The QTS Experience

Ojonimi Bako's dad survived hepatitis C on a clinical trial at Gilead. Now Ojonimi builds the facilities where the next cure gets discovered. The CEO of Kaya connects construction chaos, AI-driven supply chains, and what it means to build something that outlasts you -- in under 90 minutes.

Chapters:

00:00:00 Introduction -- Ojonimi Bako, CEO of Kaya

00:00:53 From Accenture and Walmart Labs to Construction: The Origin Story

00:05:36 The Gilead Story -- Why Mission-Critical Infrastructure Is Literally Life and Death

00:10:44 Electricity, Night, and What the AI Transformation Actually Means

00:16:00 Practical AI: From Grocery Lists to Accelerating Human Expertise

00:19:08 Why People Resist AI -- and Why That Is Already Changing

00:26:35 Building the Pyramids Again: The Scale of the Data Center Revolution

00:28:41 Staying Relevant in a Rapidly Changing World -- The Full-Stack Operator

00:32:01 Foundation: Physics, Upward Bound, and Silicon Valley

00:35:55 Africa, London, Oslo -- How Global Experience Shapes Lateral Thinking

00:39:11 The Moment Ojonimi Saw the Problem: The Suffolk Accelerator

00:42:09 What Is Kaya and How Does It Work? 00:47:59 Choke Points -- The Real Challenges of Building Across Stakeholders

00:51:39 Japan, Trust, and the Single Plan

00:54:58 Buy, Track, Deliver -- The Kaya Platform Explained

00:56:38 Building Trust with Skeptical Customers -- Execution at Speed

01:04:00 Connecting Construction Work to Human Flourishing

01:04:40 The Base of the Economic Pyramid -- Supply Chain Responsibility in DRC and Africa

01:07:39 What Gives Ojonimi Hope -- Community, Gratitude, and What Comes Next

01:09:44 One Belief People Get Wrong About AI

01:13:04 The Leadership Habit He Is Still Developing -- His Father's Legacy

01:18:05 What We Didn't Get to Cover -- Real-World Results and 2026 Focus

01:19:26 How to Connect with Ojonimi Bako and Kaya

References:

Ojonimi Bako on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ojonimibako/

Kaya (company website): https://www.kayapays.com/

Accenture -- https://www.accenture.com

Walmart Global Tech (formerly Walmart Labs) -- https://tech.walmart.com

Gilead Sciences -- https://www.gilead.com

Suffolk Construction -- https://www.suffolk.com

Bootstrap Labs (Applied Artificial Intelligence fund, San Francisco) -- https://bootstraplabs.com

Nvidia -- https://www.nvidia.com

Amazon Web Services (AWS) -- https://aws.amazon.com

Kent State University -- https://www.kent.edu

Upward Bound Program / Ohio Wesleyan University -- https://www.owu.edu

Stanford Graduate School of Business (Executive MBA) -- https://www.gsb.stanford.edu

Procore Technologies (referenced as industry platform) -- https://www.procore.com

Autodesk Construction Cloud (referenced as industry platform) -- https://construction.autodesk.com

Architecture 2030 (carbon emissions from the built environment): https://architecture2030.org

Responsible Minerals Initiative (cobalt sourcing and the Democratic Republic of Congo): https://www.responsiblemineralsinitiative.org

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For more information, go to https://www.QTSDataCenters.com

Learn More about QTS Data Centers on the QTS YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/users/qtsdatacenters

Think you have a great topic for a podcast or would like to schedule an interview with Dave? Send in your requests to podcastoffice@q.com

I sat down with Ivo Ivanov to talk interconnection, AI, latency, resilience, and why digital infrastructure has to get closer to people. Airports, robots, sovereignty, and even space made their way into this one.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Intro & Why Interconnection Matters Now

