Let's Get Digital with Carrie Charles

In this episode, Ivo Ivanov , CEO and Chairman of DE-CIX , shares how his company is building the next generation of Internet infrastructure — from peering evolution to space-based exchanges. Ivo unpacks how DE-CIX has grown from a three-ISP project in Frankfurt into a global interconnection leader spanning over 60 markets. He breaks down the case for peering in the AI era, the difference between...

In this episode, Gauri Potdar , Chief Commercial Officer of GPC Infrastructure , shares how her company is pioneering onsite natural gas power solutions for data centers — delivering scalable, efficient, and sustainable alternatives to traditional grid connections. Gauri explains how GPC assumes operational and commodity risk while providing turnkey solutions that integrate everything from gas sup...

In this episode, Scott Willis, CEO of DartPoints, shares his leadership journey through long-distance telecom, wireless, and now data centers — and how DartPoints is meeting enterprise demands in non-tier-one markets. Scott outlines the company’s strategic recapitalization and shift toward owned assets to support 10–40 megawatt workloads, filling a critical gap left by hyperscaler-focused players....

In this episode, Chris Sharp , Chief Technology Officer at Digital Realty , explores the evolving role of data centers in the age of AI and digital transformation. From demystifying inference vs. training workloads to outlining the future of colocation, Chris shares how Digital Realty is building modular, high-density infrastructure to meet soaring AI and cloud demands. He also dives into sustaina...

In this episode, Mike Underdown, Founder and CEO of Crosstown Fiber, shares his remarkable journey through the telecom industry — from pioneering CLECs to founding one of Chicago’s most unique underground fiber infrastructure companies. Mike discusses how Crosstown Fiber is building diverse, high-capacity fiber routes critical to data center interconnection and why planning and engineering are key...

In this episode, Andrés Irlando, President and COO of Zayo Group, unpacks the transformative impact of Zayo’s acquisition of Crown Castle’s fiber assets and what it means for the future of digital infrastructure. From expanding Zayo’s metro reach and boosting AI corridor connectivity to bridging the digital divide and enabling edge computing, Andres outlines how this bold move positions Zayo at th...

In this episode, Sean Shahini, Founder and CEO of Inorsa, shares how his company is using automation, AI, and cloud-based tools to streamline telecom engineering. From reducing tower site design time from weeks to minutes to optimizing permitting processes, Sean offers a compelling vision for how innovation can remove bottlenecks and accelerate infrastructure rollout. Subscribe, leave a review, an...

In this episode of Let’s Get Digital , host Carrie Charles sits down with Patrick Halley , President & CEO of the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) , to explore the bold moves and powerful community behind America’s wireless future. Patrick shares WIA’s mission to champion digital infrastructure and its deep roots in advocacy, workforce development, and cross-industry collaboration. Th...

In this episode of Let’s Get Digital, host Carrie Charles sits down with Tom Maguire , CEO of Brightspeed , to explore how the company has rapidly become the third-largest fiber builder in the U.S. Tom shares his inspiring journey from summer hire at New York Telephone to leading Brightspeed’s mission of connecting millions of homes with high-speed fiber internet. Tom offers a behind-the-scenes lo...

In this episode of Let's Get Digital, Carrie Charles interviews Yazz Krdzalic , Vice President of Market Development at Equus Compute Solutions (ECS) . Yazz shares how ECS is transforming digital infrastructure with immersion cooling systems that maximize compute power and private 5G networks enabling seamless connectivity in remote areas. He highlights the importance of strategic partnerships in...

In this episode of Let’s Get Digital with Carrie Charles, we sit down with Dan Caruso , a powerhouse in telecommunications and digital infrastructure. Known as "The Bear" for his tenacity and drive, Dan is the visionary founder and former CEO of Zayo Group, where he led the company to a $14.3 billion exit. His unmatched track record includes co-founding Level 3 Communications, leadership at Metrop...

