Unraveling the Future of Innovation

Unraveling the

Future of Innovation Future of Innovation

Companies adopt new trends in technology to remain relevant and competitive in the global market. But implementing new technologies, processes, or new platforms become the most challenging aspect in an organization.

BROUGHT BY

V P VISHAL ANAND Senior Director (IT) Jumeirah Group

Architects of Change

Dear Readers,

In this month's Titans issue, we are proud to showcase the remarkable journey of Chief Information Officers who have been at the forefront of transformative change within their organizations. As the world embraces the digital age, these CIOs have risen to power, driving innovation and shaping the future of their companies in alignment with the theme of 'Rise of the Power,' as highlighted in The World CIO 200 2023 Roadshow organized by Global CIO Forum.

The stories featured in this issue speak volumes about how CIOs have evolved from being mere technology custodians to strategic visionaries. They have embraced the challenges posed by rapid technological advancements and skillfully harnessed them to propel their organizations to new heights of success. These CIOs have become architects of change, orchestrating digital transformations that reshape business models and redefine customer experiences.

The World CIO 200's theme of 'Rise of the Power' captures the transformative journey of CIOs. No longer confined to the backrooms of IT departments, they have emerged as influential decision-makers. By collaborating with C-suite executives and board members, CIOs now play a pivotal role in shaping business strategies, driving growth, and delivering sustainable competitive advantages.

The successful completion of the CIO 200 roadshows across Africa and GCC is a testament to the growing importance of CIOs in today's corporate landscape. Gathering around 1500 CIOs, these events provided an invaluable platform for knowledge exchange, networking, and celebration of collective achievements. The roadshows have created a dynamic community of tech leaders, fostering a spirit of collaboration and camaraderie among these Titans of the digital realm.

As we delve into the stories of these inspiring CIOs, we witness how they navigated through the challenges of the ever-changing digital landscape. Their resilience, foresight, and adaptability have allowed them to steer their organizations through disruption while embracing innovation.

As we celebrate their achievements, let us be inspired by their journeys, united in the pursuit of a digitally empowered future. Here's to the rising power of CIOs – the architects of change in the world of business.

Happy Reading!

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DR. RAMI AYOOB, Chief Information Officer Spark Tech Hub

SHRIKANT A. KABBOOR, Chief Technology Officer - CTO Arada

DUSHYANT GHAGHDA, Leader - Data and Analytics Agthia Group

ANEEJ O THOMAS, IT Head Confidential

HAMOUD AHMED ALHALMANI, CTO MANEA & shieldit

ADAM LALANI, IT Director GCC Services

CHRISTOPHER ROLLAN, Head of the IT Department German Energy Consultant MUHAMMAD AZFAR ANSARI, Head of IT E. A. Juffali & Brothers (SAMCO and SRMCO)

Senior Director (IT) Jumeirah Group

AI is Getting Smarter and Vigilant

Digitalization and automation help to streamline processes and improve the productivity of businesses. Through AI and ML businesses can analyze data

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE INDUSTRY HEADING IN

Increased use of artificial intelligence and automation. AI will continue to dominate the industry, particularly in terms of automating repetitive tasks, predictive analysis, and

Greater focus on cybersecurity and data privacy, with the rise of data breaches and privacy concerns, companies will become more proactive in protecting their data and

Expansion of cloud-based computing and storage solutions, more companies will migrate their operations to the cloud, which offers greater scalability, flexibility and

With the continued growth of e-commerce, exponentially, with more consumers opting for online shopping due to convenience, cost savings and COVID-19-related concerns.

DR. RAMI AYOOB,

IN YOUR OPINION HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE AWARENESS OF DIVERSITY AND THE POSITIVE ROLE IT PLAYS IN THE WORKPLACE?

There has been a significant increase in the awareness of diversity and the positive role it plays in the workplace in recent times. Many organizations are realizing that diversity brings a wide variety of perspectives, skills, and experiences to the workplace, which can lead to better decisionmaking, creativity, and innovation. Hence, companies are now making efforts to create a more inclusive workplace culture by embracing diversity in gender, ethnicity, age, religion, sexual orientation, and more. Many companies are implementing diversity training and initiatives, promoting diversity

and inclusion policies, offering support groups, and celebrating various cultural and religious events. The increasing focus on diversity and inclusion indicates that companies recognize that it is not only a social responsibility but also a business imperative for success in today's global marketplace.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

A dream work environment and work culture would be one where employees feel valued and supported. This includes having clear communication and transparency from management, opportunities for growth and development, and a focus on work-life balance.

Additionally, a positive culture where collaboration, diversity, and inclusivity are celebrated can make a huge difference in creating a fulfilling and happy work environment. Finally, a physical environment that is comfortable and conducive to productivity can help boost employee morale and allow for focus on work.

