Ep 100 Pt 2: Celebrating 100th episode with Mason Ward!
Jun 19, 2024
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Mason Ward, President at 6Fathoms Consulting, joins to celebrate a milestone. They highlight the need for adaptability in the evolving data center landscape and discuss the rising demand for skilled professionals. Topics include leveraging foundational trades to foster leadership and the potential of AI and nuclear energy. Together, they advocate for educational reforms to prepare the workforce for future challenges, emphasizing mentorship and the importance of veterans' experiences in this transformation.
Mason and Kirk discuss the necessity of adapting individual strengths to thrive in the rapidly evolving data center industry.
The podcast highlights the urgent demand for skilled professionals in data centers and the importance of education to bridge this gap.
Kirk and Mason emphasize the need for bold decision-making and team loyalty as critical components for sustainable growth in tech-driven sectors.
Deep dives
Comparison of Naval Special Warfare and Submarine Community
The differences between Naval Special Warfare and the submarine community are highlighted, emphasizing the people-centered nature of SEAL operations compared to the more interchangeable roles within the submarine force. Submarine officers often juggle numerous tasks, but this divided focus prevents any single role from achieving excellence. In contrast, the SEAL command allows individuals to master a few roles at a high level, fostering personal satisfaction and a greater sense of purpose. This distinction reflects deeper organizational cultures, where people are valued for their unique contributions, especially within missions.
Experience with Advanced Seal Delivery System
The advanced seal delivery system (ASDS)—a dry combat submersible that transported operators to mission areas—serves as a peak professional experience for the speaker. This submersible was piloted by a crew comprising a submarine officer and a SEAL, with specific roles designed for efficiency in operations. The speaker was responsible for maintaining order and depth, showcasing the technical proficiency and operational leadership required for successful missions. The ASDS's eventual loss in a lithium-ion battery fire illustrates the challenges of maintaining advanced technology in high-stakes environments.
Transitioning to Civilian Leadership Roles
The speaker reflects on the difficulties of transitioning from military leadership to civilian roles, revealing struggles with adapting leadership styles to fit new environments. Overconfidence in military experiences led to disconnects when managing a team of software engineers, where a lack of technical expertise made earning respect challenging. The shift illustrated the importance of matching leadership approaches to organizational cultures, where military habits may not translate directly into civilian sectors. Ultimately, the speaker's experience serves as a humbling reminder about the need for ongoing personal growth in diverse professional landscapes.
Leadership and Technical Competency
The podcast discusses the essential balance between leadership skills and technical competencies, especially in rapidly evolving industries like data centers. The speaker emphasizes the significance of building trust, respect, and a supportive culture among team members to achieve collective success. Lessons from military leadership reflect that respect is earned through competence, accountability, and shared understanding rather than mere hierarchy or familiarity. As industries expand, effective leaders recognize that cultivating technical expertise alongside soft skills is vital for navigating complex challenges.
Future of Data Centers and Industry Leadership
The discussion considers the impending growth of the data center industry and its potential impact on emerging technologies and careers. With a predicted spike in demand, there's an urgent need for skilled labor, particularly from military veterans who possess strong work ethics and technical skills. The ongoing evolution of this sector signifies a shift in hiring practices, prioritizing hands-on experience over traditional educational paths. Ultimately, leaders and organizations must foster environments that embrace adaptability and innovation to thrive in an industry poised for explosive growth.
Join Kirk and Mason Ward, President at 6Fathoms Consulting, for DCR’s 100th Episode! In this episode they dive into the importance of adaptability and individual strengths, transitioning to the data center industry, and the demand for skilled professionals and advocate for education to meet industry needs. Highlighting AI's impact, Kirk and Mason emphasize foundational trades as pathways to leadership. Addressing nuclear power perceptions, they stress bold decision-making and team loyalty for sustainable growth.
Thank you to our Title Sponsor MCIS - Mission Critical Interior Solutions, Inc. provides interior architectural solutions for data, cloud, and mission critical centers across North America. We offer everything from polished, epoxy, and sealed concrete to raised flooring, hot/cold aisle containment, and high-density ceiling grid. We also install raised access flooring in office spaces and provide underfloor air distribution testing to commission spaces - https://mcis-inc.com
For more about us: https://linktr.ee/overwatchmissioncritical
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