“ We ’ re all interlinked because if you ’ ve got that trusting relationship , you are going to work to build the right thing ”
GUY WILLNER CO-FOUNDER & CHAIRMAN , IXAFRICA data centre into a thriving hub of information exchange , connectivity and thriving business .
Partnerships with powerhouses Despite feeling strongly about the strength of his team and having a core passion for startups , Willner acknowledges the power of collaboration across the industry .
“ A lot of people we ’ ve worked with for a long time , like Future-tech and Schneider , help out with our conceptual designs , keeping an eye out to understand what the next steps are in the industry . They help us understand how to operate and keep us on our toes in terms of all the newest technology that ’ s coming in .
“ It ’ s really interesting to have big powerhouses behind us where they ’ ve got big R & D groups looking at what ’ s going to happen in 20 years so we can guide our designs so they are futureproof .”
Sharing values , core morals and ethical practices with partners is equally valuable to Willner , with trusting relationships and ensuring synchronicity , one of the main things looked for when partnering with businesses for the betterment of IXAfrica , the wider data centre industry and the communities they serve .
“ You can ’ t do anything on your own ,” he states . “ So you need a bunch of friends and they can also keep you in focus . We ’ re all part of this ecosystem . We ’ re all interlinked because if you ’ ve got that trusting relationship , you are going to work to build the right thing .”
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