In the latest episode of Cloud Control, Ali Zafar, the Vice President of Engineering for Hybrid Infrastructure at Dropbox, joins host Shon Harris to discuss the challenges of managing a multi exabyte infrastructure. Ali shares his background working at companies like Tesla, Google, and Cisco, and how they have shaped his approach to cloud and hybrid infrastructure. He emphasizes the importance of leveraging emerging technologies like AI and the significance of culture and relationships in driving innovation and efficiency. Ali also discusses Dropbox's approach to hybrid infrastructure, balancing cost, availability, and scalability and highlights the impact of acquisitions on infrastructure and the integration process.

He goes on to talk about the role of AI in transforming Dropbox's business, both internally for developer productivity and externally for enterprise search. Ali advises those entering the industry to be authentic, seek mentorship, and communicate their goals and impact. He also mentions the challenges and opportunities presented by AI infrastructure and the need for preparedness in terms of capacity and data storage. Don't miss out on this enlightening discussion - listen to this episode now!

#hybridcloud #cloudstorage #dropbox #netapp #cloudinfrastructure #ai

Guest: Ali Afar, VP of Engineering for Hybrid Infrastructure, Dropbox
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alizafar

Host: Shon Harris, Developer Relations Lead, Spot by NetApp @inkedtater / swharr

Click to listen on your favorite podcast platform? https://linktr.ee/cloudcontrolpodcast

Timestamped Chapter Summary

• 00:00 - Introduction and guest background
• 01:06 - Early career experiences at Tesla and Google
• 04:11 - Infrastructure approaches across different companies
• 07:04 - Managing Dropbox's hybrid infrastructure
• 13:35 - AI and Data Management
• 15:50 - Decision-making for on-premise vs cloud infrastructure
• 17:54 - Supply chain impact on infrastructure architecture
• 23:41 - Advice for hybrid/multi-cloud implementation
• 25:21 - Career development and leadership insights
• 30:02 - Future challenges in cloud computing