WHAT IS THE MOST ENGAGING OR SATISFYING ASPECT

OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

I can say that my most engaging and satisfying aspect is being able to provide accurate and helpful responses to users and seeing that I have contributed to their understanding or problem-solving. It is always fulfilling to know that I have assisted someone and made their experience better.

WHAT

IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF

YOUR JOB ROLE?

It is to enable Technology to perform such intellectual tasks as decision-making, problem-solving, perception, understanding human communication, and insight into the big data for better business opportunities, service portfolios, and operations.

With the emerging technology, it makes leaders more creative, motivated and productive and that’s how I benefited from them.

WHAT IS YOUR 2023 PLAN FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT? HOW DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE THE BUSINESS FORWARD WITH TECHNOLOGY?

In 2023, businesses should focus on utilizing the latest technology

to streamline their processes and improve productivity. This involves embracing digitalization and automation to save time and reduce costs while also enhancing customer experiences.

One way to do this is by implementing artificial intelligence and machine learning. These technologies can help businesses analyze data to gain insights and make informed decisions.

Another area of focus is cloud computing. Cloud technology provides a flexible and scalable infrastructure that can help businesses improve their agility and efficiency.

Finally, businesses should pay attention to the emerging trends in cybersecurity. As more businesses go digital, the risk of data breaches

and cyber-attacks is increasing.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

• Define the team's purpose and goals

• Identify the necessary roles and skills

• Recruit individuals with relevant experience and expertise

• Foster clear communication and collaboration among team members

• Encourage a positive and supportive team culture

• Provide ongoing feedback and professional development opportunities

• Set clear expectations and accountability measures

• Celebrate successes and learn from failures

• Continuously assess and adjust team dynamics as needed.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU LEAD A CULTURALLY DIVERSE TEAM?

When you are leading a team you need to have two things: That requires understanding and respecting the differences and similarities between individuals, and creating a work environment that is inclusive and supportive for everyone. In my opinion, it is important to have open communication and work collaboratively towards a common goal. It is also essential to recognize and appreciate the unique contributions that each team member brings to the table. By building strong relationships with team members, sharing knowledge, and promoting a culture of mutual respect and understanding, one can lead a culturally diverse team to achieve success.

WHICH WAS YOUR MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO YOUR COMPANY IN 2022 AND HOW DID IT IMPACT OR INFLUENCE THE BUSINESS?

Driving digital culture throughout the business is one of the key challenges which required a proof of concept and present the outcomes of the proposed digital solutions, with consideration of keeping up with security and data privacy.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS.

Challenging, Significant, and Motivating.

Technological Advancements, the Emerging Future

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE INDUSTRY HEADING IN 2023?

Among all the stages of Technological Evolution, the current stage, Information and Telecommunications are literally gaining new and unprecedented heights since its evolution in 1971. I can see 2023 as a year in which Artificial Intelligence (AI) will gain popularity. To harness its use in the right direction, will definitely be a challenge.

An

environment where 'Attitude over Aptitude' culture is cultured as a dream work environment.

IN YOUR OPINION HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE AWARENESS OF DIVERSITY AND THE POSITIVE ROLE IT PLAYS IN THE WORKPLACE?

IThere has definitely been awareness of diversity. For that awareness to play a positive role, takes its time in different countries across the world.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

An environment where “Attitude over Aptitude” culture is cultured as a dream work environment. If achieved the net result will be less stress on the Business owners because the core element is strong. A good attitude to work and other individuals will have a predominant effect on the output that any level of Aptitude delivers. As it says “A work well begun is have the job done”. In this current

world, knowledge is within a click of a button but attitude has to be developed, be it anyone in the hierarchy.

WHAT IS THE MOST ENGAGING OR SATISFYING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE? Learning and trying to not forget what is learned.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

Taking predictive measures.

WHAT IS YOUR 2023 PLAN FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT? HOW DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE THE BUSINESS FORWARD WITH TECHNOLOGY?

In 2023 I would like to ensure my infrastructure can handle the demands of the coming years. Earlier I used to have a 10-year plan which now is reduced to 2-year plans. I try to read the market and as said earlier take

predictive measures.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

Infrastructure Security and Network engineers, I keep on top of the team plan. Closely working with them will be the developers. Under each of them, there are support staff and this is my go-to structure for my organization.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU LEAD A CULTURALLY DIVERSE TEAM?

I personally bought a culturally diverse team together so that I could teach myself to manage them to a mutually satisfactory level. I assume I have not failed in achieving that because they are still working with me with in fact increased vitality.

WHICH WAS YOUR MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO YOUR COMPANY IN 2022 AND HOW DID IT IMPACT OR INFLUENCE THE BUSINESS?

When I overcame a significant impact on the business flow by taking corrective measures. Its impact ripple to business was very short-lived as the team stood up in taking action. The corrective measures that I undertook were to strengthen the entire end points’ performances cost-effectively and place a higher level of security overlooking them.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS. Unpredictable, Interesting, Challenging.

