Let's Get Digital with Carrie Charles

In this episode, Bernard Borghei, Founder and CEO of Connected Infra Group, shares how he is building the next generation of wireless infrastructure platforms—drawing on more than three decades of experience across telecom, towers, and global network development. From his early days in analog cellular to helping scale industry leaders like Global Tower Partners and Vertical Bridge, Bernard offers a deeply personal and practical perspective on what it takes to build enduring infrastructure businesses.Today, Bernard is leading Connected Infra Group with a bold vision backed by a $1 billion capital commitment, focused initially on tower acquisitions and build-to-suit opportunities. He explains how the company is positioning itself as a long-term platform—stabilizing in towers while thoughtfully evaluating adjacencies like fiber, edge data centers, and power infrastructure to capture the next wave of digital demand.Bernard breaks down the evolution of the tower industry—from entrepreneurial, high-conviction dealmaking to a more competitive, capital-intensive landscape with fewer large portfolio opportunities. Despite this maturity, he emphasizes that wireless infrastructure remains mission-critical, with continued densification, data consumption growth, and carrier investment reinforcing its long-term relevance.The conversation explores what comes next: the convergence of towers, edge computing, data centers, and even satellite networks. Bernard highlights how AI and future 6G standards will further stress networks—unlocking new opportunities across the RAN and edge, and blurring the lines between infrastructure asset classes as platforms evolve into fully integrated ecosystems.Beyond infrastructure, Bernard delivers a powerful leadership philosophy rooted in culture. He explains why culture and leadership are inseparable, and how building high-performing organizations requires humility, transparency, and hands-on engagement. From hiring for cultural fit to maintaining alignment during rapid growth and leadership transitions, he shares hard-earned lessons on preserving a company’s “soul” as it scales.He also addresses current industry dynamics, including widespread layoffs, shifting capital priorities, and the impact of outsourcing, spectrum auctions, and AI. Rather than signaling decline, Bernard views these changes as strategic recalibration—positioning carriers and the broader ecosystem for the next investment cycle.Looking ahead, Bernard’s vision for Connected Infra Group is not tied to a fixed exit—but to building a durable, multi-decade platform that can adapt, grow, and lead through industry transformation. His goal: to create a company strong enough to outlast its founders and continue shaping the future of connectivity.From billion-dollar bets to leadership at scale, this episode is a masterclass in conviction, culture, and building infrastructure platforms that power the digital economy. Subscribe, leave a review, and stay connected.Visit Broadstaff at broadstaffglobal.comFollow Broadstaff on InstagramFollow Broadstaff on LinkedInConnect with Carrie Charles on LinkedInFollow Let's Get Digital with Carrie Charles on LinkedInWatch full episodes of Let's Get Digital on YouTube

In this episode, Raul Martynek, CEO of DataBank, shares how he has helped transform a six–data center platform into one of the largest and most geographically diverse data center operators in the United States. With three decades in digital infrastructure—spanning telecom, fiber, cloud, and now data centers—Raul offers a front-row perspective on how the industry has evolved from modest megawatt deployments to hyperscale campuses measured in gigawatts.Today, DataBank operates the broadest geographic footprint of data centers in the U.S., serving more than 2,500 customers across enterprise, hyperscale, and emerging AI segments. Raul explains how the company scaled from a $50 million business to a billion-dollar-plus platform by prioritizing geography, disciplined capital access, and long-term infrastructure planning—often securing land and power years in advance to meet future demand.Raul breaks down the dramatic shift in data center scale: enterprise deals that once averaged 1–2 megawatts now reach 20–30 megawatts, while hyperscale and AI deployments can range from 250 megawatts to over a gigawatt. He addresses the durability of AI-driven demand, separating hype from fundamentals, and explains why long-term digital consumption—not short-term euphoria—underpins sustained infrastructure growth.The conversation also tackles the real constraints shaping the next decade: access to capital, power availability, supply chain pressures, rising construction costs, and increasing community opposition. Raul outlines how DataBank is navigating these bottlenecks through patient capital partnerships, multi-year power strategies, and deeper engagement with local stakeholders.Beyond infrastructure, Raul emphasizes culture as a competitive advantage. From launching DataBank University to building structured career paths in operations and sales, he details how investing in people has enabled 44 consecutive quarters of positive net bookings. He shares the principles behind “The DataBank Way,” including leadership behaviors like extreme ownership and collaborative problem-solving—critical for scaling a decentralized workforce across 60+ markets.Looking ahead, Raul predicts continued U.S. leadership in data center development, with markets like Texas positioned to surge due to streamlined grid access and a pro-growth mindset. But he cautions that the industry’s greatest risk isn’t lack of demand—it’s overbuilding. As a fundamentally supply-and-demand real estate business, disciplined development decisions will separate resilient operators from the rest.From AI acceleration to grid constraints, talent shortages to trillion-dollar capital flows, this episode is a masterclass in scaling the digital backbone of the modern economy—grounded in long-term thinking, operational discipline, and leadership at scale. Subscribe, leave a review, and stay connected.Visit Broadstaff at broadstaffglobal.comFollow Broadstaff on InstagramFollow Broadstaff on LinkedInConnect with Carrie Charles on LinkedInFollow Let's Get Digital with Carrie Charles on LinkedInWatch full episodes of Let's Get Digital on YouTube

