From Servers to Sovereign AI: A Free 18-Lesson Guide to Mastering the Data Center Industry
An 18-part series that breaks down the fundamentals, economics, geopolitics, and future of the world’s most important infrastructure.
Welcome to Global Data Center Hub. Join investors, operators, and innovators reading to stay ahead of the latest trends in the data center sector in developed and emerging markets globally.
Every AI model, streaming service, and financial transaction runs through a data center. These facilities are the invisible factories of the digital age, yet most people have never stepped inside one.
That’s why I created this series: Mastering the Data Center Industry. Over 18 lessons, we’ll break down the fundamentals, explore the economics, examine global trends, and look ahead to the future of digital infrastructure.
This entire series is free because understanding data centers shouldn’t be limited to insiders.
Series Overview
The series is organized into six modules, each building on the last. Think of it as your roadmap for mastering one of the most important (and misunderstood) industries of our time.
Module 1: Foundations — What Is a Data Center?
We start with the basics: what data centers are, why they exist, and how they keep the digital economy alive.
Lesson 2: Components of a data center — power, cooling, compute, storage, network
Lesson 3: Types of data centers — enterprise, colocation, hyperscale, edge.
Module 2: Infrastructure — Inside the Black Box
A closer look at the physical systems that make data centers work.
Lesson 5: Cooling systems — CRAC, liquid cooling, airflow design
Lesson 6: Network architecture — fiber, connectivity, peering
Module 3: Business & Economics
Who builds, owns, and profits from data centers? We’ll explore the different models and value drivers.
Lesson 7: Who builds and owns data centers?
Lesson 8: The economics of leasing vs. owning
Lesson 9: Revenue models — retail colo, wholesale, hyperscale leases
Module 4: Global Trends & Geopolitics
Data centers are now at the center of global competition for AI, energy, and sovereignty.
Lesson 10: Hyperscaler expansion & sovereign infrastructure
Lesson 11: Energy + AI: Power grid constraints
Lesson 12: Emerging markets — LatAm, Africa, SE Asia
Module 5: Design & Deployment
From dirt to delivery: how data centers actually get built and brought online.
Lesson 13: Site selection and due diligence
Lesson 14: Permitting, construction, and delivery timelines
Lesson 15: Modular builds, sustainability, and future designs
Module 6: Strategic Opportunities & Future Trends
A forward look at where the industry is headed, and what it means for investors, operators, and policymakers.
Lesson 16: AI infrastructure and liquid cooling
Lesson 17: Sovereign clouds and edge deployments
Lesson 18: Investing in data centers — risks and returns
Why This Series Matters
Data centers are no longer a niche corner of real estate or IT they’re the foundation of the AI economy. By the end of these 18 lessons, you’ll have a clear, structured understanding of how the industry works today and where it’s going tomorrow.
Stay subscribed to follow along each week, and by the end of this journey, you’ll be able to see what most people miss: the hidden infrastructure shaping the digital world.