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Best Changes, Strategies and Solutions

Every organization should always consider Business Continuity and Risk Management as the top priority. This will help the organization to maintain resiliency in responding quickly to an interruption.

CHRISTOPHER ROLLAN, Head of the IT Department German Energy Consultant

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE INDUSTRY HEADING IN 2023?

In 2017, before the pandemic, I attempted to persuade our former CEO that, with the current technology, many business units could operate remotely. He stated that although this is a fine idea, it is not our culture. From that point on, I had the impression that the majority of C-level executives, BODs, and investors were unprepared for this concept. Then in 2020 pandemic occurred. Post- and pre-pandemic results indicate that IT professionals are crucial to the organization. Motivating businesses to provide services and delivery by leveraging innovative technologies prior to the pandemic, remote sessions and online meetings existed, but regretfully, many organizations did not utilize them.

With the embrace of the new

hybrid workplace, organizations now have the opportunity to maximize profits, reduce operational expenses, and determine a new strategy that integrates technology. However, the challenge is to strike a balance between human interactions and technological use. The year 2023 holds great promise for new and existing businesses to adopt hybrid frameworks for the benefit of their organizations. The key to success is meeting and exceeding the KPI target of the business entity, regardless of the work culture. It was a lesson learned in the past that technology is a tool for organizations to increase efficiency and gain a competitive advantage. With connectivity in the sky and innovations, the business will be further bolstered and propelled. Offering more opportunities and expansion.

IN YOUR OPINION HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE AWARENESS OF DIVERSITY AND THE POSITIVE ROLE IT PLAYS IN THE WORKPLACE?

The social media industry has dominated this decade. With the assistance of the government and the private sector, NGOs and nonprofits have utilized the power of social media to disseminate useful and beneficial information. With the support of the carriers, The UAE was one of the most effective users of these communications. During the pandemic, it became evident that rapid dissemination of information is crucial for spreading awareness and knowledge in order to mitigate the effects of pandemics. Sadly, not all nations have benefited from this because of inadequate IT and network infrastructure. However, more SMEs in technology are

aiming to deliver to improve awareness and diversity in this new Era of Business.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

I am privileged to have accumulated 25 years of IT experience, including 19 years in the UAE with 6 distinct multinational corporations. Organizational perfection does not exist. Leaders are recruited to provide their stakeholders with this opportunity and environment. The retention of employees is a result of management's support for fulfilling opportunities and fostering employee development. It is not all about how much money you make; it is about how much wisdom you have acquired, and that sense of satisfaction is

priceless.

WHAT IS THE MOST ENGAGING OR SATISFYING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

True fulfilment is found in mentoring, coaching, and developing future leaders. A statement of intent to impart skills and knowledge to the next individual, in line with the purpose of offering free speeches, is to inspire and guide the younger generations within and outside of your organization. It is always important to find your real purpose and passion. As computer engineers, we are problem solvers; therefore, it is essential that organizations value your contributions and your skills. Strong satisfaction is derived from a sense of accountability and responsibility towards your role and the ability to deliver value to

the organization by utilizing your expertise.

It is a sign of achievement to be involved in mega projects in the UAE.

It is more satisfying to know that you have worked with successful organizations that have shaped the nation when you reflect back on your career. Residents of the UAE enjoy this accomplishment. It is a privilege to be in a place where diverse, highly talented individuals collaborate to provide services while pursuing their dreams. As a result of the fact that many businesses in the UAE prioritize innovation, we have the privilege of gaining early handson experience with cutting-edge technology.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

In your role as an influencer and IT leader, you serve as an internal salesperson to your MDs and CEO. It is not a walk in the park to offer your solution in the form of a business case and justify the return on investments and value of creation. You need to perform constant analysis and reflection on your ideas and solutions. Because change is unavoidable, companies should always prioritize Business Continuity and Risk Management as the top priority. The most challenging element is when the balance scorecards are not balanced. It is imperative to keep an eye on these elements, take them into consideration, and come up with answers that are rational and well-supported.

WHAT IS YOUR 2023 PLAN FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT? HOW DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE THE BUSINESS FORWARD WITH TECHNOLOGY?

The company roadmap takes precedence over any and all other issues. Taking into account everything that we have discovered so far in order to design a plan of action and a strategy that will be extremely successful. It is essential for organization to remain one step ahead of the advancement of technology. The type of technology that will serve the firm in the most effective manner ought to be determined by the company's stakeholders. It is not necessary for you to join the artificial intelligence bandwagon simply because everyone else is doing it. Your level of comfort

with financial risk, in addition to the goals and aspirations of your business, should serve as a roadmap for selecting the appropriate technologies and solutions.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

The process of putting together a team needs to be in step with the organization's overarching strategic objectives. The IT business unit must constantly be able to respond to changes in the annual budget and capabilities of the organization. As a result of working in the UAE for the past 19 years, I have developed the ability to remain resilient and quickly adjust to changing circumstances. It is more difficult to achieve quality staff than quantity. The development of something takes both time and money. Human capital is an essential component of a powerful and dependable team.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU LEAD A CULTURALLY DIVERSE TEAM?

