Barb Mitchell

COO
JSA (Jaymie Scotto and Associates)

As Chief Operating Officer at JSA, Barb Mitchell leads the company’s strategic direction while spearheading global market expansion. Focusing on client relationship management, strategy development, execution, and day-to-day operations, she ensures that JSA continues to deliver innovative PR, media, marketing, and event solutions for the digital infrastructure industry.

With over 25 years of experience in marketing, communications, and PR, Barb has helped organizations across North America, Europe, and Asia develop comprehensive strategies, aligning corporate objectives to elevate brand presence and reach key audiences. Barb holds a bachelor’s degree in communications with a minor in marketing from the University of Calgary and a master’s degree in professional communications from Royal Roads University.

As a key member of JSA’s executive leadership team, Barb plays a pivotal role in shaping and managing the company’s short and long-term business objectives. She is committed to driving systemic, positive changes that fuel organizational growth and innovation, focusing on structuring JSA’s team of experts to foster a culture of continuous learning.
Beyond her executive role, Barb is passionate about mentorship and education, aiming to inspire and develop the next generation of communications professionals.

PTC: What technology breakthrough would pave the way for the ICT industry?

BM: The true breakthrough for ICT will come not from a single technology, but from the convergence of intelligence, connectivity, and sustainability. Imagine networks that are not only faster and more secure, but also self-optimizing, carbon-aware, and designed to serve humanity as much as industry. Advances in AI, quantum computing, and green energy can merge to create an infrastructure that learns, adapts, and powers growth without depleting our planet. The path forward is a breakthrough in how we design technology, with responsibility and resilience at its core.

PTC: How can telecommunications technologies help humanity?

BM: Telecommunications is the great equalizer of our age. It enables the sharing of knowledge, the delivery of healthcare, and the empowerment of communities regardless of geography or background. It can give farmers in remote regions access to climate data, students in underserved areas a world-class education, and nations in crisis a lifeline to support. Beyond connectivity, telecom can amplify humanity’s ability to work together on global challenges, from responding to natural disasters to building climate resilience. When used intentionally, telecommunications does not just connect devices; it connects people, purpose, and possibility.

PTC: How can corporations and researchers best serve the next generation?

BM: To serve the next generation, we must do more than innovate; we must innovate with conscience. That means embedding sustainability into every layer of our digital infrastructure, ensuring inclusivity in access and opportunity, and cultivating a workforce that reflects the diversity of the world it serves. Corporations and researchers have the responsibility to design with foresight: balancing speed with ethics, profitability with sustainability, and innovation with equity. The next generation will inherit not only our technologies but also the values embedded within them. Our role is to ensure those values empower them to build a more connected, sustainable, and humane future.

PTC: What would you share with those interested in becoming a PTC member?

BM: Becoming a PTC member means joining a community that looks beyond technology, one that understands the human, economic, and environmental impacts of digital infrastructure. PTC membership offers an opportunity to learn, share, and collaborate with peers who are not only leaders in their fields but also committed to shaping a scalable and sustainable digital future. Whether you’re an established leader or just beginning your career, PTC opens doors to knowledge, mentorship, and partnerships that can accelerate both your impact and your purpose. Most importantly, you will be part of a collective voice that is helping to ensure our industry grows in a way that is ethical, sustainable, and transformative for generations to come.

PTC: How does PTC fit your company’s goals or career purpose?

BM: PTC embodies the very spirit of what drives both my career and JSA’s company mission: building a more connected, accessible, and sustainable world through digital infrastructure. Our goals are not just about expanding networks, but about empowering people and communities globally. PTC provides the forum where leaders, innovators, and changemakers come together to shape the future of connectivity. For me personally, PTC represents a place where purpose and progress intersect, where we can align technology with humanity’s greatest needs and ensure that our industry grows responsibly and sustainably.

PTC: What advice would you share with current and future graduates interested in this field?

BM: Step into this field with both curiosity and purpose. Digital infrastructure is not just about building networks and systems; it’s about shaping the way humanity connects, collaborates, and cares for one another. The most successful professionals in this industry will be those who pair technical expertise with a deep awareness of societal and environmental impact.

My advice would be:
Keep learning: this industry evolves faster than almost any other, so a mindset of lifelong growth is essential.
Think beyond technology: ask how your work can advance sustainability, innovation, and resilience, not just speed and scale.
Seek collaboration: the future of digital infrastructure will be defined by partnerships across industries, disciplines, and cultures.

Above all, remember that you are entering a field with the power to shape the future of our planet for generations to come. Approach it with integrity, imagination, and a commitment to leaving the world better connected and better cared for than you found.

PTC: What is something not that many people know about you?

BM: I find so much inspiration in young people, including my own children, as I watch them start to forge their own paths in the world. Seeing them step into a world that’s changing so quickly is a daily reminder that the next generation will be the true architects of our future. I often share with them, and with other young people, that their ideas, their voices, and their sense of purpose can shape not only the technologies we create, but the kind of world we live in. That belief is what drives my passion for this industry, because the work we do today is ultimately in service of the future they will inherit.

About JSA

JSA was founded in 2005 when few marketing agencies specialized in the telecom sector, recognizing a significant gap in the market for tailored marketing solutions. Initially focused on serving data centers, fiber networks, and subsea cable operators, we leveraged our industry expertise to help clients effectively connect with their audiences. Fast forward to today, JSA has evolved into a leading global PR and marketing agency specializing in the digital infrastructure ecosystem, including data centers, telecommunications, power and cooling, real estate, and hardware and software innovators. Our commitment to education and thought leadership within the industry has also led to the creation of JSA TV programs, podcasts, virtual roundtables, and a well-respected blog, all of which serve as resources for the digital infrastructure community.