Building the Next Generation of Digital Infrastructure Talent | NVIDIA at Datacloud USA

Duration: 5:21 815 transcript words EN summary

Video summary

The video features a conversation with Jason Black from NVIDIA, who leads global network infrastructure for AI connectivity, highlighting the critical need to cultivate new talent in digital infrastructure. The discussion emphasizes that the current workforce is insufficient to meet future demands, as existing professionals are often diverted to other roles. Consequently, it is essential to educate emerging individuals on the complexities of this field to sustain industry legacies and drive progress. The speaker describes AI not as a temporary trend but as a continuous highway requiring constant advancement, necessitating a steady influx of skilled workers to navigate the rapid evolution of technology without stopping. Jason shares his personal journey, starting in the late 1990s at AT&T Solutions during a time when networks were nascent and dial-up was prevalent. He recounts working grueling shifts to ramp up quickly despite having little prior knowledge, illustrating how the industry has transformed from that era to the present day where professionals build infrastructure themselves. His experience underscores the importance of lifelong learning, noting that one never stops acquiring new skills in this fast-paced environment. This perspective serves as a reminder that the path to mastery involves continuous adaptation and effort rather than relying solely on initial expertise. For young talent entering the AI era, Jason offers profound advice centered on humility and vulnerability, encouraging individuals to admit when they do not understand something. He stresses the value of making meaningful connections beyond simple networking exchanges, urging aspiring professionals to ask the right questions to build relationships that foster mutual success. By engaging with mentors and peers openly, newcomers can unlock their curiosity and gain access to a broader network of support. This approach not only helps individuals grow personally but also strengthens the collective foundation necessary for achieving future goals in the industry. In conclusion, Jason expresses awe at the potential of the young talent present at the event, noting that while they may not have all the answers yet, their ability to ask the right questions positions them for significant success. The dialogue reinforces the idea that these emerging leaders will play a foundational role in shaping the direction of technology and infrastructure in the near future. Ultimately, the session serves as an inspiring call to action for both current professionals and newcomers to collaborate, learn, and contribute to building the next generation of digital infrastructure.

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[music] Good afternoon. Welcome to Data Cloud USA. Thank you to JSA TV and the entire team. They are absolutely my favorite in terms of supporting the program that we have today and specifically the talent in digital infrastructure program. It is actually my privilege to have Jason Black JB from Nvidia to join us. Jason is in leads global network infrastructure for AI connectivity in the next era. and we just came off a talent in digital infrastructure workshop where Jason sincerely gave a lot of excellent advice to our talent. Jason, welcome. >> Thank you for having me here. I appreciate being here with you. >> So, help us understand in your busy life and you're building the highway, the connectivity that we connect everything in terms of intelligence going to run on. Why do you take the time to spend time with the young talent that you did today? Well, for starters, we don't have enough talent out there in the world. And the talent that we have, although great, they are being positioned to do other things as well. And we need to teach new talent that are up and coming what it is that we're doing to be able to carry forward our legacies and to do bigger and better as we move forward because AI is not an off-ramp. It is a highway and we are on the uphill climb and it is got no stopping in the near future and so we need to continue to perpetuate bringing in new talent and teaching them the great things to be the catalyst for the future. >> Wow, that's actually a very broad um scope in terms of what you're actually leading the young generation to be. So specifically, let's talk about yourself. um how did you get started in this industry and what advice would you give your younger self? >> So I got started back in the late 90s at AT&T Solutions working in a knock a network operations center and I supported the networks of various large companies. I worked tirelessly uh from 4:00 am to 4 pm, 4 pm to 4 am, many shifts to ramp up as quickly as possible because when I came into the industry, I really didn't know anything about it. Network was new. I came from the AOL era where dialup was a thing, but now we're building it ourselves and we're building it much differently than we ever did before. So, it's been uh it's been an an interesting journey to say the least, but I do say that I learn every single day and it is not stopping. >> Wow, that is really amazing. And I know you're actually going to head up to Portugal. Uh we are here in Austin and you travel a lot. So perhaps um you can share with the audience for those who are unfortunately not be able to with us uh today this week and some of the young talent which I apologize that we cannot accept everyone in the application. What advice would you give them in terms of that they were to take their journey in the AI era? Um how can they be connected? How can they unleash their curiosity? Well, the advice that I typically give is to not only be humble, but to also be vulnerable. It is okay to say that you do not understand everything because it's not expected that you do being young in your journey. So, reach out to folks, make meaningful connections. Exchanging cards is great, but make a true connection. ask the right questions to get the right answers to make a foray into establishing a relationship that can help you not only with them but with the connections that they have that will indirectly help you to be successful in your career. >> Wow, that's very good advice. So in closing, you have met the young talent here in Austin. How do you feel? It is mind-blowing to see this young talent get to have such foundational influence over where we are headed today. It's not that they have all the answers, but they are asking all the right questions, which tells me that they are set up for success to be able to help us to achieve where we're headed in the near future. >> Well, I hope that they will be part of your journey going forward. So JB, thank you very much from the bottom of my heart for you to contribute so much in the industry and for you to impart such amazing advice to the young talent. Thank you. >> Thank you as well. It's been my pleasure to be here and I appreciate you inviting me back year over year to have this ability to spread the word. >> Thank you, JSA. Thank you. [music]