What happens when you really listen to the conversations happening in the margins? Four years ago, Jackie Pasierbowicz overheard women talking about professional isolation right after a networking event designed to support them. That moment of recognition sparked the 7x24 Exchange WiMCO Tech Summit – now a sold-out annual gathering that's redefining how we think about professional development in mission-critical industries.
This episode takes you behind the scenes of building something the industry said it didn't need, why "love farming" (recruiting without adjusting culture) sets everyone up to fail, and how balancing technical excellence with emotional intelligence creates authentic professional growth.
Key Insights from This Episode
• The power of marginal conversations – The most important feedback often happens after official events end, in parking lots and side conversations where people feel safe to be honest
• Why existing support systems fail – Happy hours and assigned mentorship programs create surface-level connections but don't address deeper professional development needs
• The "love farming" problem – Recruiting diverse talent without adjusting organizational culture creates retention problems, not solutions
• Technical + human = complete solutions – The most complex infrastructure challenges require both technical mastery and strong interpersonal leadership skills
• Strategic discomfort drives growth – Pushing people outside comfort zones through activities like poker and golf helps them practice risk-taking in professional contexts
• Building authentic community takes intention – Real professional relationships require deeper, more purposeful interaction than traditional networking provides
• Mid-career recharging is essential – Strategic timing for professional development can help prevent burnout and sustain long-term career growth
Sometimes the most important innovations come from having the courage to build something different when existing approaches clearly aren't working. This conversation challenges every leader to listen more carefully to what's not being said in official spaces and to create conditions where talent can actually thrive.
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Connect with Our Guests
Jackie Pasierbowicz
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-pasierbowicz-21b31820/
7x24 Exchange WiMCO Tech Summit:
https://wts2025.zohobackstage.com/7x24ExchangeRegionalWiMCOTechSummit2025#/?lang=en
https://www.7x24exchange.org/wimco/
Lillian Rivera
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lillian-rivera-4821a28/
Apply to be a Guest or Sponsor and follow along:
https://beyondthemegawatt.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/beyond-the-megawatt-podcast
Connect with Mara:
https://www.marajadeconsulting.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/datacenterchic/
Connect with Val:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/valerie-crafton-mba-0362b816/
https://valconsultants.com/