Episode #46 of the Data Center Go-to-Market Podcast features an interview with Svante Horn, CEO & Co-Founder at Scandinavian Data Centers.
- Discover Svante Horn's unique career journey from banking to co-founding a sustainable data center company
- Explore Svante's advice for aspiring professionals looking to start a career in the digital infrastructure industry
- Learn strategies for mid-career professionals to pivot into the growing data center sector
- Understand Scandinavian Data Centers' innovative approach to creating a carbon-negative data center platform
- Recognize the importance of diversity and inclusion in building high-performing teams in the data center industry
- Identify key trends and challenges shaping the future of data center leadership and operations
Host:
Joshua Feinberg, CEO
DCSMI
Special Guest:
Svante Horn, CEO & Co-Founder
Scandinavian Data Centers
Svante Horn, co-founder and CEO of Scandinavian Data Centers, discusses the company's innovative approach to creating a carbon-negative data center platform. He emphasizes the importance of circularity and sustainability, leveraging Sweden's low-carbon grid and district heating systems. Horn highlights the company's first facility, which has been allocated 15 MW of power and aims to provide most of the heat load to a 100,000-person city. He also stresses the need for diversity in the workforce and the importance of offering a value proposition that includes price, security, and green credentials.
Outline
Scandinavian Data Centers' Unique Business Model
- Svante Horn introduces himself as the co-founder and CEO of Scandinavian Data Centers.
- Svante explains the company's goal to achieve a carbon-negative data center platform.
- Joshua Feinberg welcomes Svante to the Data Center Go-to-Market podcast.
- Svante shares his educational background at Dartmouth College and his initial career in banking at Morgan Stanley.
Transition from Banking to Data Centers
- Svante discusses his transition from banking to working in the fixed-income market at Merrill Lynch.
- He describes how he met individuals who wanted to build a data center in a military bunker in Sweden.
- Svante helped with the business plan and capital raising and became the interim CEO of his first data center project
- This success led to the formation of Scandinavian Data Centers.
Career Advice for Aspiring Professionals
- Joshua asks Svante for advice for younger people interested in digital infrastructure careers.
- Svante emphasizes the importance of passion and playing to one's strengths.
- He suggests focusing on the fiber and communication exchange aspects of the data center market.
- Svante advises persistence and continuous learning to stand out in the competitive job market.
Opportunities in the Data Center Industry
- Joshua inquires about career growth opportunities in the data center industry.
- Svante explains the importance of credibility and experience
- He advises aspiring professionals to network and gain relevant education to get their foot in the door.
- Svante shares his experience of being persistent and eventually getting into a real estate class at Dartmouth.
Mid-Career Pivot to Digital Infrastructure
- Joshua asks for advice for mid-career professionals looking to pivot into digital infrastructure.
- Svante shares his experience at Merrill Lynch and how he transitioned to the data center industry.
- He emphasizes the importance of transferring knowledge from one sector to another.
- Svante advises professionals to look for opportunities to apply their skills in new, growing sectors like digital infrastructure.
Scandinavian Data Centers' Green Vision
- Svante explains the company's goal to create the world's greenest data center platform.
- He highlights Sweden's low-carbon electricity grid and the potential to retrofit existing buildings.
- The company focuses on using excess heat from data centers for district heating.
- Svante discusses the economic benefits and environmental impact of their approach.
Challenges and Opportunities in the Data Center Market
- Joshua and Svante discuss the challenges and opportunities in the data center market.
- Svante emphasizes the importance of being disruptive and innovative.
- He highlights the need for data centers to provide value to local communities and the environment.
- Svante shares his vision for a decentralized data center model that benefits local economies and the environment.
Future of Data Center Leadership
- Joshua asks about the future of leading and growing a company like Scandinavian Data Centers.
- Svante discusses the importance of process-driven management and hiring the right team.
- He emphasizes the need for continuous innovation and adaptation.
- Svante shares his focus on providing the best value proposition for clients while being environmentally sustainable.
Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
- Svante talks about the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
- He shares Scandinavian Data Centers' goal to have a balanced gender ratio in the workforce.
- Svante believes that diverse perspectives lead to better decision-making and innovation.
- He highlights the benefits of having a diverse team in terms of network effects and business partnerships.
Final Thoughts and Contact Information
- Joshua thanks Svante for sharing his insights and experiences.
- Svante provides information on how to reach out to him and learn more about Scandinavian Data Centers.
- Joshua encourages listeners to follow Svante on LinkedIn and visit the company's website for more information.
- The podcast episode concludes with a reminder to subscribe to the Data Center Sales and Marketing newsletter.
Guest Resources
- Connect with Svante Horn, CEO & Co-Founder at Scandinavian Data Centers, on LinkedIn
- Follow Scandinavian Data Centers on LinkedIn
- Learn About Scandinavian Data Centers
- Listen to Svante Horn 'Power is a privilege, not a right' on Andy Davis’ Inside Data Centre Podcast
Do you want to stay up to date about upcoming episodes?
Subscribe to the Data Center Sales and Marketing Newsletter
Submit a comment