Episode #82 of the Data Center Go-to-Market Podcast features an interview with Rhys Morgan, Director, Global Digital Infrastructure at Kepler Search and Co-Host, Data Centre News Asia.
- Discover how to treat talent acquisition as a growth driver for your data center business
- Build a pipeline and forecasting future talent needs
- Learn how to integrate marketing and sales teams to better attract and retain top talent
- Explore strategies for promoting data centers and digital infrastructure to younger generations
- Recognize the evolving role of sales professionals as project managers in complex data center deals
- Identify ways to leverage content and thought leadership to build brand awareness and credibility
- Understand the challenges and opportunities in data center recruitment and go-to-market strategies
Host:
Joshua Feinberg
CEO
DCSMI
Special Guest:
Rhys Morgan
Director, Global Digital Infrastructure at Kepler Search
Co-Host of Data Centre News Asia
Rhys Morgan, Director of Global Digital Infrastructure at Kepler Search, and Co-Host of Data Centre News Asia, discussed the evolving role of talent acquisition in data centers, emphasizing its importance as a growth driver. He highlighted the need for better marketing and content strategies to attract and retain talent. Rhys shared his career journey from law school to recruitment, noting the shift from oil to renewable energy and eventually to data centers. He stressed the importance of early education and industry awareness, mentioning initiatives like the Nomad Futurist Foundation. Rhys also discussed the challenges of attracting young talent and the potential impact of AI on recruitment, predicting a shift towards more specialized roles.
Outline
Talent Acquisition and Sales Integration
- Rhys Morgan discusses the importance of treating talent acquisition as a growth driver and suggests that it should be moved under sales and marketing.
- Emphasizes the need for a pipeline and future opportunities in talent acquisition, similar to sales and marketing.
- Highlights the role of go-to-market professionals in understanding the deal cycle and lead time.
- Introduces Rhys Morgan, Director of Global Digital Infrastructure at Kepler Search, and Co-Host of Data Centre News Asia.
Introducing Rhys Morgan
- Joshua Feinberg welcomes Rhys Morgan to the podcast, noting his expertise in data center recruitment.
- Rhys apologizes for being late due to a business meeting with Chinese clients and a cultural tradition of drinking Baiju.
- Rhys shares his career journey, starting in law school, then moving to sales jobs in London, and eventually recruiting in the US and Singapore.
- Discusses his transition to the data center industry, initially working in renewable energy before moving into digital infrastructure.
Early Career and Transition to Data Centers
- Rhys recounts his early career struggles in law school and his decision to pursue sales jobs in London.
- Describes his move to Houston, Texas, to work in the oil industry, and the impact of the oil market crash on his career.
- Explains his shift to renewable energy and his eventual move to Singapore, where he joined Kepler Search during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Discusses the evolution of his career, focusing on private equity investments in infrastructure assets and the transition to digital infrastructure.
Challenges in Data Center Recruitment
- Rhys talks about the challenges of recruiting for the data center industry, including the lack of early-stage talent.
- Mentions his work with the Nomad Futurist Foundation to demystify digital infrastructure and inspire young people.
- Highlights the importance of marketing and communication in the data center sector to attract talent.
- Discusses the need for collaboration and the impact of secrecy from hyperscalers on industry growth.
Marketing and Sales in the Data Center Industry
- Joshua and Rhys discuss the challenges of marketing in the data center industry, including the use of NDAs and privacy.
- Rhys emphasizes the importance of new media and content creation for marketing success.
- Discusses the need for marketing professionals to balance the fear of loss with the need to be known and differentiated.
- Highlights the role of thought leadership and content creation in building brand awareness and trust.
Future of Recruitment and Marketing in Data Centers
- Rhys predicts the future of recruitment will involve more internal capabilities powered by AI, reducing the need for external recruiters.
- Emphasizes the importance of specialized knowledge and networks for recruiters to compete in the market.
- Discusses the need for recruiters to offer unique value propositions, such as payrolling infrastructure or technological edges.
- Joshua and Rhys agree on the importance of collaboration and content creation for marketing success in the data center industry.
Conclusion and Future Guests
- Joshua thanks Rhys for the insightful conversation and asks for suggestions for future guests.
- Joshua appreciates the recommendations and looks forward to future episodes with these guests.
- The podcast concludes with a reminder to subscribe to the Data Center Sales and Marketing Newsletter for updates.
Guest Resources
- Connect with Rhys Morgan, Director, Global Digital Infrastructure at Kepler Search, and Co-Host, Data Centre News Asia on LinkedIn
- Follow Kepler Search on LinkedIn
- Learn About Kepler Search
- Follow Data Centre News Asia on LinkedIn
- Subscribe to Data Centre News Asia on YouTube
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