Gerhard Nel, global technology operations at Standard Bank, discloses how he came to be involved in data centre design, build and commission locally and into Africa.
How it began
Nel started his career as a project manager. In 2012, he joined Standard Bank and started assisting on some of the data centre projects. He recognised there were a number of gaps, where things could be done better. He did what he is best at, being a project manager, and started making noises; as a result, he was asked to join the team.
The rest is history, as they say. He enjoys the everyday challenges associated with the data centre space; the fact that each day brings unique challenges to the table and he is forced to think creatively about how to solve each problem in the African context.
His interest in data centres expands beyond his day-to-day activities. He is currently studying Mandarin, and as a result of the increased exposure to Chinese culture and tradition, he has started research into the Feng Shui of data centre design. He expects to publish some of his ideas on the subject shortly.
Nel mentions a number of career-defining moments. One was obtaining his master's degree, and more recently, being invited to present a keynote at Data Center World, in Las Vegas.
More about Africa
Nel has traversed the African continent a number of times, spending months at a time outside of Johannesburg. The challenges in these areas are simple - skill is in short supply, and most of the construction is done by Chinese teams, collaborating with the locals, but with a limited understanding of what it means to commission a data centre.
His role is to add value by assisting the local teams with knowledge transfer and upskilling. He has noticed, though, that in many of the countries he travels to in Africa, the people he works with are far better negotiators than locally. While they sometimes tend to leave things to the last minute, they are incredibly hard workers and get the job done in a very short space of time.
Data centre world
Nel has spent time in the US and the UK, and from what he has seen in terms of the "data centre world", they are definitely playing in another league. Nel says they seem to do everything a lot bigger, yet in most cases, cannot get their data centre tiered to level three, mostly because of the costs. However, in SA, we are privileged to have Samrand rated as a tier four DC, he notes.
International teams are also much more attentive to the details, and the operational teams run a tight ship. They build by the book, and don't cut corners, he notes. But, their projects tend to run for much longer.
Everyone is talking about the cloud as being the one big answer to all data centre challenges. Nel's view on this: "I don't think the cloud is the answer to all problems. It is all about security of your data at the moment, and availability and reliability. For that purpose, yes, the cloud is the way to go. But I think one has to look at hybrid solutions to make sure that you cater for all of your clients."
Advice to newbies
Nel says newcomers to the field of data centres should not stop being creative, make sure they verbalise their ideas and don't give up if this doesn't materialise at first. It is necessary to be patient. Saying this, however, he reiterates that before putting forward ideas, practitioners should make sure they know what they are talking about, and try to understand a little bit of everything. Secondly, make sure to earn the client's trust. And don't be negative.
Hidden talents
Nel, ever the comedian, was asked if he has any hidden talents that he would like to share. "If I knew about them, then they wouldn't be hidden." On a more serious note, he speaks a number of languages, including German and Zulu, and is currently applying his talents to Mandarin. He fancies himself a keen braaier, which is helpful for someone who lives in SA. He reads 3 000 words per minute and professes to be able to putt from the bunker and still make it in just two putts.
Nel has had to learn many things the hard way. He highlights the following as key life lessons learnt: be patient, respect others, be positive and maintain your composure. He most admires his mother, who supported him, and he sees her as the reason he is where he is today; Mahatma Gandhi, for his humility and respect for others; and lastly, Alexander the Great, for vision and foresight.
Standard Bank's Nel will present his experiences in Africa, the challenges posed for the data centre and opportunities it presents. Find out more on the upcoming Data Centre Summit 2016: From legacy to next generation, taking place on 20 July, at The Forum, Bryanston.
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