The Open Compute Project Podcast

In this second installment of the Women in OCP series, host Rob Coyle goes deeper with Shruti Sethi, Sr. Product Manager on Azure Storage at Microsoft, OCP Sustainability Steering Committee rep, and Women in OCP Co-Lead. Where Part 1 covered the founding and structure of the group, this conversation digs into the harder questions: the real challenges the initiative faces, how it measures progress, what it will take to scale, and, critically, why male allies and non-women supporters are not just welcome, but essential. Shruti's perspective bridges her sustainability work with Microsoft Azure and her leadership at Women in OCP, making this a rich and candid conversation about what meaningful inclusion actually looks like in the data center industry.What You'll LearnThe real operational challenges of running a geographically distributed community — and how Women in OCP is adaptingWhy keynote abstract submissions are the most tangible, front-and-center metric for measuring women's representation at OCP Global SummitHow Women in OCP tracks membership growth as a leading indicator of community health (230+ members and climbing)Plans to collaborate with external women's groups such as Women in Tech and Women in Mission CriticalWhy scaling across all OCP technical domains — networking, security, sustainability, cooling, and more — is a deliberate priorityA clear and direct message: Women in OCP is open to all supporters, regardless of genderHow the group plans to build internal alliances with OCP domain sub-groups to ensure representation across the boardChapters0:00 — Introduction — Meet Shruti Sethi, Microsoft Azure PM and Women in OCP Co-Lead1:00 — Real Challenges — Geography, Virtual Events, and Bridging the Personal Connection Gap2:59 — Representation on Stage — The Keynote Abstract Problem and How to Fix It6:34 — Measuring Impact — Membership Growth, Summit Momentum, and Key Metrics7:58 — What's Next — External Partnerships, Industry Collaboration, and Scaling Across OCP Domains12:15 — Allyship and Open Invitation — Why Women in OCP Welcomes EveryoneAbout Shruti SethiShruti Sethi is a Senior Product Manager on the Azure Storage team at Microsoft, where her work centers on the intersection of cost efficiency and carbon efficiency — end-to-end environmental and economic impact across cloud infrastructure. At OCP, she serves on the Sustainability Steering Committee and is Co-Lead of Women in OCP alongside Sung Kim of bp Castrol. Shruti brings a systems-level perspective to both her technical product work and her community leadership, approaching inclusion as an industry-wide challenge that requires cross-organizational solutions.About the Open Compute ProjectThe Open Compute Project (OCP) is a collaborative community committed to redesigning hardware technology to efficiently support the growing demands of data centers. Its members span the entire data center value chain — from hardware manufacturers to hyperscalers — sharing open designs and best practices that advance the industry as a whole.Connect with the OCP Podcast:Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/opencompute/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OpenComputePrjJoin our LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4152886/Follow our Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/4284419/

In this episode, host Rob Coyle sits down with Sung Kim, Global Head of Technology for Data Center Liquid Solutions at bp Castrol and Co-Lead of Women in OCP, to discuss how a simple observation at an OCP summit sparked a thriving initiative that is reshaping how women are represented across the data center industry. From founding the Women in OCP group to hosting its first Women and AI luncheon co-sponsored by Nvidia and Lenovo, Sung shares the journey, the challenges, and the collective energy that is driving real change at the industry level.What You'll LearnHow Women in OCP was founded and why the timing was rightThe mission to address gender representation at the industry level — not just within individual companiesHow the group is structured, governed, and organized through a bi-weekly planning committeeKey events including the Global Summit breakfast, regional networking sessions, and the Women and AI luncheonInsights from community feedback: mentorship programs, safe spaces vs. inclusive allies, and geography as a challengePlans for 2026 including expanding mentorship and regional chaptersHow to get involved and subscribe to Women in OCP updatesChapters0:00 — Introduction — Meet Sung Kim, Global Head of Data Center Technology at bp Castrol0:33 — What Is Women in OCP? — Origin Story and Why It Was Needed1:44 — Mission and Goals — Driving Industry-Level Inclusion Across the Value Chain3:38 — Structure, Events, and Community Building — How the Group Operates6:23 — Challenges and Surprises — Geography, Feedback, and Navigating Inclusion9:08 — Successes, Looking Ahead, and How to Get Involved with Women in OCPAbout Sung Kim Sung Kim is the Global Head of Technology for Data Center Liquid Solutions at bp Castrol, where she oversees product development, research, testing, and technical partnership activity across a global team spanning the United States, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. At OCP, Sung serves as a Sustainability Co-Lead and is the founder and Co-Lead of Women in OCP, a community initiative dedicated to increasing the visibility, representation, and leadership of women across the data center and technology industry.About the Open Compute ProjectThe Open Compute Project (OCP) is a collaborative community committed to redesigning hardware technology to efficiently support the growing demands of data centers. Its members span the entire data center value chain, from hardware manufacturers to hyperscalers, sharing open designs and best practices that advance the industry as a whole.Connect with the OCP Podcast:Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/opencompute/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OpenComputePrjJoin our LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4152886/Follow our Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/4284419/

David Hirst, CEO of Macquarie Data Centres, shares insights from his extensive background in building AI-focused infrastructure. He explores how Australia's unique market influences data center design and operations. Topics include the shift from traditional real estate to innovative 'chip-out' designs, the critical need for collaboration among hyperscalers and suppliers, and the rise of liquid cooling technologies. Hirst emphasizes the importance of data sovereignty and compliance in shaping AI infrastructure, providing a fascinating perspective on the future of data centers.