I have been fortunate enough to have been able to participate in the development of a megaproject in the UAE since 2004. The United Arab Emirates is the place to go for people who want to get a taste of what it's like to live in a diverse and international community. I frequently find myself to be the only Filipino IT leader working on a project, despite the fact that there is no scarcity of highly trained individuals. Being entrusted with such a major responsibility is something that I regard as both

a personal challenge and a great honor. There are always clashes due to cultural differences and pressures. Being part of a whole means if one part fails everyone fails. Thus, if one succeeded everyone takes that credit as part of the whole. Therefore, set aside irrelevant issues and focus on deliverables and KPIs.

WHICH WAS YOUR MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO YOUR COMPANY IN 2022 AND HOW DID IT IMPACT OR INFLUENCE THE BUSINESS?

After nearly three years of working from home, we have just recently started reporting back to the office. Moving forward in time by six years, I posited the idea that working from home is an option. Now I am persuaded that working in a real office is a far better experience, at least for people who love interacting with others and developing themselves personally.

Before the pandemic, the information technology department had a reputation for being underappreciated and was considered a liability and an overhead expense. The pandemic has significantly altered that perception. Both before and after the epidemic, our contributions to Information Technology demonstrated that we are an integral part of the organization's progress. Each and every one of our business support units deserves praise and success.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS.

Always be grateful

Unraveling the Future of Innovation

Companies adopt new trends in technology to remain relevant and competitive in the global market. But implementing new technologies, processes, or new platforms becomes the most challenging aspect in an organization.

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE INDUSTRY HEADING IN 2023?

In the last 6 months, people’s awareness and interest in ChatGPT has infused further investments in AI where companies will harness the power of AI, machine learning and machine-generated code to develop new products and services that can automate tasks and decision-making processes. We have seen in the recently held Google IO as well, where Google showcased how they plan to use AI technology in all their product suites. In my view, AI will now be an integral inseparable part of our lives. Apart from these, Extended reality which includes AR, VR, and Mixed Reality (MR), will see broader applications including immersive experiences, training and healthcare and lastly facial identity will increasingly become the defacto standard for all types of transaction validations in the both personal and business front.

V P VISHAL ANAND, Senior Director (IT) Jumeirah Group

IN YOUR OPINION HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE AWARENESS OF DIVERSITY AND THE POSITIVE ROLE IT PLAYS IN THE WORKPLACE?

I have worked in the Emirates for 20+ years and in Jumeirah for the last 4 years, in both of my experiences, our company values and ethos are based on diversity at the core of Talent engagement. In my view, diversity brings numerous benefits including driving enhanced creativity, capable talent with wide range of skills, expertise and knowledge, and improved problem-solving processes due

to multiple perspectives and potential solutions. It also leads to expanded market opportunities

- Having a diverse workforce can help businesses better understand and meet the needs of different customer segments leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

In my view, these differ between individual preferences. For me, having a positive work culture involves respect and trust amongst each other, and having

open communication among colleagues – upwards, sideways and downwards. Empowerment –having the autonomy to exercise my skills, and judgement to accomplish my projects. Having learning opportunities to develop skills through challenging work assignments.

WHAT IS THE MOST ENGAGING OR SATISFYING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

As part of the leadership role in my organisation, I get the opportunity to steer and ensure the organisation and team are working in line with my dream work environment and culture. As part of my role, I have been implementing technology solutions that drive efficiency, improve processes, or enable our group’s strategic initiatives. This is fulfilling as it directly contributes to our business growth and organisation success. Secondly, I am involved in the decisionmaking process within our technology roadmap. This gives me a huge sense of ownership to ensure it is right the first time.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

There is nothing called the most challenging aspect, as part of my role, we have many challenges which are prevalent in any organisation which are implementing new technologies, processes, or new platforms. These include system adoption, change management efforts, regulatory compliance (cybersecurity, data privacy,

country laws etc.), talent skill gap and lastly, I believe that Stakeholder management is key, we should have the ability to communicate complex technical concepts in a clear and understandable manner, manage expectations, and address concerns from various stakeholders.

WHAT IS YOUR 2023 PLAN FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT? HOW DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE THE BUSINESS FORWARD WITH TECHNOLOGY?

