In Episode 176 of the Data Center Go-to-Market Podcast, Apolo CEO Bill Kleyman unpacks how AI is reshaping data center design, careers, and capital allocation. Whether you’re early in your journey or mid-career and looking to reinvent yourself, you’ll walk away with practical, grounded insights on where the industry is headed next and how to stay relevant. Here’s what you’ll learn when you watch:
- Discover why oversimplifying AI demand and data center architecture is such a dangerous mistake.
- Understand how capital efficiency is reshaping AI infrastructure investment and strategy.
- Trace Bill Kleyman’s journey from Soviet-era Morse code to leading a modern AI infrastructure company.
- Explore the foundational role of power, cooling, land, interconnect, and capital in data center design.
- Examine how emerging professionals should approach careers in the data center and AI infrastructure ecosystem.
- Analyze the unique challenges and opportunities facing mid-career professionals in data center–adjacent roles.
- Reframe your thinking from kilowatts per rack to tokens per dollar per megawatt in AI-era economics.
- Identify critical topics to reskill around, including GPUs, supply chains, liquid cooling, and grid interconnection.
- Recognize the growing importance of multi‑skilled operators who bridge technical and business requirements.
- Appreciate how new academic and policy programs are being built to shape future data center regulation.
- See practical ways AI tools are already transforming executive workflows, forecasting, and decision-making.
- Learn how to integrate AI co-pilots into sales intelligence, operations, and strategic planning without losing authenticity.
- Evaluate why AI won’t replace you—but someone who knows how to use AI effectively might.
- Realize how generative AI has already changed everyday information discovery and search behavior.
- Adopt a “human in the loop” mindset to ensure AI outputs are validated, accurate, and trustworthy.
- Embrace fearless curiosity and continuous learning as core habits for thriving in the next era of data centers and AI.
Host:
Joshua Feinberg, CEO
DCSMI
Special Guest:
Bill Kleyman, CEO
Apolo
Bill Kleyman discusses the evolving AI landscape, emphasizing the need for capital efficiency and strategic partnerships to optimize power and energy. He highlights the importance of understanding AI demand and infrastructure, advocating for multi-skilled operators and reskilling towards AI and infrastructure economics. Kleyman also stresses the significance of liquid cooling architectures, supply chain constraints, and grid interconnection. He shares insights from industry leaders like Rob Roy and Peter Gross, underscoring the shift from kilowatts to tokens per dollar per megawatt. Kleyman also discusses Apolo's AI tools and the importance of human validation in AI-generated outputs.
Outline
Bill Kleyman's Journey into Data Centers
- Bill Kleyman shares his early interest in Morse code, which sparked his interest in communications and data centers.
- He moved to the United States in the early 90s and began working in data closets and network rooms before the term "data centers" was widely used.
- Bill has over 20 years of experience in the data center industry and has seen significant evolution in the last 24 months.
- He emphasizes the importance of understanding physical architecture, network complexities, and the creativity involved in building data centers.
Advice for Young Professionals Entering the Data Center Industry
- Bill advises young professionals to understand the physics of data centers, including power availability, cooling, architecture, land, and interconnect.
- He highlights the importance of knowing terms like rack density and power usage effectiveness (PUE).
- Bill recommends spending time with facility teams and organizations like Nomad Futurists and Infrastructure Masons to gain practical experience.
- He emphasizes the need for power and bravery in the industry, along with a deep understanding of infrastructure and capital flow.
Career Advice for Mid-Career Professionals
- Bill discusses the challenges faced by mid-career professionals who may have joined the industry during its disruption rather than its growth phase.
- He advises reskilling towards AI infrastructure, economics, and understanding new acronyms and definitions in the industry.
- Bill shares insights from industry leaders like Peter Gross and Rob Roy, emphasizing the importance of reskilling and adapting to new technologies.
- He highlights the shift from kilowatts per rack to tokens per dollar per megawatt as a key trend in the industry.
The Role of AI in Data Centers
- Bill explains how AI is being used as a tool rather than a replacement for human roles.
- He describes Apolo's platform, which includes a mini Amazon for development and an app delivery architecture called Launch Pad.
- Bill uses AI for predictive modeling, sales intelligence, personalized engagement tools, and operational co-pilots.
- He emphasizes the importance of using AI to gain time and productivity, rather than replacing human roles.
Future Trends and Industry Evolution
- Bill discusses the evolving role of AI in the data center industry, including its use in predictive modeling, sales intelligence, and operational co-pilots.
- He highlights the importance of using AI as a tool to gain time and productivity, rather than replacing human roles.
- Bill shares his vision for the future, including the increasing use of AI in various aspects of the industry.
- He emphasizes the need for continuous learning and adaptation to stay relevant in the rapidly evolving data center industry.
Guest Resources
Resources
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