00:01:20 - Explaining Interconnection in Plain English

00:06:09 - Why the Internet Must Be Developed Further

00:08:45 - Latency, Eye Blinks, and Real-Time Robotics

00:14:10 - Why Digital Infrastructure Must Be Everywhere

00:17:10 - Reducing Complexity Through Interconnection

00:19:47 - AI-IX, Agent Routing, and GPU as a Service

00:24:42 - Teaching New Employees the Language of Interconnection

00:28:39 - Carrier Neutral and Data Center Neutral Explained

00:31:22 - What Neutrality Has Meant for New York and Dallas

00:38:19 - Resilience, Redundancy, and Operational Risk

00:41:09 - Latency Is the New Currency

00:45:39 - Data Sovereignty, Security, and National Power

00:51:44 - What the Industry Is Still Underestimating

00:56:22 - Space Connectivity and the Digital Divide

01:01:01 - What Data Center Leaders Need to Hear

01:06:15 - Final Takeaway: Why This Industry Matters

References and External Links

DE-CIX corporate website: https://www.de-cix.net/en

DE-CIX North America: https://www.de-cix.net/en/north-america

DE-CIX Academy: https://www.de-cix.net/en/resources/de-cix-academy

Interconnection Academy: https://www.interconnectionacademy.net/

DE-CIX AI-IX press release: https://www.de-cix.net/en/about-de-cix/media/press-releases/de-cix-launches-worlds-first-fully-integrated-ai-internet-exchange-ai-ix-to-support-model-training-and-inference

DE-CIX neutrality study / US IX release: https://www.de-cix.net/en/about-de-cix/media/press-releases/80-of-us-internet-exchanges-are-now-data-center-and-carrier-neutral

DE-CIX Space IX: www.space-ix.net

Ivo Ivanov on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivo-ivanov-de-cix

 

Thank you for visiting our channel, be sure to Like, Comment, and Subscribe!

For more information, go to https://www.QTSDataCenters.com

Learn More about QTS Data Centers on the QTS YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/users/qtsdatacenters

Think you have a great topic for a podcast or would like to schedule an interview with Dave? Send in your requests to podcast@qtsdatacenters.com

Last year, I grabbed lunch with Rob Coyle and his son, Reid. While Reid was easily the most entertaining person at the table, the conversation regarding the Open Compute Project (OCP) stayed with me for months. We finally sat down in the studio to discuss how we facilitate the tools that will enable humanity to thrive. From 800-volt power to open standards for Artificial Intelligence (AI), we are exploring how to make the technology pie bigger for everyone. Because let's face it: secret sauce is overrated when you can feed the whole industry.

Chapters:

00:00:00 – Welcome & Rob’s BBQ Explanation of OCP

00:02:58 – The “Bigger Pie” Story That Sold Leadership

00:05:06 – Rob’s 10-Year Journey from Member to Foundation

00:07:48 – Core Mission: Multi-Vendor Ecosystem + Accelerating Innovation

00:09:04 – Safe, Fast Conversations: How OCP Actually Works

00:12:24 – Biggest Wins: 21-Inch Rack & Liquid Cooling

00:15:51 – Real Aha Moments at Events & Demos

00:21:53 – Why OCP Events Feel Different (Continuum of Innovation)

00:28:23 – Efficiency at the Core + Server Re-Engineering Story

00:33:13 – AI Shift: From Components to Full Open Systems

00:39:53 – 800-Volt Power & the New Power Distribution Project

00:55:22 – New Open Data Center for AI Initiative

01:01:48 – Surprise Conversation: Education & NIMBYs

01:07:25 – How Anyone (Even Students) Can Jump In for Free

01:14:44 – What Excites Rob Most About the Future

Thank you for visiting our channel, be sure to Like, Comment, and Subscribe!

For more information, go to https://www.QTSDataCenters.com

Learn More about QTS Data Centers on the QTS YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/users/qtsdatacenters

Think you have a great topic for a podcast or would like to schedule an interview with Dave? Send in your requests to podcast@qtsdatacenters.com

We spend all day worrying about supply chains, but what about the "people chain"? Jason Coe and I dive into military-grade mission focus, the future of raised floors, and why a project is only as good as the team running toward the fire. Tune in to the next QTS Experience.

Chapters:

00:00 - The Data Center Symphony: Relational over Commodity

09:13 - The Decade Shift: Evolution from 1MW to 100MW+

18:54 - Structural Ceilings and Raised Floors Explained

22:30 - The "People Chain": Why Caring is the New Critical Factor

24:43 - Plan B is Making Plan A Work

31:25 - Coordination vs. Communication: Why Teams Keep Failing

34:18 - Project Management: Dominating the Last 10%

41:13 - High Density vs. Raised Floors: Is the Role Dead?

55:08 - Leadership Philosophy: People Do What You Inspect

1:10:18 - Revitalizing Communities Through Data Center Infrastructure

1:19:46 - Vetting Partners: The "Get It" vs. "Don't Get It" Mental List

1:31:00 - Listening First: Connecting with the Local Community

Thank you for visiting our channel, be sure to Like, Comment, and Subscribe!

