Built to Scale: Data Center Industry Insights

Paul Koetke
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Welcome to Built to Scale: Data Center Industry Insights. The data center industry is moving faster than the data used to manage it. Currently, 66% of project leaders can't see the information they need when change happens. When critical infrastructure is scattered across siloed systems and buried in spreadsheets, you aren’t just managing a project—you’re making million-dollar decisions blind. Hosted by Paul Koetke, the #1 solo Smartsheet Partner in the US, this podcast bridges the gap between massive capital project portfolios and real-time visibility. With a track record of managing $350M+ in deliverables for Fortune 500 companies like Johnson & Johnson and Cushman & Wakefield, Paul explores the intersection of high-stakes engineering and enterprise efficiency. Each episode features the "Project Leaders in the Trenches"—from Navy nuclear propulsion experts to hyperscale operations managers. We dive deep into: Infrastructure Scaling: How to manage mechanical and electrical complexity at scale. Data Unification: Moving from "spreadsheet hell" to real-time portfolio visibility. Operational Excellence: Streamlining acquisitions and accelerating customer onboarding. If you’re responsible for building, managing, or scaling the world’s digital backbone, this is your guide to clarity.

Episodes

  1. Jul 30

    The Operations Challenges for Leaders to Fix Root Causes, Not Symptoms Using Systems with Eli Henson

    In this episode of Built to Scale Podcast, host Paul Koetke sits down with Eli Henson, Director of Operations Engineering at CyrusOne, to discuss his journey from the U.S. Marine Corps to leading operations engineering in the data center industry. Eli shares how his experiences in military service, engineering, and technical leadership shaped his approach to building reliable teams and operating mission-critical infrastructure. The conversation explores how CyrusOne is building a foundation for global scale, creating consistent operations across data centers, and using data, AI, and engineering practices to improve reliability. Eli also discusses leadership, root cause analysis, developing stronger teams, and why organizations need builders who solve systemic problems instead of simply reacting to issues. Expect to Learn:How military experience can shape leadership and decision-making in mission-critical environmentsWhat it takes to build consistent operations across a global data center networkHow teams can balance standardization with flexibility across different marketsWhy improving data quality is critical for operational reliability and decision-makingHow AI can help engineers focus less on data collection and more on problem-solvingThe difference between reactive “patchers” and proactive “builders” in engineering teams Episode Breakdown with Timestamps:[00:00] – Eli Henson’s career journey from the Marine Corps to CyrusOne operations engineering[04:35] – How military experience develops leadership skills for mission-critical environments[06:04] – Building a foundation for consistent global data center operations[08:13] – Balancing standardization, scalability, and local operational flexibility[10:13] – Building operations engineering teams around readiness, reliability, and resilience[13:29] – Improving data quality and turning operational data into meaningful insights[16:17] – Using AI to support data analysis while keeping human judgment in decision-making[18:30] – Creating connected teams and operating as one organization across locations[21:03] – Developing “builders” who solve systemic problems instead of only fixing issues[24:58] – Why root cause analysis often fails and how leaders can address systemic gaps[29:18] – Success goals for scaling operations engineering and aligning teams[31:40] – Closing reflections on leadership, engineering, and building reliable operations Connect with the Guest, Eli Henson: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eli-henson-04680267/Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cyrusone/Company’s Website: https://www.cyrusone.com/ Open roles at CyrusOne: Capacity & Risk (New Capacity and Readiness) Team Manager https://lnkd.in/gbxq_VZa Critical Power Systems Specialist (NC&R) https://lnkd.in/gJ5UtwD7 Critical Mechanical Systems Specialist (NC&R) https://lnkd.in/gzg7cHCn Central Operations Resilience & Engineering Team Manager https://lnkd.in/gqhvtpbQ Sr Operations Engineering Program Manager https://lnkd.in/g7kvvbZt Mechanical Engineer (Central Operations Engineering - CORE) https://lnkd.in/gu5k89C4 Connect with the Host, Paul Koetke: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulkoetke/ More from Koetke Consulting: Website: https://www.koetkeconsulting.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/koetke-consulting/

