A trailblazer and a recognized leader, Susanna Kass is a prominent figure in the data center industry, boasting a range of accreditations, including her position as an Energy Fellow at Stanford University, Co-Founder of InfraPrime, and Data Center Advisor for the UN SDG Programme. Her commitment to climate priorities is evident through her dedication to following sound scientific principles. Susanna actively translates her beliefs into purposeful actions, striving to achieve breakthroughs in science to address crucial issues. Leveraging her extensive expertise in data centers, she designs the Future of AI Data Center, aiming to make a significant impact on climate-led transformational change. Susanna’s focus on the “how” demonstrates her commitment to driving tangible results for a sustainable future.
As one of the Top 50 Women Leaders of San Francisco, California, and among the Top 100 Most Admired Mothers in the USA, Susanna has made an indelible mark on various fronts. Her commitment to combating climate change is evident through her role as co-founder and Board of Directors at InfraPrime. In this capacity, she is dedicated to accelerating the transition to clean energy infrastructure within the Data Center and ICT sector. Her ambitious goals include achieving gigawatt-range milestones in energy and removing gigatons of emissions globally.
Susanna’s outstanding contributions have earned her prestigious awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Data Center Industry by Data Center Dynamics and the European Union Eco Energy award. She holds the 1st position among the Top 10 Sustainability Leaders in the Global Data Center industry and the 4th position in Data Centre Magazine’s list of Top 10 Women in Data Center. Her leadership in Clean Energy Data Center projects further solidifies her influence, and she is recognized by Inc. Magazine and CIO Women Magazine for her inspiring leadership and global impact in digital transformation.
Her influence extends to LinkedIn, where she ranks 7th among the Top 10 data center influencers to follow. As a member of Climate 50, Energy Fellow, and board member at Stanford University Graduate Management Board (GMB), Susanna is actively involved in leading impact, analysis, and communications for the Women’s Circle. Additionally, she serves as the Board Chair for the Broadgroup Talent-in-Tech Initiative, showcasing her dedication to nurturing young talents in the Data Center, ICT, and AI technology sector. Susanna’s commitment to driving climate action within global business Fortune companies and the data center industry is both influential and transformative.
Revolutionizing Sustainable Data Center Operations and Carbon Neutrality
Susanna serves as the Data Center Advisor for the UN Sustainable Development Goals. In response to the concerning rise in global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels, particularly driven by the aviation sector’s rebound, she remains committed to fostering collaboration among private sector leaders, scientists, academia, and public institutions. Despite the Data Center sector’s significant strides in adopting renewable energy, Susanna acknowledges its overall large consumption of fossil fuels as an energy source.
With a deep understanding of the urgency outlined by the IPCC, Susanna passionately works towards advancing carbon-free economies and sustainability action plans in Data Centers globally. Her role involves driving Net Zero Data Center site partnerships, setting ambitious goals, engaging in speaking opportunities, and spearheading ESG investment projects aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Susanna’s contributions extend to The Clean Energy For America (CE4A) initiative, where she provides scientific evidence to support efforts in transforming America’s infrastructure into a carbon-neutral framework. Her dedication to supporting impact reports for the Paris Agreement underscores her commitment to addressing the pressing climate challenges.
Drawing on her extensive experience, including her role as COO for ebay International, Susanna exhibits leadership in global data center operations, emphasizing sustainable practices across 17 countries. Her tenure at HP Asia Pacific Network Services Operation showcases her ability to scale Data Center Network Services, achieving remarkable revenue growth and maintaining high uptime for business continuity.
Susanna’s past roles at Sun Microsystems and Baselayer highlight her strategic approach to enabling IT infrastructure and driving sustainability in data center deployments. Her work at NextEra Energy as Head of Innovation showcases her leadership in originating Renewable Energy investments and securing Power Purchase Agreements on a gigawatt scale with major cloud computing clients. Her collaborations with electric utility clients and global cloud hyperscalers underscore her commitment to greening the grid and spearheading gigawatt-scale net-zero projects.
By expanding the market and including Fortune 100 Enterprise clients, Susanna drives the transition to Carbon Neutrality through Renewable Energy Utility Scale projects and innovative approaches like Energy Storage As-A-Service for continuous renewable energy delivery at scale.