Chris Suchoski, who leads data center systems engineering at Texas Instruments, shares insights on the evolving landscape of AI power solutions. He discusses the urgent need for faster design cycles in the face of burgeoning AI workloads, detailing how traditional power architectures must adapt. The shift towards high-voltage systems like 800V is explored, emphasizing its implications for cooling and infrastructure. Chris also highlights TI's unique position in leveraging automotive experience to meet new challenges and the significance of collaboration through OCP.

JP Buzzell, Vice President and Data Center Chief Architect at Eaton, dives into the revolution of data center design due to explosive growth in AI clusters. He explains how rack density surged and the challenges of power delivery have become critical bottlenecks. The shift towards direct current (DC) power is vital for future scalability. JP also highlights the importance of cooling solutions driven by physical constraints and discusses the intersection of technology with societal benefits, showcasing exciting prospects for the future of data centers.

Nabeel Mahmood returns to the OCP Global Summit — and the OCP Podcast — with momentum, mission, and a message. In this follow-up conversation with host Rob Coyle, Nabeel shares the growth of Nomad Futurist’s education efforts, bringing students and new voices to the forefront of the data center ecosystem.The episode dives deep into why building the future of infrastructure starts with people, access, and understanding. From debunking misconceptions about data centers to spotlighting programs supporting students in underserved regions, Rob and Nabeel explore the true meaning of open innovation and industry responsibility.Key Themes:The importance of global education in techEmpowering communities to understand digital infrastructureSocial responsibility in the data center industryBridging policy, power, and people through open knowledgeNomad Futurist’s collaboration with OCPEvolving power architectures and AI-driven infrastructureThe 1% concept: How small contributions make big impactChapter Markers:00:00 – The Barrier of Access00:45 – Global Student Sponsorships02:00 – Why Community Literacy Matters03:10 – Debunking Myths About Data Centers05:00 – Responsible Progress07:15 – Education as Industry Defense08:00 – Scaling the Mission Globally10:00 – Infrastructure Evolution & Opportunities

As the Open Compute Project continues to grow and diversify, our role is more than managing projects, it’s fostering an experience that helps members thrive across technical and business goals. The focus of OCP remains open participation and collaboration. But with the investment our members make, they also need to see outcomes. This has never been more important than with the new requirements in the hardware ecosystems and the rush to support AI workloads.Our Community grows through the strength of our member’s contributions, our knowledge sharing through events, webinars and virtual workshops, and the opportunity to shape the future of computational infrastructure through open standardization. Though each of these programs can be great, the value is not in just selecting one, it's in the journey for our members, provided by the framework for a thriving open community. Connect with the OCP Podcast:Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/opencompute/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OpenComputePrjJoin our LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4152886/Follow our Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/4284419/#OpenComputeProject #OCP #InfrastructureInnovation #OpenHardware #DataCenters #TechLeadership #Podcast

In this special episode of the Open Compute Project Podcast, host Rob Coyle sits down with Bill Carter, Fellow Emeritus and former CTO of the OCP Foundation, for a deep and personal conversation spanning the entire history of OCP — from its scrappy beginnings to its position today as a force in global infrastructure innovation. Highlights Include:* The Birth of OCP: How Facebook, Intel, and Rackspace sparked a hardware revolution in a curtained-off corner of a San Jose colo.* Vanity-Free Computing: The story behind the radical idea that simplicity, not flash, drives scale.* Rack to Reality: The evolution of Open Rack — from triple-bus bar designs to a global standard reshaped by collaboration.* White Box Networking Breakthroughs: Why disaggregated switches became one of OCP’s most disruptive contributions.* Collaboration Over Competition: The unlikely alliances between rivals like Intel and AMD that propelled early specs like Decathlete and Roadrunner.* Specs That Stuck — and Some That Didn't: Bill breaks down the difference between thriving standards and those that fell flat.* OCP’s Global Footprint: What Europe and Asia bring to the future of open hardware, sustainability, and sovereign tech.* What’s Next: Lessons from the past and a look forward at where OCP is headed — especially in the AI, modular, and liquid-cooled future.Whether you're new to open hardware or a long-time community member, this is a must-listen look at how open collaboration can reshape an entire industry — told by someone who helped build it.Chapters:00:00:00 — Intro00:02:36 — The Birth of OCP: Why Facebook broke away from traditional server designs00:08:44 — Bill Joins the Movement: How Intel became an early OCP catalyst00:22:13 — Network Disaggregation: The white box switch that shook the industry00:28:49 — Decathlete & Roadrunner: Competing specs, shared goals00:34:12 — OCP Inspired vs Accepted: What it means and why it matters00:43:10 — The Power of Connector Standardization: Dripless and universal quick disconnects00:50:05 — Modular Momentum: The rise of DCM and the value of early collaboration01:02:08 — What's Next for OCP: AI, sustainability, and global community growthConnect with the OCP Podcast:Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/opencompute/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OpenComputePrjJoin our LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4152886/Follow our Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/4284419/#OpenComputeProject #OCP #InfrastructureInnovation #OpenHardware #DataCenters #TechLeadership #Podcast

