BW Design Group

I’m at Data Center Discovery Days (DCDD) today in Tysons, VA; a focused 1-day conference centered specifically on data center system integration. Unlike many of the broader data center conferences I attend throughout the year, DCDD is hyper-focused on the areas that directly align with my world: BMS, EPMS, SCADA, controls, and mission-critical integration strategy. The event is hosted by one of Design Group’s key strategic partners, Inductive Automation. Design Group is proud to be an Ignition Premier Solution Partner, and it’s great to see so many conversations centered around scalable architectures, telemetry, operational data, and standardized deployment strategies. Later today, Keith Hutchens will be presenting alongside a very special guest, Joe LeBeau, Meta, on the importance of “building blocks” and how standardized automation frameworks can improve scalability, repeatability, startup efficiency, and long-term operational consistency across data center portfolios. Looking forward to a strong day of technical discussions and reconnecting with industry peers.

Last summer, I attended the Summer Program in Management at IIM Udaipur thinking it would make me want an MBA even more. Oddly enough, it clarified something else. Over 15 days of classes, conversations, case discussions, and late-night debates, I realised I’m less drawn to management in the broad sense, and far more interested in specialised questions at the intersection of sustainability, finance, technology, and systems. One line by Prof. Rajesh Agrawal during the orientation still stays with me: “Good management is ultimately about navigating uncertainty.” What interested me most wasn’t just how organisations operate, but how larger systems evolve, markets, incentives, behaviour, policy, sustainability transitions, and the unintended consequences that come with them. And honestly, that clarity was probably the most valuable thing I took back from Udaipur. The program didn’t push me away from higher education. It helped me understand what kind of education I actually want. Beyond academics, some of the best parts were the people, the late-night conversations, and the friendships that came out of those two weeks. (P.S. I don’t think I’ll ever get over how beautiful the IIM Udaipur campus is. And I terribly miss Amul canteen waale bhaiya ki cold coffee.) Applications for this year’s SPM cohort close in a few days, and if you’re considering applying, I genuinely think it’s an experience worth having. Glad I said yes to it. #IIMUdaipur #SummerProgram #HigherEducation Indian Institute of Management Udaipur

Join or renew your ISPE Greater Los Angeles Area Chapter membership and select the option that works best for you: Option 1: 🎓 Complimentary ISPE Microlearning course “GAMP® Basic Principles – GAMP 5® Overview” (a $145 value) ✔ Learn core GAMP principles ✔ Explore updated guidance driven by new technologies ✔ Apply practical, risk-based frameworks Option 2: 💳 Receive a $15 Amazon gift card In today’s complex life sciences environment, access to the right knowledge and community can make all the difference. Use ISPE26GAMP or ISPEAMZ1526 before June 26, 2026: https://lnkd.in/gUwMuqfQ #ISPE #PharmaLife #Learning #CareerGrowth #ProfessionalCommunity

Wrapping up a great conference put on by Inductive Automation and Christopher Markstein, PE There were 300+ people who were all focused on one thing - automation to support data centers. It was refreshing because most (all?) datacenter conferences don’t focus on this yet it’s absolutely critical to running these facilities. It was great to be surrounded by like-minded professionals in the industry. I also enjoyed seeing Keith Hutchens on stage with a hyperscaler talking about the future of the industry. #datacenters #EPMS #BMS #ConferenceOysters

ISPE San Diego Chapter picked a perfect day for a golf tournament. Thanks to Ofelia and Fluid Gauge Company for inviting me to play with other amazing ladies from life sciences. Happy to have our guests that played with Eric and John, and JT and Tom for representing us out at hole 7!

Interphex Day 1 down. Thank you to all the folks that passed by the booth. Sorry if I missed you today but there are still 2 more days left. Visit me and Design Group at booth 2052. See you tomorrow.

Passing the PMP is not the same as becoming a Project Manager. I have seen many people go through the Project Management Institute framework with one goal in mind: pass the exam. Memorize the processes. Understand the terminology. Get the certification. And then move on. The problem is… that is where the real value is just getting started. Because if you truly pay attention, the PMP is not teaching you how to pass a test. It is teaching you how projects actually behave in the real world. Yes, scope, schedule, and cost matter. They always will. But any project manager is expected to manage those, that is called Project Coordination. What is less obvious and far more important is this: - Projects are dynamic systems. - Scope evolves. - Risks emerge when you least expect them. - Stakeholders shift priorities. - Project Team members get frustrated and discouraged - It is common to have multiple isolated workstreams working without connection (procurement, etc.) - So many projects feel like Deja-Vu. So yes, what you planned at the beginning rarely survives unchanged through execution. That is why the real lesson behind the PMP is not control… it is awareness and adaptability. It is understanding how everything connects: - How risk is tied to communication - How communication is tied to trust - How trust determines whether your team speaks up early… or stays silent until it is too late - How every team member is rowing towards the same direction In my experience, the difference between projects that struggle and projects that succeed is not technical capability. It is whether the environment is safe enough for people to say: “we have a problem” while there is still time to solve it - "I am not alone in this project" and are aware of their impact to the rest of the team. That is not in a formula. But it is absolutely embedded in the PMI framework if you look closely. So if you are pursuing your PMP, do it. But do not just go through the motions. Take the time to connect the dots between the framework and real execution. That is where the certification becomes a leadership tool, not just a credential. If you are thinking about it or going through it right now, I am always open to compare notes and perspectives.

Make sure you register for this webinar on Tuesday! You'll get to hear from some of the best in the industry including Dan Ryan and Keith Hutchens . "As data centers become increasingly mission critical, the limitations of traditional building control methods are becoming more apparent. Rising power densities, larger I/O counts, and AI driven operating conditions now demand control systems capable of both scaling and adapting. At the same time, rapid industry growth is driving a need for automation that is lean, repeatable, and optimized for fast deployment. These shifts make deterministic control, native redundancy, and secure architectures essential—and underscore the value of engaging the right partners early to ensure alignment from the start. When system integration is treated as foundational infrastructure rather than a late stage add on, teams can better support standardized designs, accelerate schedules, and enable long term operational flexibility. In this webinar, we’ll explore how the evolving industry landscape is reshaping data center controls, why early automation strategy is critical, and how owners and builders can position their facilities for efficient, risk averse delivery and scalable, future proof operations." https://lnkd.in/gBKy8vir