Powering Progress: Kira Welcenbach on the Future of Digital Infrastructure

This Women’s History Month, we are celebrating the pioneers, strategists, and leaders who are doing their part to keep the world connected. Our own Kira Welcenbach, Director of Strategic Marketing, recently participated in JSA’s Women in Digital Infrastructure Series, spotlighting her journey into the heart of the data center industry.

Check out her path to advancing digital infrastructure in the video here or keep reading to learn more.

The Takeoff into the Digital Infrastructure Field

Like many of her peers, Kira didn't start her career with a blueprint for a data center in hand. Instead, her path was paved by curiosity. Starting as a strategy consultant right out of college, Kira says she wasn’t well versed about the digital infrastructure world. However, through rigorous due diligence and strategy projects, a realization took hold: data centers are the heartbeat of the modern economy.

"It became clear that data centers were a capital 'B' big deal," Kira notes. "Chips and power have become our new currency in the world."

Today, Kira brings that strategic mindset to the Rehlko Power Systems team. Through coordinating market intelligence, her work ensures that Rehlko continues to evolve alongside the backbone of global connectivity to deliver resilient and reliable backup power systems.

Why Uptime is a Human Necessity At Rehlko

We often talk about resilience and reliability, but Kira brings those concepts down to earth. Whether it’s ensuring that TikToks don’t buffer, YouTube videos play seamlessly, or critical global problems are solved through high-performance computing, it all comes back to backup power.

Rehlko provides the peace of mind that allows technology to thrive. By ensuring data centers are always on, we are powering the technology that solves problems big and small. For Kira, seeing the tangible change that reliable power makes in a world that never sleeps is the most rewarding part of the job.

Advice for the Next Generation: Stay Curious

As a young woman leading in a traditionally male-dominated industry, Kira’s participation in the JSA series is a call to action for other women to explore the vast opportunities in digital infrastructure. Her advice is simple:

• Stay curious.

• Ask the hard questions.

• Meet new people.

• Take on the challenges that scare you.

"Those are the times you're going to find opportunities to grow and to push yourself," Kira says. "As a young woman in the digital infrastructure industry myself, I have been consistently challenged and made to be my best by meeting others and taking on new experiences." The industry is incredibly resilient, yet it faces unique hurdles, such as supply chain constraints and intensifying power demands. Kira and the team at Rehlko are at the forefront of solving these challenges today to innovate for tomorrow. This Women’s History Month, we don't just look back at how far we've come; we look forward to the women like Kira Welcenbach who are ensuring that the future of digital infrastructure is sustainable, reliable, and resilient. Watch Kira’s full segment in the JSA Women in Digital Infrastructure series here to learn more about her insights on the industry’s future.