    The Operations Challenges for Leaders to Fix Root Causes, Not Symptoms Using Systems with Eli Henson

  2. Jun 24

    The Data Center Strategy for Business Leaders to Scale Digital Infrastructure with Maarten Goeman

    In this episode of Built to Scale, host Paul Koetke sits down with Maarten Goeman to discuss the opportunities driving data center growth across Southern Europe. Maarten shares how Mediterra DataCenters is building a pan-European colocation platform, why countries such as Italy, Spain, France, and Portugal are poised for significant digital infrastructure expansion, and what it takes to evaluate, acquire, and develop data center sites at scale. The conversation also explores sustainability, local market dynamics, operational discipline, and the growing role data centers play in supporting both AI and broader digital transformation. Maarten Goeman is the VP of Corporate Development at Mediterra DataCenters, where he leads corporate development and M&A activities across Southern Europe. After beginning his career in corporate finance at ING and entering the data center sector through NorthC Data Centers, Maarten now focuses on building a regional data center platform designed to support growing demand for colocation services across Europe. Key Takeaways:Why Southern Europe represents a major growth opportunity for data center infrastructureHow AI and digital transformation are accelerating demand for colocation servicesThe factors that determine whether a data center site is worth pursuingWhy proximity to customers remains critical for regional data center operatorsHow zoning, power availability, connectivity, and sustainability influence site selectionWhy saying "no" quickly is an essential part of operational disciplineThe importance of local expertise when expanding across multiple countriesHow data centers can address concerns around sustainability and water consumptionWhy secondary cities may become increasingly important in future infrastructure strategies Episode Timestamps:[00:00] - Why Mediterra is building a Southern European data center platform[05:39] - How long it may take Southern Europe to catch up with mature markets [07:43] - Evaluating new data center markets and selecting sites[10:56] - Why operational discipline starts with saying no[12:15] - The importance of local expertise and trusted advisors[14:04] - Avoiding costly mistakes and focusing on the right opportunities[17:37] - Addressing water consumption and sustainability concerns[20:48] - Why the cloud is still physical infrastructure[24:59] - The case for secondary cities and regional data centers[28:22] - Building local ecosystems around digital infrastructure[30:11] - Mediterra's long-term vision for growth across Europe Connect with the Guest Maarten Geoman: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maartengoeman/Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mediterra-datacenters/Company’s Website: https://mediterradatacenters.com/ Connect with the Host Paul Koetke: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulkoetke/ More from Koetke Consulting: Website: https://www.koetkeconsulting.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/koetke-consulting/

    The Data Center Strategy for Business Leaders to Scale Digital Infrastructure with Maarten Goeman

  3. Jun 10

    AI Pressure on Data Center for Leaders to Solve Cooling and Power Limits with Kevin Fuller

    In this episode of Built To Scale, Paul Koetke sits down with Kevin Fuller, Critical Environment Operations Manager at Microsoft, to unpack the hidden infrastructure powering the AI boom and why data centers are being pushed to their limits. Kevin shares his journey from the US Navy’s nuclear submarine program to leading mission-critical operations in a modern data center. The conversation breaks down the surprising overlap between nuclear systems and data infrastructure, the challenges of maintaining uptime, and how AI is forcing the entire industry to rethink power, cooling, and scalability. From water usage myths to real-world infrastructure constraints, this episode offers a grounded look at what it actually takes to keep the digital world running. Key Takeaways:AI is rapidly increasing demand for power, cooling, and compute infrastructure.Data centers operate with strict, mission-critical safety and uptime procedures.Power availability and cooling capacity are the main infrastructure bottlenecks.Water is used mainly for efficient cooling and modern facilities are more efficient.Data centers deliver high economic value relative to their energy and water use.Skilled people remain the most critical factor in data center operations, even with AI. Episode Timestamps:[0:03] - Introduction to Kevin Fuller[3:21] - Lessons from Nuclear Submarine Operations[4:15] - Mission-Critical Systems[7:20] - Maintaining vs Building Data Center[10:19] - Legacy Systems vs Standardised Designs[12:37] - AI’s Impact on Data Centre Growth[14:25] - Water Usage in Data Center Explained[17:14] - Comparing Industrial Water Usage[19:36] - Economic Output of Data Center[21:13] - Scaling Teams and Operations[24:10] - Where the Industry Should Invest Next Connect with the Host Paul Koetke: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulkoetke/ Connect with the Guest Kevin Fuller: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fullerkevinj/ More from Koetke Consulting: Website: https://www.koetkeconsulting.com/LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/koetke-consulting/

