Skygard
Skygard
Skygard

Data Centers

Sustainability

Sustainability at Skygard

Leading with Continuous Improvement: Meet Skygard’s New Head of Operations

Shipra Kansal joined Skygard as Head of Operations this year, with over ten years of experience in the telecom and data center industries. For Kansal, the job is not only about ensuring uptime, but about building an organization that delivers safe and sustainable operations, 24/7.
From India to NorwayKansal is originally from India and moved to Norway in 2012. She began her career in the telecom industry but quickly realized that the data center sector was experiencing strong growth and offered plenty of opportunities for development.- Compared to telecom industry, the data center industry is highly dynamic. New technologies and emerging needs are constantly reshaping the landscape, which makes working in this field both engaging and exciting, she recounts.Before joining Skygard, Kansal worked at another data center company. She first led the Nordic operations team before taking on responsibility for data center operations and operational strategy) across Europe- I have worked with what we call essential services, functions critical to society. Our job was to ensure that these services were always operational and to work proactively to minimize risks and errors in the technical infrastructure. Availability is the key word, both my team and I have been available around the clock, Kansal says.Safety and Sustainability as a Driving ForceThe reason Kansal chose to join Skygard was the company’s clear focus on safety and sustainability.- It’s not just about technology when building data centers. It’s also about finding innovative ways to ensure safety and sustainability and implementing new solutions that make the facilities more resilient and environmentally friendly. This is the future, and I wanted to be part of a company that takes it seriously, she notes.Continuous Improvement for CustomersAs Head of Operations, Kansal spends most of her time establishing policies, procedures, and operational guidelines, as well as driving continuous improvement.- Customers expect us to continuously improve, even though there isn’t a contractual requirement to do so. That’s why we are constantly looking for areas to enhance and ways to make operations even more efficient and sustainable, she says.For Kansal, uptime and sustainability are two sides of the same coin.Running data centers more sustainably is not only good for the environment but also provides more stable services for customers. The two are closely linked, she states.Connecting the office and the data centerAlthough she is based at the headquarters in Skøyen, Kansal makes a point of visiting the data centers regularly.- My team is based at the data centers, and it’s important for me to be present. I try to be there at least once a week, she says.Under Kansal’s leadership, Skygard is strengthening its position as a forward-looking player in the data center industry. Her focus on both safety and sustainability ensures that customers not only receive maximum uptime but also solutions designed to meet the needs of tomorrow.