As the world faces challenges such as geopolitical conflicts, looming recession in the western countries, sluggish demand from Asian markets, we have to weather a potential economic slowdown by trimming costs, increasing efficiencies and growing revenues. For 2023, our focus is on having IT initiatives which impact the bottom line, have external customer focused initiatives which

can enhance or enrich the guest experiences for our customers. Apart from these, as part of our drive to fix the basics, we are also working on compliance projects ensuring we are compliant with data and security regulations, these are key to the success of any organization.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

I have fantastic teams who are continuously delivering key programs within our group, the key things we make them click is to foster collaboration and open communication, have positive work culture and define clear goals and responsibilities to remove any sort of ambiguity.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU LEAD A CULTURALLY DIVERSE TEAM?

In my previous role in Emirates, in my team, I had 6 different nationalities within my team. It

was one of the best periods of my career. Different perspectives and experiences bring complementary strengths and help in improved problem-solving, decision-making, and overall team performance.

WHICH WAS YOUR MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO YOUR COMPANY IN 2022 AND HOW DID IT IMPACT OR INFLUENCE THE BUSINESS?

In 2022, I led the Backoffice transformation program for Jumeirah Group. This was a large program that involved replacing the suite of products for HR, Finance, Supply Chain, Procurement and Projects functions across our 20+ hotel properties across UAE. We now have a single unified platform that acts as a single source of truth for our Backoffice functions.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS. Stimulating, Demanding

and Innovative.

Cloud Computing:

Revolutionizing Business and Technology

For a CTO or CIO, the technology is never a challenge.

SHRIKANT A. KABBOOR, Chief Technology Officer - CTO Arada

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE INDUSTRY HEADING IN 2023?

The industry will continue to focus on cloud computing to achieve zero footprints of on-premises data centres. Data will continue to be a key area of focus with continued concerns on data governance from the perspective of data privacy and security. Realistic application of AI/ML will be part of organization strategies promoting tangible benefits as an outcome. Industry focus on smart initiatives across sectors will keep promoting IoT. With such new age technology, focus on cyber security will be an integral part of any enterprise strategy.

IN YOUR OPINION HAS

THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE AWARENESS OF DIVERSITY AND THE POSITIVE ROLE IT

PLAYS IN THE WORKPLACE?

There will be an obvious positive impact as the cloud promotes digital collaboration without the need for collocating. Availability is always ensured, and AI/ML initiatives will further boost not only efficiency but also effectiveness as compared to today.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE.

Employee-centric company is of course everybody’s dream work environment. Especially with changing trends of remote working vs on-site, delivery focused approach ensuring work-life balance is key. Such an environment always promotes positivity and has a greater impact on the overall stability and growth of the organization.

WHAT IS THE MOST ENGAGING OR SATISFYING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

Being in Arada is like joining a family. As a CTO when the digital transformation program called Evolve was presented to the Board/ Key leadership teams, they not only understood the rationale behind the transformation but also agreed to take a few steps back to embark on 24 months digital transformation program. This shows the trust and support extended by the management and their willingness to go through disruption for such a longer duration.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

For a CTO or CIO, the technology is never a challenge. Management buy-in of strategies and strategic alignment with the rest of the

leadership and key stakeholders is key. Managing changes, and soft issues and continuing to engage the user group part of the transformation is key to the success of the transformation.

WHAT IS YOUR 2023 PLAN FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT? HOW DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE

THE BUSINESS FORWARD WITH TECHNOLOGY?

We successfully completed the initial phase of transformation and the plan is to focus on expansion and user adoption. Data as a service is key and digital collaboration via omni channel is a key objective for this year. The application of AI/ML/NLP is an

integral part of this objective.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

In order to transform business needs into technology solutions, high-performing teams are key factors to consider. We follow a 30:70 resource model where 30% is a headcount and the rest is dynamic resources like project temps/contractors.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU LEAD A CULTURALLY DIVERSE TEAM?

At Arada, we have a very diverse team with 22+ nationalities on board. Everyone works as per Arada's work culture and is aligned to key principles of Arada- We Are Dynamic, We Deliver and We Care. This foundation always promotes better collaboration.

WHICH WAS YOUR MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO YOUR COMPANY IN 2022 AND HOW DID IT IMPACT OR INFLUENCE THE BUSINESS?

Evolve digital transformation is definitely one of the major changes that Arada went through in terms of technology disruption. When hundreds of manual processes are digitized with clear business visibility and awareness, the adoption is automatically seen on an upward trend. I feel this is a significant contribution from the Arada team.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS.

Based on Arada principles, “Connected”, “Smart” and “Innovative”

Towards the Unwritten Future of ‘Change’

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

My dream work environment is one that is innovative and challenging. I want to work with people who are passionate about their work and who are always looking for new ways to improve. I also want to work in a culture that is supportive and collaborative.

WHAT IS THE MOST ENGAGING OR SATISFYING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

The most engaging or satisfying aspect of my job role is the opportunity to help people. I enjoy using my skills and knowledge to solve problems and make a positive impact on people's lives. I also enjoy working with a team of talented and dedicated people who are all committed to making a difference.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

As a CTO, the most challenging aspect of my job role is balancing the needs of the business with the needs of the technology team. I need to make sure that the technology team is able to deliver the solutions that the business needs, while also keeping the team motivated and engaged. This can be a difficult balancing

HAMOUD AHMED ALHALMANI,

The world is changing, and there are new opportunities for businesses, individuals, and communities to grow and thrive.

act, but it is essential for the success of the business.