Towards a Net Zero Future
Susanna, along with co-founder Alberto, has taken the initiative to co-found InfraPrime, a Net Zero startup based in Switzerland. Their motivation reflects a commitment to new leadership values centered around people, the planet, the environment, and the profitability of cloud growth in the AI-accelerated Digital Transformation Era, paving the way for a clean energy future.
As co-founders, Susanna and Alberto prioritize aligning their values with those of their surroundings. Their creative approach focuses on innovating Net Zero designs, aiming for absolute zero carbon, zero emissions, and zero waste. The goal is to address real problems in the AI-accelerated and cloud computing data center market, ultimately working towards achieving Carbon Neutrality pledges by 2030.
“Benjamin Franklin’s timeless wisdom, “Energy and persistence conquer all things,” well suits Susanna Kass. She conquers the minds and hearts of the industry leaders, urging them to take decisive action with energy, persistence and adding leadership to the equation. Susanna leads the charge to align the exponential growth of AI with the betterment of humanity, the preservation of our planet, and the enhancement of profits.” Dr. Alberto Ravagni, Managing Director, co-founder, InfraPrime
Recognizing the significant growth in the global cloud market, Susanna highlights that AI-accelerated data centers are expected to grow 4-6 times faster than the cloud, leasing 2.5 gigawatts for AI data centers in North America alone within a 90-day timeframe in 2023.
InfraPrime specializes in creating Net Zero design solutions, focusing on zero carbon, zero emissions, zero waste, zero dirty fuel, and zero water. The startup also develops decarbonization technological inventions and provides end-to-end services to expedite the journey towards Carbon Neutrality for AI Data Centers and Cloud Computing. Collaborating with grid providers, InfraPrime aims to contribute to greening the electric grid.
Drawing on their experience, the founders have co-invented Net Zero designs since 2007, with the UN Sustainable Development Goals serving as the blueprint for client projects. The positive impact results of their work are evident in the recognition received by data center clients, including industry innovation awards, global thought leadership accolades, and clean energy awards.
InfraPrime’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and carbon neutrality positions them as key players in shaping the future of AI-accelerated data centers and cloud computing.
Entrepreneurship, Sustainability, and AI Innovation
Susanna’s impressive 33-year entrepreneurial journey spans computer science, international business management, leadership in United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), and global data center designs. Her expertise shines in dynamic fields like AI, cloud computing, and data centers, where she has led startups from inception to billion-dollar revenues across international markets. With a focus on sustainability, cloud business development, and global data center operations, she has held leadership roles working with Fortune 100 companies.
Collaborating with an extensive network of industry experts, including hyperscale cloud providers, AI inventors, climate scientists, and academia, Susanna co-invented Absolute Zero designs alongside renowned Net Zero architect, Dr. Alberto Ravagni. Their mission centers on aiding the clean energy transition for global clients, scaling critical systems infrastructure with clean energy, reducing emissions, and meeting corporate carbon neutrality pledges and ESG targets.
Susanna’s leadership in sustainability earned her recognition as the 1st in the Top 10 Sustainability Leaders Award by Data Centre Magazine. Her impact results are evident in setting Carbon Neutrality pledges and reducing emissions through Net Zero data center projects at grid scale. She emphasizes the role of CxOs as climate pioneers, guiding innovation and sustainability within their enterprises. Employing design thinking methodology, Susanna future-proofs her clients’ clean energy transition, ensuring adherence to Net Zero design goals for absolute zero results in reducing carbon, reusing emissions, regenerating waste, replenishing water, and avoiding the use of dirty fuel. Her strategic planning follows an evidence-based framework, leveraging technology, including AI, for transparent communication and impactful analysis.
Susanna’s sustainability practice optimizes resource usage efficiency throughout the life cycle, aiming for a circular economy that provides social benefits for communities. For instance, she implements a circular economy approach for data center heat waste, using CO2 as a thermal carrier for district heating and cooling, minimizing electricity expenses and grid power usage.
Recognizing the transformative potential of AI in combating climate change, Susanna, a patent holder, harnesses its power responsibly. She sees AI as a technological enabler for nowcasting, providing immediate insights into the complex effects of climate change on Earth’s ecosystems. By advancing AI for climate understanding, optimizing infrastructure for AI data centers, and accelerating breakthroughs in climate science, Susanna aims to make better decisions with accuracy, consistency, and environmental stewardship. Her approach aligns with ML models and inference algorithms to model and maintain climate-led transformation in digital infrastructure.