In the premiere episode of Let’s Get Digital with Carrie Charles, we dive deep into the future of digital infrastructure with industry icon Hunter Newby of Newby Ventures . As a pioneer in carrier-neutral Meet-Me-Rooms, data centers, and network interconnection, Hunter shares his insights on the evolution of rural broadband, the BEAD funding impact, and the urgent need for neutral interconnection...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles speaks with Dennis McColl, founder of PracticalRF. Dennis shares his career journey, starting with his early fascination with wireless technology and his three-decade tenure at Verizon, where he transitioned from hands-on market-level roles to corporate policy development. He discusses his leap into entrepreneurship, driven by a desire to solve com...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles interviews Leighton Carroll, CEO of Baylin Technologies, about his leadership philosophy, experiences in turnarounds and integrations, and insights into building exceptional company culture. Leighton details his career journey, focusing on his time at AT&T, where he managed complex integrations and acquisitions. He emphasizes the importance of...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles interviews Serghei Busmachiu, CEO of Utilities One, about his inspiring journey and the rapid growth of his company. Originally from Moldova, Serghei immigrated to the U.S. in 2013 and began his career in various jobs, eventually finding a role as a cable technician for Comcast. This experience motivated him to start Utilities One in 2016, a compan...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles interviews Emir Aboulhosn , CEO of NetLync , about the evolving landscape of device technology and the challenges of fostering a successful remote culture. Aboulhosn highlights the vital role advanced devices play in boosting sales for carriers like T-Mobile and AT&T while enhancing user experience and reducing churn. Since NetLync was founded...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles talks with Angus Ward, CEO of Beyond Now about the intersection of AI and Communication Service Providers (CSPs), exploring how AI can transform the telecom industry. He reveals that only 15% of companies currently derive significant value from AI, mainly due to fragmented experimentation across business units. To address this, Ward suggests priori...

In this episode, Carrie Charles speaks with Rich Berliner , CEO of Fifth Gen Media , to talk about the evolving opportunities in telecom and related sectors like EV charging. They discuss the transferability of skills from the wireless industry to new fields such as EV infrastructure and satellite communications, emphasizing the strong relationship between wireless connectivity and EV charging. Ri...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles welcomes Ruby Koleski , CEO of Joyous , to discuss her inspiring professional career and the innovative work of Joyous. Ruby shares her journey from growing up in South Africa with dreams of becoming a comedian, to becoming a software engineer. After excelling in engineering and gaining international experience, Ruby joined Joyous, a company founde...

In today's episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles is joined by Raghav Sahgal , President of Cloud and Network Services at Nokia . Raghav shares his journey from software developer in India to global business leader, highlighting his focus on translating technology into real-world impact.  Raghav dives into the current state of 5G, now deployed by over 260 operators in more than 100 countries. H...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles interviews Seth Buechley, owner of Cathedral Consulting. Seth shares his journey in telecom, which began in the late 1980s when his father built cell sites, and later evolved into owning spectrum and focusing on public safety communications in buildings. He co-founded the Safer Buildings Coalition to improve communication systems for first responde...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carries Charles speaks with Michelle Boexley , Chief Growth Officer of Pilot Global Technologies . Michelle shares her journey into the telecommunications industry, which began unexpectedly in IT sales during the Y2K era. Despite initially lacking a tech background, she launched Von Technologies in 2006 after becoming frustrated with corporate life. Her company g...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk, Carrie Charles sits down with Brian Stading , CEO of Lumos Fiber , to discuss his journey and the story of Lumos Fiber. From his start as a telecom technician, Brian shares how taking calculated risks has shaped his career path and influenced his leadership philosophy. He also discusses the history of Lumos Fiber, formed as the combination of two legacy telephone...

In this episode of "5G Talent Talk," host Carrie Charles interviews Kimberly McKinley , the Chief Marketing Officer of Utopia Fiber . Kimberly shares her unique career path, starting in healthcare accounting and moving through various marketing roles before joining Utopia Fiber in 2010. Utopia Fiber, founded in 2004 by 11 cities in Utah, is now the largest and most successful open access network i...

In this episode of 5G Talent Talk with Carrie Charles, we explore the industry journey and leadership principles of Gary Ervin , founder and executive chairman of Ervin Cable Construction . Founded in 1980 as a small cable TV business, Ervin Cable Construction (ECC) has expanded into one of the leading telecommunication service providers in the nation. Today, over 40 years later, the ECC founding...