meet me room
the company’s operations in the region. With so many angles to consider and so many factors at play, it can be challenging to filter out the noise and focus on what’s most important – but it’s also what makes the job so exciting! What are the biggest pressures involved in your job? One of the biggest pressures is staying connected with everyone as the company gets even larger. Equinix, like any company, is built on personal relationships, people working together, and being committed to a common goal. As the company expands, it becomes more and more important for me to stay connected with everyone across the business and make sure we remain aligned and focused on the job at hand. What is the toughest lesson you have ever been taught in your career? I’ve always been the sort of person who wants to do everything myself, so one of the hardest lessons through my career has been learning to let go. But you soon realise that you can achieve so much more as a team than as an individual – and to be honest, when you have a team around you as talented, ambitious and experienced as the one we have here, it’s something you learn very quickly.
What gives you the greatest sense of achievement? When I inspire someone to pursue a new idea. There’s nothing like the feeling when a member of the team comes to me with a new idea that they’ve thought of as a result of my work with them, then gone away and figured out how to implement it. It’s those moments that really get you out of bed in the morning. If you could possess one superhuman power, what would it be and why? Definitely the ability to function without sleep! I’ve pulled many an all-nighter in my time, but it would be so much better to not have to sleep at all. Imagine all the things you could get done!
“There is perhaps no other industry that’s so young, yet plays such a huge role in the global economy, as the data centre industry.”
Image courtesy of Ken Ratcliff
The east coast of Georgia, one of Eric’s favourite holiday destinations
What’s your biggest pet peeve? People with poor presentation skills! You spend so much of your time in meetings and presentations in business – listening to people reading verbatim off a 60-slide long deck really does drive me crazy. I feel like everyone should have proper presentation training and be able to deliver a presentation that engages your audience. If you’re going to ask people to pay attention to you for any considerable period of time, you need to keep people engaged. Where is your favourite holiday destination and why? I may have moved across the pond, but I have to say that one of my favourites holiday spots is still the southern United States, specifically the east coast of Georgia. There’s a group of barrier islands right by Savannah, which have the most beautiful beaches and marshes. Savannah’s a charming town that’s full of history and southern culture, but the islands are the perfect destination to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Savannah is also (supposedly) one of the most haunted cities in the U.S. too, which just adds to the excitement! December 2017 | 17