Impactful Leadership and Giving Back
Susanna’s commitment to giving back to her communities reflects her inspirational journey from humble beginnings to prominent leadership positions. Having successfully established and grown businesses into billion-dollar enterprises, she has made a positive impact on the environment and advanced progress for humanity. Her achievements in historically male-dominated industries, often driven by profit and stock values, stand as a testament to her resilience and leadership.
InfraPrime, under the guidance of Susanna and Alberto, signifies a paradigm shift in leadership. They embody the essence of “authentic leaders,” advocating for clean and ethical energy practices. Their mission is to redefine company leadership, prioritizing people, the planet, and profit, setting a precedent for future leaders to follow.
In the dynamic startup life cycle, founders play a pivotal role in shaping the company culture. Alberto and Susanna, as entrepreneurs and authentic leaders, distinguish themselves by placing a strong emphasis on people. The co-founders prioritize a team approach, engaging high-value external partners and senior industry advisors with deep connections and mutual respect for each other’s experiences and achievements. Their role is to de-risk initiatives, refine vision and values, and translate them into practical projects with impactful results on a global scale.
By embodying this new wave of leadership, Susanna and Alberto pave the way for a more sustainable and people-centric approach in the business world. Their influence extends beyond their immediate endeavors, shaping a new generation of leaders who prioritize ethical practices and environmental impact alongside financial success.
Sustainability and Female Leadership
Susanna recognizes the unique opportunities and challenges contemporary leadership faces, especially with the rapid innovation of AI, the growing adoption of Clean Energy Transitions, and the escalating urgency of Climate Change issues. In the complex landscape of market uncertainties, geopolitical pressures, and post-pandemic social and work changes, female leaders, in particular, navigate a challenging juggling act between professional ambitions and work-life balance.
As a recognized leader in sustainability, Susanna’s esteemed rankings and achievements, such as being named a Top 10 Sustainability Leader and securing the 1st rank by Data Centre Magazine, highlight her impactful contributions. Engaging with women dedicated to climate justice and mentoring over 900 STEM youths and young talents, she acknowledges the difficulty in finding female leaders who effectively represent their passion within the technical sphere for driving tangible systemic change.
Committed to personal growth, continuous learning, and expanding her network, Susanna embodies resilience, clear purpose, self-discipline, and a steadfast integration of environmental stewardship into her role. Her focus is on incorporating principles of ESG, new product designs, and sustainable practices while innovating new business values. In serving clients in the technical arena, she employs empathy to drive towards a carbon-free economy for the future of AI data centers.
Call to Embrace and Wield Power Effectively
Susanna underscores the importance of female leaders embracing the process of acquiring and effectively using power. While acknowledging traditional patterns where female leaders might avoid seeking power or struggle to wield it, she notes that a functional society requires leaders, especially female ones, who can utilize power effectively for the benefit of communities.
Susanna identifies certain qualities that might be perceived as lacking in emerging female leaders today and provides insightful perspectives:
- Leveling Value of Potential to Fuel Own Success: Acknowledging the importance of being a reliable professional, Susanna emphasizes the need for female leaders to go beyond just getting things done. Effectively telling the tale of one’s full potential and becoming the go-to person in times of crisis is crucial for sustained success.
- Telling the Story of Unique Value: Susanna highlights the necessity for female leaders to proactively communicate the unique value they add. This goes beyond wishful thinking and requires overcoming shyness compared to male colleagues. Articulating achievements and contributions is essential for recognition.
- Changing the Rules of the Game: Instead of merely following rules to deliver results, Susanna encourages female leaders to possess the skills to innovate, lead in uncertainty, and create their own rules. Becoming a unicorn in their trade involves making a profound impact on human lives, scaling organizational growth, and lifting the industry forward.
The innate feelings of guilt and hesitation associated with having two X chromosomes are recognized by Susanna. She encourages emerging female leaders to overcome this inner voice of guilt, actively seek power, and understand how to wield it effectively. Contrasting this with some male colleagues who may use power for dominance and self-interest, Susanna advocates for a shift towards using power to achieve goals and serve others beyond personal ego, providing benefits for communities.
Pillars of Clean Energy Strategy
Susanna’s approach to becoming a clean energy strategist is grounded in three fundamental pillars:
- Purpose and Passion: Susanna’s role as a clean energy strategist aligns seamlessly with her passion and sense of purpose. By connecting with individuals in AI, cloud computing, data centers, and renewable energy, she forges meaningful relationships that fuel innovative solutions. Her overarching goal is to contribute to a socially responsible AI era and facilitate the transition to a clean energy future, driven by a commitment to positive global impact.
