R&D Engineer and Project Manager Tina Stark on the rapid shift from "future solution" to urgent requirement, breaking stereotypes, and why curiosity matters.
This interview is part of our Women in Data Centres series for International Women's Day 2026. Subscribe to Data Centre Perspective for monthly industry insights and exclusive interviews.
Author: Lisa Scarlett, Lead Consultant at Eligo, Global Data Centre Projects
Tina Stark R&D Engineer and Project Manager at RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, has spent the past 4.5 years focused on cooling systems for data centres.
With a Master's in Energy Engineering from Luleå University of Technology and experience in Vattenfall's Hydro Power department, she's witnessed firsthand how liquid cooling evolved from a promising future technology to an urgent present-day requirement.
In this conversation, she shares her journey from knowing nothing about data centres to leading research projects, and explains why the industry is so much more than "a room full of computers."
From Energy Engineering to Data Centre Research
Tina's path into data centres began with a missed opportunity—and a lingering interest.
"When I studied energy engineering at Luleå University of Technology we had a project course where RISE was one of the companies that offered a project," she recalls. "Sadly, I did not get that project, but sort of had them in my mind, and it sounded so cool and interesting with research and doing lab experiments."
When she eventually joined RISE, she knew virtually nothing about data centres. "Just that it is a room full of computers," she admits. But that lack of knowledge didn't hold her back. Over nearly five years, she's learned continuously, growing from newly graduated junior researcher to project manager leading research initiatives.
"During my now almost 5 years working at RISE I have learned so much, and still do, about the data center business," she says.
It's a journey defined not by expertise at the start, but by curiosity and willingness to learn.
The Biggest Turning Point? Still to Come
When asked about her biggest career turning point, Tina's answer is refreshingly honest and forward-looking.
"I am still (or at least feel) quite young in my professional career and feel like my biggest career turning point is yet to come!" she says.
Rather than pointing to a single defining moment or skill, she's banking on something broader:
"Hopefully, it is not one specific skill that will matter the most, but instead my broad set of skills."
It's a perspective that recognises career development isn't always linear—and that sometimes, the most important transitions are the ones you haven't experienced yet.
From Future Promise to Urgent Requirement
The technical evolution Tina has witnessed is dramatic—and it happened faster than most anticipated.
"When I started, liquid cooling, and immersion cooling in particular, was mostly talked about as something promising for the future, but not yet truly needed at scale," she explains.
Today, everything has changed. The rapid rise of AI and increasing power density of modern hardware has transformed liquid cooling from a "nice to have" into a necessity.
"Liquid cooling is no longer a 'future solution', it's a requirement right now."
That shift has fundamentally increased the technical complexity of data centres.
"The industry suddenly has a very short time window to solve challenges around integration, standardisation, operations, safety, and long‑term reliability," Tina explains.
But rather than being overwhelmed by the urgency, Tina finds it energising.
"What excites me the most is that this urgency has created an environment where companies across the industry are motivated to collaborate and innovate quickly. It means I get to work on really interesting and ambitious projects within the liquid cooling domain."
The Skills That Will Matter
Looking ahead, Tina is characteristically pragmatic about what skills will be most valuable for the future.
"I'm not sure what skill would be the most valuable in the next five years, but to have some knowledge about liquid cooling will definitely not be a disadvantage," she says, adding with self-awareness: "but maybe I'm biased."
It's honest, humble, and probably accurate—as AI workloads continue driving power density higher, liquid cooling expertise will only become more critical.
Breaking the "Room Full of Computers" Misconception
One of Tina's biggest frustrations is a persistent oversimplification: the idea that a data centre is "just a room full of computers" with only one network technician working there.
"The industry is so much broader, and a data centre involves a lot of infrastructure to be able to operate 24/7."
The rise of AI has only intensified this complexity.
"Due to the rise of AI, it is facing challenges around integration, standardisation, operations, safety, and long‑term reliability that make the industry even broader."
For Tina, correcting this misconception matters—both for attracting diverse talent and for helping people understand the scale and sophistication of what data centres actually involve.
Clear, Structured, Solution-Oriented Leadership
As a project manager, Tina has developed a clear leadership approach.
"I would describe my leadership style as clear, structured, and solution‑oriented," she says.
When it comes to balancing speed, resilience, and sustainability in high-pressure environments, her approach is straightforward:
"I try to balance speed by giving clear priorities and enabling fast decision‑making."
It's a practical, no-nonsense approach that recognises leadership isn't about grand philosophies—it's about creating clarity and removing obstacles so teams can execute effectively.
Her Advice: If You're Interested, Go for it.
For women considering opportunities in data centres, Tina's message is direct and encouraging.
"If you're interested, do it!" she says.
She acknowledges the intimidation factor.
"I know the industry can feel intimidating since it is male-dominated and maybe the stereotype of a data center worker can be seen in one way."
But she circles back to her core message about industry complexity:
"As mentioned before, the industry has much more to it than just 'a room full of computers'. Data centres are the backbone of the digital society we live in today."
It's advice rooted in her own experience: entering the field with minimal knowledge but genuine curiosity, and discovering an industry far more complex, collaborative, and innovative than stereotypes suggest.
Research at the Cutting Edge
Tina's career is a reminder that some of the most impactful work in data centres happens not just in operations and construction, but in research labs where tomorrow's technologies are being tested today.
Her focus on liquid cooling puts her at the forefront of one of the industry's most urgent technical transitions. As AI continues driving unprecedented demand for cooling capacity, the work she and her colleagues are doing at RISE will shape how data centres operate for years to come.
For those drawn to the intersection of energy systems, engineering innovation, and digital infrastructure, there's never been a more exciting time to get involved.
Subscribe to Data Centre Perspective for monthly industry insights and exclusive interviews.
📖 Read Irene Alonso's Spotlight on Career Transition and Leadership
📖 Read Concha Bibian Díaz's Spotlight on Collaborative Leadership and Design Innovation
This interview was brought together for our Women in Data Centres spotlight series for International Women’s Day 2026.
At Eligo, we work closely with data centre developers, operators, consultancies and contractors across the UK and Europe, supporting the growth of technical, design and delivery teams in one of the world’s fastest-moving sectors.
If this journey resonates with you, whether you’re building your team or considering your next move in the data centre industry, I'd love to start a conversation.
📩 Clients: If you’re looking to strengthen your design or technical delivery capability, get in touch with me to discuss how we can support your hiring plans.
📞 Candidates: If you’re curious about opportunities in data centres or considering a transition into the sector, you can check out our latest data centre roles here and I'm always happy to share insights and guidance.