Exploration, adventure, and personal growth led Gowri to join Kirby in 2019. Based in Sweden with a six-person team, he is working closely with the Kirby project teams to deliver data centres for a key customer in Sweden.

For Gowri, planning was a natural fit for his skills. As a trained engineer, he is an integral part of the project team, working to create a programme that can flex and change in response to the client’s requirements and base-building timescales.

We asked Gowri what a typical day looks like:

“We liaise with the main contractor, engineering, construction, and commissioning teams, along with other departments, establishing strong lines of communication to gather the information we need to adapt our plans.”

Career Development at Kirby

Gowri views his career with Kirby as a chance to grow, travel, and explore. “I flew to Ireland for my induction, spending three months there getting to know the team and learning the Kirby Way. My first project was in Finland. I then moved to Sweden in 2021, and following a brief assignment in Milan in 2022, I am now back in Sweden.”

Training and development have played a huge role in his journey with Kirby. He’s completed courses in Electrical and Electronics Engineering, a Strategic Project Management Diploma with the Institute of Project Management, and a Management Foundation Programme with the Irish Management Institute – these were aligned with Kirby’s training and development plan to ensure his career growth.

“I’ve learned so much about management and programme oversight, and how to effectively lead the team,” Gowri adds.

Gowri is a foodie and keen traveller with the motto, ‘eat well, travel often’. Having visited 33 countries, he says, “I want to experience everything the world has to offer. I love hiking and exploring new cities. Iceland and Mexico have been my favourite destinations so far, and the most challenging hikes I’ve done are in Norway. I managed 193,000 steps over an eight-day trip in Mexico. I’ve driven around the Iceland Ring Road and taken group trips with my Kirby colleagues.”

Team and Work Culture

Team culture is something that Gowri particularly enjoys about Kirby. “Teams decide how to celebrate and recognise their achievements on a project-by-project basis. We’ve gone go-karting, clay pigeon shooting, paintball, bowling, have enjoyed dinners together and have taken trips as a team. Many of us work away from home. The support and camaraderie we foster is incredibly important.”

“I’ve been with Kirby for five years now. I’d never stayed with a same company for more than two years before. I like the team; they are helpful, supportive, and more importantly, the work is never boring. There are always new challenges and innovations—we are at the leading edge of engineering.”

Gowri and his team are dedicated to fostering collaboration and efficiency. “When I started my career with Kirby, I focused on data centre project planning. The planning team is vital for ensuring transparency and accountability. We drive the entire programme, from subcontractors to the main contractor to deliver a project for our clients.”

Gowri highlights the importance of proactive planning: “We’ve adopted a front-loaded schedule to guide our teams toward on-time project completion. Our approach is dynamic, allowing us to adapt quickly to any challenges that arise.”

Before joining Kirby, Gowri worked in the Middle East from 2015 to 2019, after graduating in 2013 and starting his career in India.

As we discuss his future, Gowri shares his aspirations, “In five years, I want to build a reputation as a troubleshooter, someone people can rely on for insight and guidance while working with teams across Europe, the UK and South Africa.”