- Fulfillment and Impact: The fulfillment Susanna derives from her role stems from reusing emissions and regenerating waste through the adoption of clean energy. Leading global teams in the construction of over 3.8 gigawatt renewable energy data center projects, she significantly reduces and reuses emissions. InfraPrime’s innovative approach, transforming waste into value through the Clean Infrastructure Fund, not only generates profits from carbon removal projects but also benefits urban communities in the realm of AI-accelerated edge computing.
- Equanimity: Susanna underscores the importance of maintaining inner balance, resilience, and equanimity in the face of challenges and setbacks. Embracing the daily rigor of learning from rejections and failures, she remains connected to her inner calling and steadfastly committed to sustainability and human dignity. Drawing inspiration from the younger generation, particularly her daughters Bronte and Mirelle, who exemplify qualities of joy, kindness, dedication, courage, and hope in their careers in Foreign Service and Neuroscience research for children.
As clean energy strategists, scientists, and entrepreneurs, Susanna and Alberto express gratitude to Mother Nature for her healing power and advocate for a sustainable and minimalistic lifestyle. Their approach reflects not only a commitment to environmental stewardship but also a deep understanding of the interconnectedness between purpose, impact, and equanimity in shaping a cleaner and more sustainable future.
Sustainable Solutions in Data Center Innovation
InfraPrime, under Susanna’s leadership, thrives on a focused and purpose-driven approach. The company places a strong emphasis on focus as a filter for their efforts, channeling time and expertise to solve real business problems. They address gaps and challenges that organizations and cloud providers may struggle with, efficiently tackling key market opportunities and producing impactful results collaboratively with their clients.
Recognized as a key contributor to the industry, InfraPrime is known for leading innovatively in net zero designs for data centers. Their reputation is built on customer centricity, innovation, and operational efficiency, providing clients with faster time to market and high value to achieve Carbon Neutrality goals.
Susanna emphasizes the role of good science researchers in anticipating future trends. InfraPrime is dedicated to providing profits from the Clean Infrastructure Fund to invest in carbon capture, renewable energy projects, and Net Zero Availability Zones. The company envisions a clean grid 24/7 matched with clean energy and resilient requirements accelerated with AI, inviting urban communities to embrace Net Zero data centers for their clean energy source.
With teams based in Switzerland, Silicon Valley, California, and Asia Pacific countries, InfraPrime embraces minimalistic leadership and conducts virtual meetings, visiting clients at their data centers. The company values the expertise of their clients, encouraging innovation with a purpose and supporting clients in the industry. Listening, observing, and collaboration are foundational to their success.
InfraPrime considers tackling climate action an urgent matter and is actively driving enduring change. Their passion for making an impact is fueled by collaboration with clients who inspire them with bold ambitions. Susanna emphasizes the importance of taking one step at a time to lead to enduring change, acknowledging the role of empathy and commitment in supporting their clients’ success.
The team at InfraPrime finds joy in knowing that their work is well done and contributes to the success of their clients. Susanna draws a parallel to parenting, expressing that the joy comes from the knowledge that the design, build, operation, and maintenance of data centers are working for clients, akin to the fulfillment derived from supporting one’s children in their endeavors.
InfraPrime’s philosophy revolves around purpose, efficiency, innovation, global collaboration, climate action urgency, and finding joy in compassionate acts, all underlining their commitment to creating a sustainable and impactful future.
Heading for a Climate-Driven Transformation
According to Susanna, the future of data centers presents a significant challenge: achieving sustainable growth. This challenge is heightened by the rapid introduction and adoption of AI, the exponential usage of Generative AI, and the transformative shift in computing architecture with Quantum Computing. In response to market uncertainties and new regulations, future data centers must embrace sustainability life cycle design thinking within a circular economy framework.
Susanna advocates for a now-casting approach accelerated by AI, integrating four essential pillars—energy, emissions, water, and waste—on a global scale. The objective is to uphold a commitment to Carbon Neutrality for every Generative AI cloud request. This approach signifies a climate-driven transformation journey that starts from the present moment, addressing the evolving landscape of data centers in the face of emerging technologies and environmental considerations.
