Profile
Amber Villegas - Williamson
Do you use the Internet? Wanna know how it happens??? :-)
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About Me
I'm a Data Center Expert, total geek, wannabe comedian, dog lover and all round STEM enthusiast.
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I live in Essex and I drive often to a choice of airports as I travel the world checking out Data Centers (where the internet lives). I grew up in central London and am the granddaughter of refugees, I speak 3 languages fluently and others I can order coffee (which is VERY important in engineering)!!!
I write very serious reports however, I am known to quote Cardi B, Nicki Minaj and Niniola where applicable 😛 especially in emails with colleagues Okkuuuurrrr!
I’m a GIF user extraordinaire, Star Trek lover, movie buff and afrobeats fan.
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My pronouns are
she/her
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My Work
I'm a Data Centre engineering expert and I look for single points of failure in power and cooling systems used to stop the internet going down.
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- What is a Data Center?
This video was created by one of my work collegaues and his daughter to help explain what Data Centers are and that they are used by everyone, ALL the time!
If you want to take a look at some of the places I have been check out the following vids.
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My Typical Day: I work from home when I'm doing a "Home Job" or I will travel for a week to somewhere in the world when I'm doing an "Away Job". When I work from home I look at drawings (electrical schematics), equipment data sheets, calculations and written explanations that have all been submitted by a Data Center for me to check. I will write a report that helps them identify possible issues that could cause the internet to stop. When I have an "Away Job" I travel to a country for 1 week and we do lots and lots of on-site testing to make sure the Data Center will operate the way is has been designed.
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I work from home when I’m doing a “Home Job” or I will travel for a week to somewhere in the world when I’m doing an “Away Job”.
When I work from home I look at drawings (electrical schematics), equipment data sheets, calculations and written explanations that have all been submitted by a Data Center for me to check. I will write a report that helps them identify possible issues that could cause the internet to stop. The nice thing I love about my job is that it is “output” driven which means that I get up when I need to and work until I need to, I manage my own time and do not have to be “dressed for the office”.
I used to have a doogie helper but she passed away a few years ago, but she was very helpful at keeping my drawings warm! I also collect fridge magnets from all the places I visit….think I’m gonna need a bigger fridge!
When I have an “Away Job” I travel to a country for 1 week and we do lots and lots of on-site testing to make sure the Data Center will operate the way is has been designed. When I do an “Away Job” I will walk typically 15 – 20 km per day and in 2019 I walked 480 km / 300 miles (in Data Centers only). In 2019 I also spent 116 hours on a plane and travelled the equivalent of 2.2 times around the earth (or over 1.3 Million football pitches).
Earthquake proof Data Center
 
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What I'd do with the money
Promote the What is a Data Center YouTube video and create a series of short Vlogs/TikTok to show what life is like inside a Data Center.person hosting.
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I would like to promote the video What is a Data Center
I’d also like to create a series of short Vlogs/TikToks to show what life is like inside a Data Center and if possible (depending on the Data Center have teenagers show YOU around).
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Education:
Bachelors Degree in Electrical & Electronic Engineering from the University of South Wales
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Qualifications:
GCSEs A*, A, B and a C (I’m old so can’t remember how many, I’ll update at some point). AS-Level Spanish, A-Level French, Chemistry, Electronics (I failed A level Maths)
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Work History:
Since leaving uni I have worked in Internal Sales, External Sales, Product Management, Business Development and Finally Consultancy 🙂
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Current Job:
Senior Consultant
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Employer:
I work for The Uptime Institute, we are the Global Data Center Authority.
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My Interview
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How would you describe yourself in 3 words?
I'm a Savage :-P
What's the best thing you've done in your career?
Met loads of amazing people from all around the world.
What or who inspired you to follow your career?
I had an argument with a physics teacher about FlipFlop logic gates and he said "Oh yes, you're definitely an engineer"...he was right lol
What was your favourite subject at school?
All the Sciences, Art, French, Drama, I really liked school.
What did you want to be after you left school?
Errrrrr I didn't really know, I just knew I like solving problems. I wanted to be an astronaut for a very long time. er
Were you ever in trouble at school?
Let's just say I was never caught ;-P
If you weren't doing this job, what would you choose instead?
Pathologist (yes I watched the X-files loads and wanted to be Scully).
Who is your favourite singer or band?
Niniola (I highly recommend, she's brilliant)
What's your favourite food?
All of it :-D I love sea food, pizza and anything that isn't mint chocolate
What is the most fun thing you've done?
Raced a colleague down a slide and stood inside and old steam generator.
If you had 3 wishes for yourself what would they be? - be honest!
Can I just wish for World Peace :-) hihii honestly it would be amazing if countries just stopped bickering!
Tell us a joke.
You want more! Really!!! Okay. Why do plants hate math??? Cos it gives them square roots 😂
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