how that assists with sustainability reporting, ESG metrics, how people are tracking their carbon. I think the second conversation that a lot of people will be having, especially considering the area we'll be in in DC so close is the regulatory changes that we see coming down the line. I mean, we know they're changing in Europe and Africa as well, starting in 24. So I would be really surprised if we don't hear a lot of those conversations. And then I would say probably the one that I'm most excited about is really how we're gonna standardize a lot of these kind of metrics and tracking moving forward. We all are really excited about talking about these things, how we do them and how we implement them is really gonna be the pathway forward in changing our carbon reductions in the industry. So well said, yeah, talk is talk but how do we band together and move forward and move that needle forward as a result? All right, so overall then from a sustainability perspective, what do you believe gonna be the key takeaways from this two-day event? I think some of it will come to the panel that we're on, which I think we're gonna chat about in a few minutes, but really who's defining net zero or kind of that trend towards reductions, again, whether it's carbon or energy use, water use, who's defining it and how we're implementing it. I think we'll probably also discuss some of the kind of pushback we're seeing on the ESG reporting and again, where that fits in terms of the kind of structure that we've got when we are looking at not only our industry, but kind of the real estate market as a whole. And then I think really how data centers are evolving for the next generation of all of this. So again, the new technologies we're saying, the kind of opportunities that we have with the various new material types or the materials that we're seeing data centers being built out at. And of course, just how this connects up to our different communities and the networks that we have already established that sort of need some upgrades from us as the responsible owners of these buildings and facilities. Love that, love that. So let's get to it. What is your panel focus? Our panel focus is on navigating net zero CSR, regulation and transparent carbon accounting. I will be joined on the panel with Anna Timmy head of sustainability for Schneider Electric, Metphile founder and CEO of crane data centers and Vicki Warden president and CEO of the green building initiative. And so I think just from hearing those names and knowing those organizations, you can tell this is gonna be quite the robust dialogue that we have on Tuesday morning. Again, kind of highlighting the things that I talked about, the things that Omar was also discussing too, really the challenges and opportunities that we have when it comes to sustainability, carbon reductions, ESG and kind of the whole package of being responsible stewards for our environment and planet moving forward. Tuesday can't happen fast enough. I can't wait to see you all together and chatting about again these topics that we need, need, need to keep at the forefront of our minds collectively. And you guys have been doing it so well. We should also note, I Mason's is sort of all over the conference agenda, shall we say? You guys are in the members summit, women's luncheon, the veteran's workforce session co-hosted by our friends, salute mission critical and edge connects, gotta give them some love. Anything else you might wanna share from an I Mason's opportunities perspective? Well, I mean, I'm glad you brought up all of those key kind of components of the event next week. We're so excited to be partners with DCD. Once again, I think for me and for the organization, it's really highlighting the kind of dynamic and robust industry that we've got. It helps kind of support and foster the pipeline of new talent coming into data centers, into the digital infrastructure. It really kind of brings full circle and entire conversation about the things that are going on. You mentioned it, the women, the veteran initiatives, the millennial Gen Z sustainability. I mean, these are all pieces that sometimes move in their own silos, but really need to be part of that bigger holistic conversation. And I think that's ultimately what you'll see out of the event and of the kind of key components that we're bringing to the table is the I-Masons and the Climate Accord. And totally off script, but I gotta say it, if you haven't checked out I-Masons or you haven't signed that Climate Accord, make sure you do it. I-Masons.org. I-Masons.org or ClimateAccord.org. Thanks for the plug-in, you guys appreciate that. You know it. All right, Miranda, thank you so much for taking your time to share with us some of these conference highlights and preview on Tuesday's panel. We love it, thank you so much. Thank you. All right guys, to round out our conference briefing today, we are so excited to welcome none other than Rebecca Davison. She is Global Head of Events for Data Center Dynamics, no small title there. And Rebecca is here to give our audience some tips on how to make the best of this year's DCD Connect Virginia Conference. Welcome Rebecca. Thank you JMA, it's great to be here. And I should also say congratulations in advance. I mean, already the speakers that we just got to listen to, the excitement, I mean, it's palpable. People are waiting for Virginia. Yeah, we're really excited. We can't wait to get over there next week. So tell us, what do you think attendees are going to be most excited to learn about during DCD Connect Virginia this year from an educational standpoint? We heard it from a couple of the speakers ahead of time but what do you think is gonna be top of mind? I mean, yeah, outside of the sustainability focus sessions, which are of course, you know, we have a number of those given the criticality of the topic as Miranda's just mentioned. AI is obviously a burning issue right now as Omar has also mentioned because of the impact AI will have on both data center design and operations. It's an element that we're gonna see in nearly every discussion at the event I think because it's so inextricably linked to all things data center. In addition, we some great content looking at the future of site selection, where the market's heading, alternatives to the Virginia as a location. Workforce constraints remains a really big topic of discussion this year. I'm also really looking forward to the debate we have around the industry's PR issue and whether the sector's making progress there. There's some really interesting speakers involved in that one with some quite different perspectives to share. So I think that's definitely one to look out for. Yeah, I'm excited about that one too. All right, so can you share with us what type of companies we're gonna expect to see there? Yeah, absolutely. I mean, the audience this year has grown by more than 45% since last year, which