    AI Pressure on Data Center for Leaders to Solve Cooling and Power Limits with Kevin Fuller

  4. Jun 3

    The AI Boom Is Hitting a Power and Compute Wall in Data Centers with Jay Reinke

    In this episode of Built To Scale, host Paul Koetke speaks with three leaders from AGP-Jay, Peter, and David about how data centers are being built at the intersection of land, power, and AI driven demand. The conversation explores how AGP is expanding from renewable energy and real estate into large-scale data center development, and what it takes to deliver sites in a market increasingly constrained by power availability and regulatory complexity. Jay Reinke, Vice President of Real Estate & Acquisitions at AGP. Formerly at AWS, he spent five years leading data center expansion and has extensive experience in large-scale site acquisition and development. Peter Mahony ,Vice President of Investments at AGP. Previously at Jefferies, he focused on power and infrastructure and developed deep insight into how data center growth is reshaping energy markets. David Ameneyro, Director of Real Estate and Acquisitions at AGP. He brings experience across real estate finance, colocation, business development, and data center development. Key Takeaways:Why power availability has become the biggest driver of modern data center developmentHow AGP expanded from renewables and real estate into large-scale data center projectsThe growing role of AI in driving compute demand and reshaping infrastructure planningHow developers evaluate sites using power access, zoning, community support, and buildabilityWhy battery storage and behind-the-meter power solutions are becoming increasingly importantThe biggest challenges, delays, and future trends shaping data center growth through 2026 Episode Timestamps:• [00:00] - Introduction to Koetke Consulting and the AGP leadership team • [01:49] - How AGP expanded from renewables into data center development • [04:40] - Why land and power must work together in modern site selection • [05:40] - Why “time to power” matters more than the cost of power • [08:10] - Behind-the-meter power and the growth of deregulated markets like Texas • [09:14] - Key site selection factors beyond power and fiber infrastructure • [11:11] - Misconceptions around data centers, including water use and noise concerns • [18:21] - How renewable energy and battery storage support data center operations • [23:21] - How AI is improving data center site analysis and operational efficiency • [28:59] - Major trends shaping the future of data center growth through 2026 Connect with Guest, Peter Mahony: LinkedIn: //www.linkedin.com/in/peter-mahony-780950160/Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/agp-sustainable-real-assets/ Connect with Guest, Jay Reinke: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayreinke/Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/agp-sustainable-real-assets/ Connect with Guest, David Ameneyro: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidameneyro/Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/agp-sustainable-real-assets/ Connect with Host, Paul Koetke: LinkedIn: https: //www.linkedin.com/in/paulkoetke/Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/koetke-consulting/

    The AI Boom Is Hitting a Power and Compute Wall in Data Centers with Jay Reinke

  5. May 27

    How Scaling Data Center Delivery Is Breaking Visibility and Decision-Making in the AI Boom