In this episode, host Rob Coyle welcomes Cagatay Yilmas, RISE Project Manager & OCP EMEA Lead for the Nordics, to explore Europe’s distinctive approach to data center innovation. Cagatay unpacks how RISE is building vendor-agnostic, sustainable digital infrastructure, why open innovation is key to Europe's growth, and how the EU's regulatory frameworks are shaping the future of energy-efficient computing.From heat reuse strategies and digital twins to cutting-edge developments like the EU’s first homegrown servers, the conversation offers a unique lens on how European data centers differ—and why that matters globally. They also discuss RISE’s role as an OCP Experience Center, collaboration opportunities for tech innovators, and what’s in store at the upcoming OCP EMEA Summit in Dublin.Chapters:00:00 What is RISE? Cagatay explains the mission behind Sweden's largest research institute.04:17 How OCP and RISE Collaborated: The origin story of open hardware adoption in Europe.07:50 Proprietary vs Open: Why OCP standards are reshaping thermal management, efficiency, and material transparency.13:28 Inside ICE Data Center: How RISE’s OCP Experience Center is validating next-gen technologies at scale.19:40 The HeatWise Project: Tackling edge computing, grid integration, and climate-neutral buildings.24:25 EU Regulations & KPIs: How Europe is setting new benchmarks for data center efficiency and sustainability.30:10 The First European Server Prototype: How RISE is helping shape Europe’s sovereign digital future.Web page for RISE ICE Data Center:https://www.ri.se/en/ice-datacenterContact Information:Çağatay Yılmaz – Project Manager @ ICE Data Center & OCP EMEA Nordics Lead: cagatay.yilmaz@ri.seJon Summers – Scientific Lead of ICE Data Center & Chair of OCP FTS: jon.summers@ri.seIsabelle Kremlin – Business and Innovation Manager of ICE Data Center: isabelle.kemlin@ri.seTor Björn Minde – Unit Manager of ICE Data Center: tor.bjorn.minde@ri.seProject Discussed:HIGHER (European Heterogeneous Cloud/Edge Infrastructures for Next Generation Hybrid Services): https://www.higher-project.euHEATWISE (Holistic Energy Management and Thermal Waste Integrated System for Energy Optimisation): https://heatwise.euConnect with the OCP Podcast:Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/opencompute/Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OpenComputePrjJoin our LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4152886/Follow our Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/4284419/

In this episode of the Open Compute Project Podcast, Rob Coyle welcomes Beth Langer, Principal Thermal Technologist at CPC (Colder Products Company), to discuss the rapid development of quick disconnects for liquid cooling in data centers. As an OCP Community member and key contributor to the Cooling Environments Project, CPC is at the forefront of innovation in liquid cooling connections. Beth shares insights on the challenges and advancements in developing quick disconnects for high-performance computing, the importance of reliability at scale, and the evolution of the Universal Quick Disconnect (UQD) specification. Join us as we explore the future of liquid cooling and its impact on next-generation data centers.Chapters:0:00 Introduction to Beth Langer and CPC’s role in liquid cooling solutions3:07 The rise of liquid cooling in data centers 5:31 Scaling liquid cooling reliability and manufacturing challenges9:12 The importance of standardization and collaboration in OCP14:13 The development and evolution of the Universal Quick Disconnect28:36 Future-proofing liquid cooling and upcoming innovations36:53 How to get involved in OCP and CPC’s contributions to the industryResources: OCP's Cold Plate Sub-Project: https://www.opencompute.org/projects/cold-plate “Liquid Cooling When Component Failure is Not an Option” Presentation at the OPC Global Summit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwQGH3wsfGI Website: CPC Worldwide: https://www.cpcworldwide.com/coolConnect with the OCP Podcast: Join our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/opencompute/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/OpenComputePrj Join our LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4152886/ Follow our Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/company/4284419/