Megan McInroy

• Data center employers are growing faster than traditional talent pipelines can keep up. But when an entire industry is competing for the same experienced technicians and skilled tradespeople, recruiting harder doesn’t create more qualified people.
• What if the workforce question changed from “Where can we find more qualified talent?” to “How can we create more qualified talent?”
• Drawing on two perspectives—HR and talent acquisition, and education and workforce development—we will explore how employers can widen the talent pool by identifying aptitude and transferable skills, pulling targeted training forward before hire, and using the learning experience itself to reduce hiring risk.
• Through real-world examples and emerging pathways for critical data center roles, the session will challenge HR leaders to think differently about where talent comes from, what someone truly needs to know before day one, and how employers can build the workforce they need rather than waiting for it to appear.

This interactive Q&A explores how organizations are reducing avoidable exits during periods of rapid expansion by addressing the conditions that most often drive people to leave. The discussion examines how clarity, consistency, and leadership presence influence whether employees stay engaged and committed under sustained pressure, and how retention outcomes improve when these factors are treated as part of the operating environment rather than standalone HR initiatives. Participants will compare how different organizations are identifying early warning signs and intervening before disengagement turns into attrition.