By Alix Pressley

‘Get your ass up and work’ was Kim Kardashian’s infamous advice for women in business. So, what happens when women are up and working but are overshadowed by their male counterparts? The data centre industry is still male-dominated and although women are increasingly finding their feet in this sector, there is work to be done.

To find out more, I asked several successful women working in data centres about their experience of being a woman in this industry and how they have overcome the obvious hurdles.

Fernanda Belchior, Marketing Director, Elea Digital Data Centers, discusses her experience when starting out in the data centre space.

In recent years, I’ve seen encouraging progress in the data centre industry in creating more inclusive environments for women. When I entered in 2013, I was struck by the gender imbalance on my team – of the 60 employees on my floor, only three were women. Basic accommodations like a dedicated women’s toilet required collective action to address. However, over the past decade, I’ve witnessed a gradual shift as the industry has become more intentional about attracting and retaining talented women. While women remain underrepresented in leadership roles, I’m heartened to witness more female voices being heard and valued, but we still have a long way to go.

Cultivating a network of female peers who provide mutual support, share ideas and tackle challenges has been crucial, as have male allies who have championed greater gender diversity and equality within the data centre sector. I’m optimistic that the data centre industry will continue making progress in creating more equitable and inclusive work environments. By amplifying women’s voices and perspectives, we can harness the full breadth of talent and innovation that diversity brings.

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