WHAT IS YOUR 2023 PLAN FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT? HOW DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE THE BUSINESS FORWARD WITH TECHNOLOGY?

Here are some of the key areas that I plan to focus on in 2023: Data analytics: I plan to invest in data analytics and make better use of the data that we have. This will help us to make better decisions, improve our customer experience, and identify new opportunities.

Cybersecurity: I plan to strengthen our cybersecurity posture and protect our data from unauthorized access. This is essential in today's threat landscape.

Talent development: I plan to invest in talent development and upskill our team. This will help us to stay ahead of the curve and continue to deliver innovative solutions.

I believe that these initiatives will help us to take the business forward with technology and position us for success in the years to come.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

I plan to build my teams by focusing on the following areas:

Talent: I will look for talented individuals who are passionate about technology and who are committed to making a difference.

Culture: I will create a culture of collaboration and innovation where team members feel

supported and valued.

Development: I will invest in the development of my team members by providing them with training and opportunities to grow their skills.

Communication: I will ensure that there is open and clear communication between team members and between team members and me.

Trust: I will create an environment of trust where team members feel comfortable taking risks and sharing ideas.

I believe that by focusing on these areas, I can build a team that is successful and that I can be proud of. Here are some specific examples of how I plan to achieve these goals:

Talent: I will use a variety of methods to identify talented individuals, including networking, job postings, and referrals. I will also conduct interviews to assess candidates' skills and fit for the team.

Culture: I will create a culture of collaboration and innovation by encouraging team members to share ideas and work together to solve problems. I will also provide opportunities for team members to get to know each other and to build relationships.

Development: I will invest in the development of my team members by providing them with training and opportunities to grow their skills. I will also work with team members to develop career development plans.

Communication: I will ensure that there is open and clear communication between team

members and between team members and me by holding regular meetings, providing regular feedback, and being accessible to team members.

Trust: I will create an environment of trust by being honest and transparent with team members, by being supportive of team members, and by holding team members accountable for their actions.

I believe that by focusing on these areas, I can build a team that is successful and that I can be proud of.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU LEAD A CULTURALLY DIVERSE TEAM?

Sure. I once led a team of software engineers that was culturally diverse. The team members came from different countries and had different cultures. This diversity was a great asset to the team, as it brought different perspectives and ideas to the table.

One of the challenges I faced was ensuring that everyone on the team felt included and valued. I did this by making an effort to learn about each team member's culture and by being respectful of their differences. I also made sure that everyone had a chance to contribute to the team's work. Another challenge I faced was managing conflict. As the team members came from different cultures, they had different ways of resolving conflict. I had to learn how to mediate conflict in a way that was respectful of everyone's culture.

Overall, leading a culturally diverse team was a rewarding experience.

I learned a lot about different cultures and I was able to build a team that was successful. Here are some of the things I did to lead a culturally diverse team successfully:

• I made an effort to learn about each team member's culture. I did this by asking questions, reading books and articles, and attending cultural events.

• I was respectful of each team member's differences. I did this by avoiding stereotypes and assumptions, and by being open-minded to new ideas.

• I made sure that everyone on the team had a chance to contribute. I did this by assigning tasks in a way that was fair and equitable, and by giving everyone a chance to share their ideas.

• I mediated conflict in a way that was respectful of everyone's culture. I did this by listening to everyone's side of the story, by finding common ground, and by helping the team members to find a solution that everyone could agree on.

I believe that by following these tips, you can lead a culturally diverse team successfully.

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE INDUSTRY HEADING IN 2023?

I see the digital marketing industry heading in a number of directions in 2023. Here are a few of the trends I'm watching:

• The rise of artificial intelligence (AI). AI is already being used in a variety of digital marketing applications, such as chatbots, personalized

content recommendations, and ad targeting. I expect to see even more use of AI in 2023, as marketers look for ways to automate tasks and improve the efficiency of their campaigns.

• The growth of mobile. Mobile is already the dominant platform for digital consumption, and this trend is only going to continue in 2023. Marketers will need to make sure their campaigns are optimized for mobile devices in order to reach their target audience.

• The increasing importance of data. Data is becoming increasingly important in digital marketing. Marketers who can collect, analyze, and use data effectively will have a significant advantage over their competitors.

• The focus on customer experience. In a crowded marketplace, customer experience is more important than ever. Marketers will need to focus on providing a positive and memorable customer experience in order to stand out from the competition. These are just a few of the trends I'm watching in the digital marketing industry. I'm excited to

see how these trends develop in the coming year.