we're delighted about. But so we're really excited to welcome more than 1200 attendees this year from all across the data center ecosystem. Given the events location right in the heart of data center alley, we've obviously got senior execs from all the major Kolo operators due to attend and great representation from the hyperscalers this year. We've noticed a real trend in wider teams attending from these companies as they consider their upcoming procurement needs. Plus, of course, we've got the major contractors and consulting engineers who also be attending in volume. And we're really pleased to have even more enterprises and also investment professionals signed up this time. Yeah, incredible. And on our side too, we're seeing the majority of our clients attending 1200. That is incredible, so congrats there. Yeah, thank you. And this is the second year, I believe, that DCD Connect takes place in data center alley. Anything different about this year that our audience should be watching out for? Yeah, I guess some of the major things are we've obviously expanded our conference content offering to meet the needs of the growing audience. So we've got more of our open debates taking place to choose from on day one. Again, these are held into Chatham House rule to ensure that the frank discussions the industry needs to be having can happen. On day two, when the show floor opens, we've now got three content stages this year, which are open to everyone. So attendees can choose from major panel discussions, which Omar and Miranda have just touched on, focusing on the biggest trending topics right now. But there's also a stage for in-depth executive interviews. And we've also got expert-led tech deep dives as well on our new showcase stage. In addition to that, we've got a dedicated innovation hour where the latest startups are gonna be showcasing their newest technologies to hit the market in our new tech on the block session. And you touched on it a little bit before. Another important addition for this year is our latest workforce initiative, which we do try to have a workforce focused initiative at each of our events in Silicon Valley. We looked at sort of the student community, but this time in Virginia, we're looking at our military community. So we've got a dedicated session for them on the afternoon of Tuesday, the 7th, partnering with DCD Academy, as well as Salute Mission Critical, I-Masons, EdgeConnex. And we've invited the military community to the event for a dedicated session so that they can learn more about the industry and the career opportunities that are actually offered in digital infrastructure. So we're really excited about that as well. Incredible, incredible. And I love how you're bringing in so many different partners, so many different groups, getting them collectively integrating and collaborating and brainstorming. Brilliant, brilliant. All right, so how can attendees have the best networking experience during the conference? What do we need to be logging into? Are there any like special meeting apps that we should keep in mind? How should we make the most of our day? Definitely, I'm glad you asked. We have our event app, the DCD Connect app that you can get in the app store. That is the best place to start networking right now. You can log in there, see all of our attendees that are gonna be on site next week, start connecting with them in advance, setting up meetings. On site we've got a dedicated business lounge which is open for the two days where you've got bookable meeting tables so that you can and you can reserve those via that app. We've also got our tech exchange session format on day one. Essentially a curated group speed networking session. So it's specifically designed to bring together our VIP audience with the companies that are offering the solutions and services that these VIPs are actively procuring. So we get them together, short get to know you meetings, which they can then follow up on in-depth the next day on the show floor. And of course we've got our icebreaker networking party on the evening of the first day, which was a lot of fun last year. So I've got high expectations for this year and that's open to all attendees. And we've got some great private networking sessions too, including hosted lunch briefings, including the IM Women one, which is brilliant. But also a VIP private dinner with a bourbon tasting going on, which will be nice. And also a VIP Nordic themed cocktail hour for those who want to try a Nordic mojito. That's awesome. I think it was a Nordic mojito, but now I got it here. No, it's not Nordic on. I mean, if you can't network there, you can't network anywhere, it's kind of awesome. So can you share with us your three tips for getting the most out of this year's conference? Three tips. Download the app right now, if you haven't already and you're attending. Start connecting with those other attendees now. Just look for DCD Connect in the app store. You can also bookmark in there the conference sessions that you want to attend so that you don't miss anything. And also in there, check your personal schedule as well, because there might be some private sessions that you've been invited to, which are showing up in there. And of course, don't miss the tech exchanges I just mentioned, you may have been invited to those. They are really an ideal opportunity to meet like-minded peers as well as potential partners who have got solutions available to meet your technical challenges essentially. So do all those three and you'll be set for a really great event. I love it. Okay, so download that app again in the app store, DCD Connect, work the app. Make it- Yeah, use the app. Use the app. Some folks kind of forget that. And then of course, the tech exchange. Wow, that's amazing. Amazing, amazing. All right, well, thank you so much, Rebecca, especially for joining us during such a crazy hectic time leading up to the event just days away. We so appreciate you and your time. No problem. Thank you so much. And bringing back all our fabulous speakers. Thank you again, everyone for joining us here today. And we should mention, go ahead and if you haven't yet heard my shoulder, scan that URL code, it'll get you all the details to DCD Connect Virginia. If you wanna go there directly, of course it's datacenterdynamics.com. And when you are at the event, use your social guys, get your social on hashtag DCD Connect VA. And be sure to register for your free pass with our code JSA. Easy to remember. We've got a QR code right here on the top, making it again easier for you to get that event page. By the way, JSA code gets you a free pass, so log in, do it. In the meantime, follow JSA on LinkedIn or find out more on jsa.net. Everyone, again, thank you for your fabulous time and insight. We so appreciate you. Thank you audience for tuning in to Know Before You Go. As always, happy networking and see you in Virginia.