By Sri John Colgrove
Who powers the unseen backbone of modern technology? Is innovation shaped only by algorithms and code, or does the infrastructure beneath it hold equal importance? These were the questions explored during a session with John “Coz” Colgrove, Founder and Chief Visionary Officer of Pure Storage.
In his talk, he explained how storage has evolved from a silent utility into a driver of technological progress. Highlighting Pure Storage’s Evergreen//One model, he described how continuous, non-disruptive upgrades eliminate the traditional cycle of hardware replacements. This approach lowers cost, minimizes downtime, and enables organizations to remain agile in rapidly changing technological environments.
On artificial intelligence, Colgrove noted that while algorithms attract attention, the true bottleneck often lies in managing the immense volumes of data required to train and run them. Storage efficiency, he argued, is the factor that determines how quickly AI can scale and succeed. Pure Storage platforms are designed to address these challenges across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid systems.
Sustainability was another theme. Data centers are among the world’s largest energy consumers, and he emphasized that technological growth must balance performance with responsibility. By reducing storage footprints and improving power efficiency, innovation can remain both scalable and environmentally conscious.
Closing his session, Colgrove urged students to think beyond code, to prototype boldly, and to see infrastructure as a design choice that shapes outcomes. His message left a resonant thought: if infrastructure is the foundation of the digital future, how consciously are we building it today?
