Spreading Financial Expertise Across EdgeConneX Business Operations
Changing the Game: Jenny Zhan's Transformation at EdgeConneX
EdgeConneX, a force to be reckoned with in the data center industry, has seen considerable growth under the guidance of its leaders, including Joe Harar, the veteran finance boss. A recent shift in roles for Jenny Zhan, the former chief accounting officer, demonstrates how spreading financial acumen throughout a business can be a game-changer. Now, as the company's chief transformation officer, Zhan's mission is to lead EdgeConneX through its digital transformation journey.
Embracing a New Challenge
With data playing a crucial role both internally and externally in the organization, Zhan's career change is best described as a natural progression. With rapid change and growth becoming the norm in the data-focused sector, she believes her finance and accounting background can offer a solid foundation for analyzing data and making strategic decisions.
"The reason EdgeConneX has me take this role is because yesterday's success won't necessarily guarantee tomorrow's," said Zhan. "Technology implementation and transformation in fast-growing businesses demand the ability to analyze moving pieces of information, adapt to those changes, and stay ahead of the game."
Redefining her Role
While similar in skillset to her previous role, the impact she can now make is more visible and significant. Transformation, Zhan explains, isn't just about crunching numbers and analyzing data; it involves effective communication and negotiation with various organizational pillars.
"Though transformation is rooted in numbers and analytics, it's also about being a persuasive advocate and diplomat with colleagues across critical organizational areas that influence change," she said. "My goal is to ensure we're armed with the right business intelligence."
Making an Impact
Currently, Zhan's work is centered around research and development, listening to customer demands, and aligning the necessary parts of the company to deliver successful projects at scale. Compared to traditional accounting tasks, this role is more communication-oriented.
One of Zhan's main focuses at the moment is developing an end-to-end construction and real estate management platform. This project aims to create an enterprise software solution that manages the entire lifecycle of real estate development projects, a key component of EdgeConneX's business.
"Right now, we are diving deep into research, understanding the everyday processes this platform will demand, the dependencies, and fitting it into a cohesive system as much as possible - with the intention of building a satellite support system on top of that to ensure its smooth operation," Zhan explained.
Staying Ahead of the Game
EdgeConneX's youth and agile culture make it receptive to change and technological innovation. "Being a young company encourages us to innovate and adopt technology, and right now the market is in a phase of technological innovation," said Zhan. "This gives us an opportunity to leverage technology and continue our expansion beyond the 28 countries we're currently in."
** New Adventures, Old Passions**
Despite the challenges that come with change, Zhan said she finds it exhilarating and the driving force behind her choosing roles that offer new experiences.
"I never want to be bored at work," Zhan said. "Every three years, I try to find something different within the organization - be it working in different countries, dabbling in other areas of accounting, or taking on new roles like the one I have now. I took on the role of chief accounting officer, which I've been doing for quite some time because it always comes with change."
She added, "Now, I get to go back to working with real estate like I did in my earlier roles, but this time, I also get to work with technology, which I've grown to enjoy.”
This interview took place on Feb. 6, 2025, at SuiteConnect in New York City.
Insights into Jenny Zhan's Role
As a former chief accounting officer, Jenny Zhan could have offered financial direction, strategic planning, and risk management, supporting EdgeConneX's operational and technological initiatives. In her new role as chief transformation officer, Zhan's responsibilities might include budgeting, financial modeling, compliance, managing capital for construction projects, and establishing performance metrics for construction management projects. These insights, though not specific to Zhan's contribution at EdgeConneX, illustrate the potential role a CAO could play in such a context.
- Jenny Zhan's role as chief transformation officer at EdgeConneX involves leading the company through its digital transformation journey, focusing on data analysis and strategic decision-making.
- Integrating technology and transformation in fast-growing businesses necessitates the ability to analyze moving pieces of information, adapt to changes, and remain competitive.
- While Zhan's new role shares similar skills as her previous role as chief accounting officer, it offers more visible and significant impacts, involving effective communication and negotiation with various organizational departments.
- Zhan's current work involves research and development, listening to customer demands, and aligning the necessary components of the company to deliver successful projects at scale, with a focus on developing an end-to-end construction and real estate management platform.
- EdgeConneX's ability to leverage technology and continue expanding globally is boosted by its youthful culture and receptiveness to change and technological innovation.