    In this episode of the Built to Scale podcast, Paul Koetke shares his perspective on the growing operational challenges within the data center industry as AI demand accelerates infrastructure expansion. Drawing from his experience working with hyperscale and colocation operators, Paul explains how many organizations are being pushed to scale delivery far beyond what their existing systems and processes were designed to handle. He highlights the growing importance of organizational throughput, real time visibility, and scalable work management systems, arguing that success in the AI era will depend not only on securing land and power, but also on building repeatable and reliable operational processes. Through real world examples and leadership insights, Paul explores why outdated reporting structures, fragmented workflows, and reactive decision-making are becoming major obstacles to sustainable growth in the data center sector. Key Takeaways:Why the data center industry is facing a major scalability inflection pointHow AI growth is exposing weaknesses in traditional delivery systemsThe hidden operational bottlenecks slowing large-scale infrastructure growthWhy organizational throughput matters as much as power and land acquisitionThe importance of scalable work management infrastructureCommon pain points data center leaders face during rapid expansionWhy confidence and real-time visibility are critical for operatorsHow standardized processes improve delivery consistency at scale Episode Timestamps:[00:00] - Introduction to the Built to Scale podcast and its mission[01:48] - Why AI growth will reward operational execution, not just land and power[02:41] - Building standardized visibility and scalable reporting processes[03:23] - Discovering that scalability challenges exist across the entire industry[04:28] - Paul’s background in scalable systems and Smartsheet solutions[05:00] - The deeper organizational throughput problem in data centers[08:10] - The importance of confidence, visibility, and repeatable processes[10:14] - Closing thoughts on scaling data center delivery in the AI era Connect with Host, Paul Koetke: LinkedIn: //www.linkedin.com/in/paulkoetke/Company’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/koetke-consulting/Company’s Website: https://www.koetkeconsulting.com/

    How Scaling Data Center Delivery Is Breaking Visibility and Decision-Making in the AI Boom

  6. Mar 24

    New Episode Coming Soon!

    Sixty-six percent of project leaders are flying blind. In the high-stakes world of data centers, critical information is often buried in siloed systems and scattered spreadsheets. When change happens, you don't just need data—you need clarity. Welcome to Built to Scale: Data Center Industry Insights. I’m Paul Koetke. I’ve spent my career helping Fortune 500 organizations turn chaotic capital portfolios into streamlined, real-time engines for growth. I’ve seen what happens when million-dollar decisions are made without visibility, and I’ve seen the massive ROI that comes when you finally see the full picture. This podcast is for the leaders building the world’s digital infrastructure. We’re moving past the surface-level talk to look at the mechanical, electrical, and data-driven realities of scaling at a hyperscale level. Each week, we sit down with the experts managing the world’s most critical environments—from nuclear propulsion veterans to senior program managers at the biggest names in tech. No handoffs. No confusion. Just actionable insights on how to build to scale. Follow "Built to Scale" right now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your shows. Let’s turn your scattered data into clear decisions.

  • 6 Episodes

About

Welcome to Built to Scale: Data Center Industry Insights. The data center industry is moving faster than the data used to manage it. Currently, 66% of project leaders can't see the information they need when change happens. When critical infrastructure is scattered across siloed systems and buried in spreadsheets, you aren’t just managing a project—you’re making million-dollar decisions blind. Hosted by Paul Koetke, the #1 solo Smartsheet Partner in the US, this podcast bridges the gap between massive capital project portfolios and real-time visibility. With a track record of managing $350M+ in deliverables for Fortune 500 companies like Johnson & Johnson and Cushman & Wakefield, Paul explores the intersection of high-stakes engineering and enterprise efficiency. Each episode features the "Project Leaders in the Trenches"—from Navy nuclear propulsion experts to hyperscale operations managers. We dive deep into: Infrastructure Scaling: How to manage mechanical and electrical complexity at scale. Data Unification: Moving from "spreadsheet hell" to real-time portfolio visibility. Operational Excellence: Streamlining acquisitions and accelerating customer onboarding. If you’re responsible for building, managing, or scaling the world’s digital backbone, this is your guide to clarity.

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