Episode 121: Miranda Gardiner

Miranda Gardiner is Executive Director of the iMasons Climate Accord (iCA), a non-profit trade association focused on decarbonization of digital infrastructure. She has an architecture background and has worked in a range of organizations -- design firms, associations, tech companies -- and this gives her a special perspective. She is part of multiple industries and communities.

Her leadership is marked by commitment to fostering collaboration and facilitating progress, highlighted by successful partnerships with Open Compute Project and RICS Tech Partner Programme, frameworks like the iCA’s Maturity Model, and volunteer engagements.

We asked her about what advice she has for young professionals, especially as someone who has navigated into a field at the vanguard. She quoted the late Dr. Paul Farmer, who called his worldwide healthcare work “doing hard things with friends.” Miranda says, “That’s it. We get up knowing that it is a challenge every single day. I advise peoople to remain consistent: keep learning, asking questions, and sharing the stories.”

Miranda shared about challenges in the digital infrastructure realm and mentioned some data center work that she is watching with interest, including urban sites in existing buildings and with innovative water and ecology strategies. “One issue that we’re looking at right now is water and the water-energy nexus,” Miranda says. “I am excited about the potential of this focus and how it relates to how they relate to their communities.”