IN YOUR OPINION HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE AWARENESS OF DIVERSITY AND THE POSITIVE ROLE IT PLAYS IN THE WORKPLACE. Yes, I believe there has been an increase in the awareness of diversity and the positive role it plays in the workplace. This is due to a number of factors, including:

• The increasing diversity of the workforce. The workforce is becoming more diverse, with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. This diversity can be a valuable asset to businesses, as it can help them to better understand and serve their customers.

• The growing body of research on the benefits of diversity. There is a growing body of research that shows that diversity can have a number of benefits for businesses, including increased innovation, creativity, and problemsolving.

• The increasing number of laws and regulations that promote diversity. There are a number

of laws and regulations that promote diversity in the workplace, such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Act (EEOA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As a result of these factors, businesses are becoming more aware of the importance of diversity and are taking steps to create more inclusive workplaces. This is a positive development, as diversity can make businesses more successful and more able to serve their customers. Here are some of the benefits of diversity in the workplace:

• Increased innovation: Diverse teams are more likely to come up with new and innovative ideas. This is because they bring different perspectives and experiences to the table.

• Increased creativity: Diverse teams are more likely to be creative and come up with new solutions to problems. This is because they are not limited by traditional thinking.

• Increased problem-solving: Diverse teams are better at solving problems. This is because they can draw on a wider range of knowledge and experience.

• Increased customer satisfaction: Diverse teams are better at understanding and meeting the needs of customers. This is because they have a better understanding of different cultures and perspectives.

• Increased employee satisfaction: Diverse teams are more likely to be satisfied with their jobs. This is because they

feel more included and valued. Overall, diversity can have a number of positive benefits for businesses. Businesses that are committed to diversity are more likely to be successful in the long run.

WHICH WAS YOUR MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO YOUR COMPANY IN 2022 AND HOW DID IT IMPACT OR INFLUENCE THE BUSINESS?

My most significant contribution to my company in 2022 was the development of a new idea in cybersecurity. The idea was to develop a new type of firewall that would be more effective at. I worked with a team of engineers to develop the firewall I also participated in a number of international events in cybersecurity. I spoke at a number of conferences and gave presentations on my work on the new firewall. I also met with a number of other cybersecurity experts to discuss the latest threats and trends. This helped me to stay up-to-date on the latest cybersecurity threats and to develop new ideas for how to protect our company. Finally, I went to the Cyclone Valley to develop the product. The Cyclone Valley is a hub for cybersecurity startups, and I was able to meet with a number of other entrepreneurs who were working on new cybersecurity solutions. This helped me to learn about the latest trends in cybersecurity and to develop new partnerships.

Overall, I believe that my

contributions to my company in 2022 were significant. I was able to develop a new idea in cybersecurity, participate in international events in cybersecurity, and go to the Cyclone Valley to develop the product. These contributions helped to protect our company from a number of cyberattacks and helped us to stay ahead of the curve in the ever-changing world of cybersecurity.

I believe that my contributions to the company in 2022 were significant and that they helped the company to achieve its goals. I am proud of my work and I am excited to continue to contribute to the company's success in the years to come.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS.

Change: 2023 is a year of change. The world is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, and there are a number of other challenges that we are facing, such as climate change and economic instability. Change can be difficult, but it is also an opportunity for growth.

Hope: 2023 is also a year of hope. Despite the challenges that we are facing, there is still a lot of good in the world. People are working together to solve problems, and there is a sense of optimism that we can overcome the challenges that we face.

Opportunity: 2023 is a year of opportunity. The world is changing, and there are new opportunities for businesses, individuals, and communities to grow and thrive. It is a time to be bold and to take risks.

Creating Inventive and Innovative Ideas

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE INDUSTRY HEADING IN 2023?

The Information Technology industry has been rapidly evolving over the past few years, I strongly believe that the industry is moving towards a more digital and automated future, with the increasing adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and cloud computing, the industry is becoming more

technological

MUHAMMAD AZFAR ANSARI, Head of IT

E. A. Juffali & Brothers (SAMCO and SRMCO)

The most challenging aspect is staying ahead of the rapidly evolving

advanced and efficient. The focus is shifting towards creating personalized and seamless experiences for customers, with increased emphasis on cybersecurity, privacy, and data protection. Furthermore, we are likely to see a significant increase in the use of blockchain technology, which will revolutionize the way we do business. The industry is also expecting a rise in demand for skilled professionals.

IN YOUR OPINION HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE AWARENESS OF DIVERSITY AND THE POSITIVE ROLE IT PLAYS IN THE WORKPLACE?

In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the importance of diversity in the workplace. That diversity in the workplace is not just a moral imperative, but also a business imperative. Organizations that embrace diversity tend to have a more engaged and

innovative workforce, better customer relationships, and improved financial performance. Furthermore, it is widely recognized that having a diverse workforce can lead to better problem-solving, increased creativity, and improved innovation, it also helps to create a welcoming work environment, where employees feel valued and respected for their individual differences.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

My dream work environment and culture would be one where employees are empowered and have the freedom to be creative and innovative, valued, and respected. Additionally, my dream work culture would prioritize work-life balance and employee well-being, promoting a healthy and sustainable work environment.