In this episode, Marcelo Cataldo, CEO of Digicel, shares the extraordinary story of how he led a sweeping turnaround across 25 countries—bringing new stability, focus, and innovation to the Caribbean’s largest mobile provider. From navigating hurricanes and economic uncertainty to investing in underserved communities and modernizing legacy systems, Marcelo’s journey reveals what it truly takes to lead a telecom transformation with people—and resilience—at the center.Today’s guest, Marcelo Cataldo, joined Digicel in 2024 after a major restructuring and quickly repositioned the company for growth. Under his leadership, Digicel is expanding data access, investing in solar-powered infrastructure, and deepening its role as a lifeline across regions still battling 2G limitations, low broadband penetration, and climate vulnerability.Marcelo breaks down his three-part turnaround strategy: narrowing focus to core services, decentralizing operations to empower local markets, and rebuilding culture from the ground up. He shares what it takes to build hurricane-ready networks, respond in crisis, and create long-term social impact through connectivity—especially in countries like Haiti, where Digicel’s network literally powers the nation.From AI-powered customer service agents to bottom-up talent development across diverse island economies, Marcelo discusses how Digicel is preparing for a future defined by climate pressure, automation, and community-driven growth.With clear communication, relentless execution, and a vision rooted in service, Marcelo offers a leadership playbook for any operator navigating complexity at scale. His insights go beyond telecom—touching on what it means to lead with purpose in a region where every text, call, and connection could change a life.From infrastructure to impact, this episode is a masterclass in resilience, reinvention, and digital inclusion. Subscribe, leave a review, and stay connected.Visit Broadstaff at broadstaffglobal.comFollow Broadstaff on InstagramFollow Broadstaff on LinkedInConnect with Carrie Charles on LinkedInFollow Let's Get Digital with Carrie Charles on LinkedInWatch full episodes of Let's Get Digital on YouTube

In this episode, Robert Bye, Founder and President of Zenture Partners, unpacks why enterprise telecom remains stuck in a reactive, spreadsheet-driven world and how his company is using data, automation, and AI to change that. With a background spanning carrier networks, VARs, and global IT procurement, Robert shares how a surprising conversation with a major enterprise sparked the creation of Zenture and launched a platform built to modernize one of the most overlooked segments of IT.Today’s guest, Robert Bye, leads Zenture Partners, a company focused on transforming telecom sourcing, inventory, and spend management through a real-time global marketplace. Designed for large, distributed enterprises, Zenture enables IT and procurement leaders to finally see who’s available, what they should pay, and how to make smarter, faster connectivity decisions across 70+ countries.Robert explains why telecom pricing is wildly inconsistent, why enterprises are often overpaying by 3x, and how Zenture's AI-powered capabilities automate everything from circuit discovery and risk scoring to quote validation and invoice audits. He also breaks down how telecom became the “forgotten utility” in the digital transformation race and how his team is flipping that narrative by bringing data, visibility, and accountability to the forefront.With a clear vision and an Amazon-like approach to buying connectivity, Robert shares what it truly means to turn telecom into a utility that “just works” and how he’s challenging a legacy industry to rethink what’s possible. His perspective is both disruptive and practical: focus on access, eliminate friction, and let the customer decide.From AI agents and carrier integrations to startup lessons and leadership insights, this episode is packed with game-changing ideas for CIOs, IT buyers, procurement leaders, and anyone ready to rethink the future of enterprise connectivity. Subscribe, leave a review, and stay connected.Visit Broadstaff at broadstaffglobal.comFollow Broadstaff on InstagramFollow Broadstaff on LinkedInConnect with Carrie Charles on LinkedInFollow Let's Get Digital with Carrie Charles on LinkedInWatch full episodes of Let's Get Digital on YouTube

In this episode, David Bacino, CEO of Symphony Towers Operating Partner at Palistar Capital, shares a remarkable 40-year journey across the wireless ecosystem—from carrier-side operations to manufacturing, infrastructure ownership, and investment. His deep experience reveals how foundational towers and rooftops are to the wireless networks we use every day—and why they’re more valuable than ever in today’s hyper-connected world.Today’s guest, David Bacino, leads Symphony Towers, a fast-growing portfolio of over 3,000 tower and rooftop assets backed by Palistar Capital. Positioned at the intersection of telecom and real estate, Symphony delivers turnkey infrastructure solutions that help carriers solve capacity and coverage challenges nationwide. David offers a unique perspective on how long-term value is created through intelligent site acquisition, strategic partnerships, and a customer-first approach.David breaks down how property owners—from hotels to high-rises—can turn rooftops into revenue-generating assets, and how Symphony acquires those rights to enable carrier growth. He explores the growing demand for edge infrastructure driven by mobile usage, IoT, autonomous vehicles, and emerging technologies like 6G. Whether it's enhancing dense urban connectivity or serving rural and hard-to-reach zones, towers and rooftops remain essential—and David makes a strong case for why that won’t change anytime soon.With a leadership style grounded in clarity, trust, decision-making, and team unity, David also discusses the culture he’s building at Symphony: nimble, collaborative, and aligned around a shared mission. He emphasizes the importance of being flexible in a rapidly changing industry—and taking the hill together.From emerging revenue streams to the evolution of infrastructure strategy, this conversation is full of insight for operators, investors, developers, and anyone shaping the future of wireless connectivity. Subscribe, leave a review, and stay connected.Visit Broadstaff at broadstaffglobal.comFollow Broadstaff on InstagramFollow Broadstaff on LinkedInConnect with Carrie Charles on LinkedInFollow Let's Get Digital with Carrie Charles on LinkedInWatch full episodes of Let's Get Digital on YouTube