The Evolving Talent Landscape: Building AI-Ready Teams in Infrastructure
Thu 29 May 2025
As demand for cloud, AI, and digital infrastructure accelerates, the data centre industry faces a critical challenge: talent. Ahead of Data Centre World Frankfurt taking place on 4-5 June at Messe Frankfurt, Shanna Whelan, Talent Acquisition Lead at VIRTUS Data Centres, shares how strategic hiring, inclusive practices, and in-house recruitment innovation are helping to bridge the skills gap in one of tech’s most vital sectors.
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What motivated you to join Tech Show Frankfurt and share your perspective on talent in the infrastructure space?
It’s always great when you get the opportunity to connect with people in the industry. I’m very curious and always want to keep learning. So hearing how other companies are doing things—that’s really valuable. I take that away, reflect on it, and think about whether there’s anything I can implement myself.
And it’s also about coming together to brainstorm the challenges we’re all facing in the space.
What workforce challenges in infrastructure do you think deserve more visibility right now?
I know it’s an old one, but it’s still right at the forefront: diversity. How are we doing as an industry in getting more diverse candidates into strategic leadership positions?
I think everybody needs to see that table, and that issue needs to be refocused. It seems like diversity comes into the spotlight when there’s a trend or push around it, but I haven’t heard much about it lately. I think we should always keep a spotlight on that.
What hiring trends are you seeing across the DACH region when it comes to AI, cloud, and infrastructure roles?
We’re definitely seeing a surge in demand for AI talent. Even though AI is still in its infancy—especially given how quickly it’s accelerating—the demand for these skills isn’t going away. If anything, it’s only going to increase.
We’re seeing potential for AI-integrated data centres, and that means roles like DevOps will also need to evolve. There’s a skills shortage in this space because it’s still fairly new, and the talent that does exist is highly sought after. It’s extremely competitive, and what you offer to secure that talent is becoming more important than ever.
This isn’t just about keeping sites running—it’s about how support functions like finance, people teams, and procurement are embracing AI to help the business run more smoothly. It’s an enterprise-wide shift, and we need to embrace it fully.
How do you design hiring strategies that keep up with the fast-changing demands of AI and data platforms?
To keep up with the demands of AI, we have to stay close to the business, really understand the key skills that are needed. AI is still a new skill in many ways, so we can’t expect every candidate to have experience using it in a professional setting.
That means we need to be strategic. We have to identify which roles absolutely require AI capabilities and also look at upskilling new starters where needed. If AI is going to become a requirement, we need to be mindful of where the talent is and how to develop it.
AI has really only come onto the radar in the last year or year and a half—it’s definitely the hot topic right now, and it’s not going away. Going forward, I believe everyone will need some level of AI skillset. But right now, those with solid experience using AI in business are unicorn candidates, and they often come with high salary expectations. So if you want that skill, you have to be prepared to pay for it.
Which skills and mindsets are proving most valuable as companies scale their data-driven teams?
I think having a start-up mindset is absolutely key, especially in our industry. With new technologies constantly emerging and new data centres coming online, you have to be adaptable and ready to embrace change quickly.
We work at a really fast pace in this industry, which is something I personally enjoy. I always say to friends and family who are thinking about getting into infrastructure: if you don’t like moving fast or changing direction quickly, this isn’t the industry for you.
So yes, the start-up mindset is essential. Don’t get too comfortable in any one process or procedure—always be looking for ways to do things better.
How can companies bridge the gap between short-term technical hiring and long-term organisational resilience?
Upskilling internal talent is key. I always say—we already have the people, and that includes everyone. We don’t want anyone left behind. But people also need to adopt the mindset of continually upskilling themselves.
As your business scales and evolves, investing in your existing workforce becomes even more important. Customer needs are changing all the time, and those demands shape how data centre providers respond in terms of build and delivery. You need talent that can flex and adapt alongside that.
It also means creating a culture of real-time feedback, where feedback is seen not as criticism, but as a tool for growth. That kind of long-term resilience really has to start from the ground up.
What advice would you give to companies struggling to attract and retain AI and analytics talent in Europe?
That’s a really good question, because right now, it’s the candidates who are marketing those skills. In many cases, if they’re being approached or headhunted, the job itself is going to be 90% the same as the one they’re leaving. So it really comes down to the package being offered.
As an industry, we also need to think beyond salary. What other incentives are we offering? Work-life balance is a big one, and it looks different for everyone. Offering flexible schemes that meet people’s needs at every stage of life is really important.
People stay where they feel valued. That includes internal training, development opportunities, and even temporary placements in other areas of the business, so individuals can explore new interests or directions. We need to grow our own talent because so many of the roles we’re hiring for today are first-generation roles. They’re unique, and we need to get ahead of that.
Catch Shanna at Tech Show Frankfurt
At Tech Show Frankfurt, Shanna Whelan will explore the evolving world of talent acquisition in the infrastructure space. With every company chasing the same in-demand skills, her session will unpack the realities of competing for top talent—and what it really takes to stand out. Expect an interactive discussion grounded in real-world experience, and come ready to share, challenge, and learn.