For more information, go to https://www.QTSDataCenters.com

Learn More about QTS Data Centers on the QTS YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/users/qtsdatacenters

Think you have a great topic for a podcast or would like to schedule an interview with Dave? Send in your requests to podcast@qtsdatacenters.com

Roy Illsley joins me to challenge the status quo of global data. We’re moving past "one-size-fits-all" clouds to an era of digital self-sufficiency. From why the US and EU are in a friendly race for autonomy to the bold prediction that our next data centers will be orbiting the Earth—don't get left behind.

References & Guest Links
Guest Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/royillsley/
Company Website: https://omdia.tech.informa.com/

Mentioned Organizations:
https://www.datacentercoalition.org/cpages/home
https://us.ovhcloud.com/
https://www.thalesgroup.com/en
https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/

David Quirk joins me to unpack liquid cooling, AI infrastructure chaos, and why the data center industry might be losing—and rediscovering—its collaborative DNA. We talk standards, disruption, and what happens when innovation moves faster than certainty.

References Mentioned

ASHRAE TC 9.9: https://tpc.ashrae.org/?cmtKey=fd4a4ee6-96a3-4f61-8b85-43418dfa988d

ASHRAE Standard 90.4: https://www.ashrae.org/file%20library/about/government%20affairs/advocacy%20toolkit/virtual%20packet/standard-90.4-2022-fact-sheet.pdf

Guest Links

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-quirk-258b8b40/

Company: https://www.dlbassociates.com/

Nuclear is getting sexy again, and it’s all AI’s fault. I’m sitting down with Brian Smith to talk about why big tech is reopening Three Mile Island and why splitting atoms is the most exquisite way to power our digital future. Let's get glowing!

Guest & Company Links

• Guest: Brian Smith
• Company Website: Idaho National Laboratory

Studies & References

• Kairos Power & Google PPA: Partnership for reactor deployment in Tennessee.
• Crane Clean Energy Center: Microsoft/Constellation partnership to reopen Three Mile Island.
• Idaho National Laboratory (INL): Lead laboratory for Nuclear Energy Research.
• The Advance Act (2024): Federal legislation reforming the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).
• Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP): DOE public-private partnership initiative.

 

Join me and Robert Bryan from Enercon as we dive into why nuclear power is finally having its "Cubs win the World Series" moment. From extending plant lives to 80 years to "drawing your box" for work-life balance, we’re getting pragmatic about the grid's future.

References & Guest Information
Guest: Robert Bryan, Enercon: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-bryan-b7828714/ 
Company: Enercon Engineering: https://www.enercon.com/about/ 
Referenced Entities:
Idaho National Labs (GAIN Program): https://gain.inl.gov/ 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC): https://www.nrc.gov/
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA): https://www.tva.com/
Three Mile Island (Constellation/Microsoft Project): https://penncapital-star.com/economy/microsoft-describes-three-mile-island-plant-as-a-once-in-a-lifetime-opportunity/
Vogtle Electric Generating Plant: https://www.southernnuclear.com/our-plants/plant-vogtle.html 

I’m joined by Dan Golding to tear down the old rules of data center design. We explore the nuclear renaissance, why the fiber-to-power trifecta is non-negotiable, and why 600kW racks might require you to wear a face shield. It's time to stop resting on our laurels.

 

External References & Links

• Idaho National Lab (INL): Referenced in transcript as "Gaidu National Lab" regarding SMR scale calculations. https://inl.gov/
• Commonwealth Fusion Systems: Mentioned regarding Google’s power purchase agreement for the first plant in Virginia. https://cfs.energy/
• Nvidia: Referenced regarding the 600kW rack roadmap. https://www.nvidia.com/
• Open Compute Project (OCP): Mentioned regarding upcoming discussions on cooling infrastructure. https://www.opencompute.org/

Guest Connections

• Guest: Dan Golding, CTO and Apple/Google Veteran.
• LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dgolding/

Jim McDermott drops a provocative idea: a Digital Monroe Doctrine to keep compute close to home while partnering with Canada and Mexico. We geek out on why moving bits beats moving electrons, power gravity, and how prosperity next door keeps everyone happier (and scorpions cooler).

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesacmcdermott/