On the latest Nomad Futurist Podcast, co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence sit down with Adam Gibson, Director of techvox and a Nomad Futurist Foundation Ambassador, to discuss his unconventional journey into data centers and fiber. The conversation spans his work across Australia, New Zealand, and APAC, highlighting how curiosity, community, and fundamentals can drive a long, global career in digital infrastructure.

Adam’s journey begins in his early teens, as a 13-year-old immersed in video games, building LANs with friends and running grassroots events that unknowingly set the foundation for his first data center role:

“I came straight from high school into the space and haven’t looked back… I’m still technically uneducated. However, data centers make you run fast and learn quick.”

Throughout the episode, Adam underscores a core truth of the industry: today’s AI platforms, hyperscale campuses, and cloud services are built on the same foundational principles he first encountered in early server farms and the dial-up gaming era. He argues that the Internet has become a true utility, selected alongside power, water, and gas when moving into a home, yet its physical foundations are often taken for granted:

“We still need the fundamentals… people’s crazy cat videos, AI videos, e-mails and everything else need to be stored somewhere, cooled somewhere, powered somewhere and connected somewhere.”

That perspective carries into Adam’s work as a Nomad Futurist Foundation Ambassador, where he is focused on attracting new talent as data center and subsea investment accelerates across APAC. He highlights Australia’s role in global subsea connectivity and New Zealand’s renewable energy strength as forces turning the region into a critical digital crossroads in need of skilled people.

His message to newcomers is clear and encouraging. Opportunities span mechanical systems, networking, AI, and operations, and success comes from respecting the fundamentals and staying curious:

“Don’t just jump in as a VP going ‘I’ve got this’… work yourself into it; there’s a spot for you.”

The episode also shows the human side of a global career: Adam relies on music, movement, and simple meals to stay grounded while traveling for industry events and work, logging more than 100 flights and navigating relentless time zones. He highlights major event hosts, all partners and supporters of the Foundation, showcasing the community-driven side of the industry. While he plans to slow down, his commitment to the field remains unwavering:

“I’ll never miss a PTC, I’ll never miss an ITW, I’ll never miss a Capacity or a DataCloud… but at some point it’s about lifestyle and support.”

Connect with Adam Gibson on LinkedIn to continue the conversation and learn more about his work across APAC, digital infrastructure, and talent development.

Nomad Futurist kicks off 2026 with a powerful conversation led by co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence, highlighting Liliya Valihun, whose work sits at the intersection of education, technology, and humanitarian impact. In this episode, she shares how a personal calling to serve Ukrainian orphans evolved into a full ecosystem that uses tech skills to create dignity, opportunity, and national resilience in a time of war.

Liliya is open about not coming from a tech background and how curiosity, not credentials, pulled her into data and infrastructure. Her mindset sets the tone for anyone wondering if they “belong” in technology:

“I think it’s not about what you are inclined towards. It’s about your willingness to learn something new every day, be curious and just, you know, be open to anything new.”

Liliya explains how witnessing both the potential of Ukrainian orphans and the effects of conflict inspired her and her husband to create a tangible solution. That solution became Hebron Academy, a comprehensive environment for disadvantaged youth:

“We bought a big facility, we call it Stanford for Orphans…providing not only education, future and hope to disadvantaged youth orphans in Ukraine, but also room and board, life skills, physical support, mental health care.”

She also speaks candidly about the human cost of war and the work needed to rebuild a nation beyond its infrastructure. For Liliya, trauma can become a source of resilience and strength:

“The biggest need…is not just rebuilding and investing into structures… but in people, helping them with the trauma…that trauma is not their weakness, but it’s their strengths…redirecting the pain into power.”

Liliya closes by highlighting that lasting change comes from service, community, and long-term relationships; not just technology or capital. Her story embodies the values at the heart of the Nomad Futurist Foundation: curiosity, courage, and compassion can turn even the darkest challenges into opportunities for innovation, growth, and meaningful impact.

To learn more about Liliya Valihun, connect with her on LinkedIn.

Six seasons in, the Nomad Futurist end-of-year episode feels less like a traditional recap and more like a stake in the ground for where the Foundation, and the industry, go next. Co-hosts Nabeel Mahmood and Phillip Koblence look back on a year where education, access, and community-building around digital infrastructure evolved from a passion project into a global movement, while also setting the stage for a more focused, accountable next phase.

From AI’s breakneck acceleration to heightened scrutiny around power, sustainability, and talent, Nabeel and Phil reflect on how digital infrastructure has shifted from a background utility to a front-page story, and how the Nomad Futurist Foundation has stepped into that spotlight to demystify the space for students, career-changers, and communities worldwide. Nabeel underscores this shift, noting:

The episode also explores what it truly means to build an organization that leads with action, not optics. As Nabeel reflects on the Foundation’s decision to take action and help bridge the digital gap:

The two speak candidly about the challenges of turning a podcast into a nonprofit, the reality of building a “volunteer army,” and the deliberate choice to keep the Foundation grounded in service rather than self-promotion. Nabeel highlights the Foundation’s approach, with Phil contributing his perspective on the importance of staying mission-driven:

Looking ahead, the conversation shifts from growth to intentionality:

Nabeel and Phil share plans to strengthen regional ecosystems, expand global efforts from North America and Europe to ANZ, and create frameworks and programs that outlast any individual, while keeping authenticity and measurable impact at the center. They highlight Mana Hui, a new “powerful gathering” launching at PTC in Hawaii, as an example of how curated, values-driven convenings can unite communities and leaders while honoring culture, responsibility, and true collaboration.

They close with both an invitation and a challenge to anyone who feels a stake in the future of technology, talent, and infrastructure:

This episode is both a heartfelt reflection on all that the Nomad Futurist Foundation has accomplished this year and a rallying call for those ready to help shape what comes next, with gratitude for the progress made and excitement for what 2026 holds.

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