From the Bronx to the Boardroom — iMasons CEO Cyre Mercedes Quinones on Building the Digital Future With Purpose
AI / AI Tech Trends | 4 min read
There are not many digital infrastructure executives who trace their professional philosophy back to a fire escape in the Bronx, but Cyre Mercedes Quinones is not most executives. As CEO of iMasons — the world's leading nonprofit association of digital infrastructure executives, uniting more than 6,000 members across 130 countries and representing $1.5 trillion in infrastructure — she leads an organisation that has doubled its membership in two years and tripled it in three. Growing up in New York City as the daughter of two recovering heroin addicts, Quinones learned early that challenging circumstances forge resilience. A place at St Catherine's Academy in the Bronx, she credits quite simply with saving her life. It set her on a path to Syracuse University — where she graduated cum laude as a young mother — leadership programmes across Europe, more than 15 years at Schneider Electric where she rose to oversee a $300 million global business, and ultimately to the CEO role at iMasons, first as a volunteer and then as the organisation's appointed leader in January 2025.
"I'm proud of going from the Bronx to the boardroom — and bringing my scrappy style in front of the biggest companies and governments to say: we are people before we are businesses and governments. Let's drive towards a shared vision of the future together. We can do this."
— Cyre Mercedes Quinones, CEO, iMasons
iMasons — What the Organisation Does and What It Focuses On
Founded in 2016 by Dean Nelson with a simple mission to "unite the builders of the digital age", iMasons has grown into a global institution at the centre of the digital infrastructure industry's most consequential conversations. The organisation's work is organised around five key industry challenges: time to power (addressing US power capacity timing constraints and accelerating grid connection for data centres); industry perception (building public and policy understanding of digital infrastructure's role and responsibilities); people resource shortages (creating workforce pathways through internships, apprenticeships, certifications, and employer partnerships); industry decarbonisation (through the iMasons Climate Accord, launched in 2022 and now expanded to include water as a focus area in 2026); and critical policy work. To date, iMasons has contributed more than $1 million in scholarships, launched Member Focus Groups, and established regional and local chapters across four continents. The organisation publishes an annual State of the Digital Infrastructure Industry report with input from its global community of technology, operations, and business professionals. As CEO, Quinones sees her role as holding the tension between ambition and discipline — ensuring the community's broad appetite for impact is channelled into strategic, measurable action.
"My heart and our company culture want to tackle many things for the betterment of the future, but we must be strategic and work together for impact. Where it becomes detrimental is when you get caught up in complacency and rigidity."
— Cyre Mercedes Quinones, CEO, iMasons
Leadership Philosophy — People First, Adversity as Fuel
Quinones brings to iMasons a leadership philosophy shaped by personal experience rather than corporate theory. Her mother's insistence that the company you keep defines you taught her to seek out relationships that challenge and elevate. Her father's mantra — "The depth of your struggle will determine the height of your success" — she offers now as a rallying call to an industry navigating its own profound pressures around power, sustainability, and workforce. Her greatest sources of inspiration are her two children — her son, currently in Reserve Officer Training Corps at high school, and her daughter, a committed artist — who she credits with keeping her grounded in the qualities she believes leaders most need: curiosity, bravery, and a willingness to play. At iMasons, she describes her members not as colleagues but as partners, whose shared commitment to something larger than any single transaction or product cycle provides the professional fuel for the organisation's long-term mission. Quinones is a recognised advocate for underrepresented leaders — named Data Center Dynamics' first-ever Woman of the Year in 2023, honoured as a Mission Critical Magazine Top 25 Women in Technology, and a two-time recipient of the HITEC Top 100 Hispanics in Technology award. Dean Nelson, Founder and Chairman of iMasons, noted at her appointment that her vision would not only strengthen the platform but help the community continue to drive meaningful progress across the globe.
Key Takeaways
- • iMasons (Infrastructure Masons; global nonprofit association of digital infrastructure executives; founded 2016 by Dean Nelson; 6,000+ members; 130 countries; $1.5T+ in infrastructure) is led by CEO Cyre Mercedes Quinones — appointed January 2025. The organisation has doubled membership in two years and tripled it in three. Quinones previously oversaw a $300M global business at Schneider Electric across 15+ years of leadership in the digital infrastructure ecosystem.
- • iMasons' five key focus areas: (1) Time to power — addressing US power capacity timing constraints and accelerating grid connection for data centres; (2) Industry perception — building public and policy understanding of digital infrastructure's role; (3) People resource shortages — workforce pathways via internships, apprenticeships, certifications, and employer partnerships; (4) Industry decarbonisation — through the iMasons Climate Accord (launched 2022; expanded to include water in 2026); (5) Critical policy work. $1M+ in scholarships contributed; chapters across four continents; annual State of the Digital Infrastructure Industry report.
- • Quinones' background: born and raised in the Bronx by a single mother; daughter of two recovering heroin addicts; St Catherine's Academy in the Bronx (credits it with saving her life); Syracuse University (graduated cum laude as a young mother); leadership programmes across Europe; 15+ years at Schneider Electric rising to lead a $300M global business; came to iMasons initially as a volunteer developing the iMasons Social Accord; appointed CEO January 2025.
- • Leadership philosophy: human-centred — "we are people before we are businesses and governments." Holding tension between ambition and discipline — the community's broad appetite for impact must be channelled strategically. "Adversity breeds strength." Her father's mantra: "The depth of your struggle will determine the height of your success." Describes iMasons members as partners rather than colleagues. Leadership qualities she values most: curiosity, bravery, willingness to play. Warning against: complacency and rigidity.
- • Recognition and advocacy: Data Center Dynamics first-ever Woman of the Year (2023); Mission Critical Magazine Top 25 Women in Technology; two-time HITEC Top 100 Hispanics in Technology award. Recognised advocate for underrepresented leaders. Her appointment signals iMasons' commitment to inclusive leadership as an organisational value, not a separate programme. Dean Nelson: "Cyre's extensive experience managing large-scale global operations, combined with her dedication to the people who build our industry, makes her the ideal leader for this organisation."