WHAT IS THE MOST ENGAGING OR SATISFYING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

The most satisfying aspect is being able to innovate and implement new technologies and leveraging them to improve the efficiency and productivity of the organization. It is rewarding to see the positive impact that these innovations have on the business, and how they contribute to its growth and success.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

The most challenging aspect is staying ahead of the rapidly evolving technological curve. The pace is rapid, and it can be challenging to keep up with the latest trends, emerging technologies, and security threats. Additionally, managing a team of professionals requires effective communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.

WHAT IS YOUR 2023 PLAN FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT? HOW DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE THE BUSINESS FORWARD WITH TECHNOLOGY?

In 2023, my plan is to continue driving innovation and digital transformation within the organization. We will be exploring new technologies such as AI, IoT, and blockchain, and assessing their potential to improve our operations and enhance the customer experience. We will also be investing in cybersecurity measures and data protection, to ensure that our systems and data are secure. This includes

developing solutions, automating repetitive tasks, and leveraging data analytics to gain deeper insights into customer needs and behaviours.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

To build successful teams, I believe in creating a culture of collaboration and continuous learning. This involves hiring individuals with diverse backgrounds and skill sets and providing them with the resources and support they need to succeed. Will also prioritize ongoing training and development, to keep our team members up to date with the latest technologies and industry developments and trends.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU LEAD A CULTURALLY DIVERSE TEAM?

In my previous role at a multinational company, I had the opportunity to lead a culturally diverse team of IT professionals from different parts of the world. It was a challenging yet rewarding experience that taught me a lot about effective cross-cultural

communication and leadership. I recognized the importance of building trust and fostering open communication among team members who came from different cultural backgrounds and spoke different languages. To achieve this, I implemented several initiatives, including regular team-building activities, virtual coffee chats, and language training for non-native English speakers. We also established clear communication protocols and regular check-ins to ensure that everyone was on the same page and had a shared understanding of project goals and milestones.

WHICH WAS YOUR MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO YOUR COMPANY IN 2022 AND HOW DID IT IMPACT OR INFLUENCE THE BUSINESS?

The most significant contribution in 2022 was the implementation of SAP for one of the most complex manufacturing businesses in the group, which improved efficiency, reduced costs, and increased quality. I identified the need for a more streamlined

and automated approach to introduce a new tool that enabled the team to collaborate more effectively and efficiently.

My team and I worked closely with the implementation partner to customize the specific needs, and we provided extensive training and support to our staff to ensure a smooth transition. The implementation of the SAP had a significant impact on our business, which helped us to increase our revenue and profitability. Overall, the implementation had a significant impact on our business, helping us to become more competitive, efficient, and customer-focused.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS. "Innovative, Collaborative, and Dynamic."

As technology continues to evolve, we will see new opportunities and challenges arise, and it will take innovative and dynamic thinking to stay ahead of the curve. The collaboration will also be critical as we work together to solve complex problems and create new solutions that benefit our clients and society.

Maximising Productivity and Efficiency

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE INDUSTRY HEADING IN 2023?

Companies from all sectors are turning to automation & simplification of tasks, in search of more efficiency. This push has led many to embrace AIbased technologies, in order to

streamline operations & reduce expenditure. In the technology industry, we can expect to see continued growth and innovation in areas such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, cloud computing, and 5G wireless technology. These technologies are expected

to drive advancements in various fields, including healthcare, finance, transportation, and manufacturing.

IN YOUR OPINION HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE AWARENESS OF DIVERSITY

A balanced approach towards work-life should be maintained to promote a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle.

FARATHULLAKHAN, Manager - IT Infrastructure Holdings Company

AND THE POSITIVE ROLE IT PLAYS IN THE WORKPLACE?

Yes, a significant increase in awareness of diversity and its positive role in the workplace in recent years. Many organizations are now recognizing the benefits of having a diverse workforce, including increased creativity, innovation, and problem-solving, as well as improved employee engagement and retention. The growing awareness of diversity and inclusion is also reflected in the increasing number of companies that have publicly committed to diversity and inclusion goals and have published diversity reports to track their progress.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

My ideal workplace should place

its employees first, provide a supportive atmosphere and be committed to their development. A balanced approach towards work-life should be maintained to promote a healthier and more fulfilling lifestyle.

WHAT IS THE MOST ENGAGING OR SATISFYING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

Having a job that is both personally & professionally fulfilling is an incredible feeling. I'm able to apply my knowledge, skills & creativity to come up with solutions to various problems. Achieving success and advancing in the industry keeps me motivated and ready for whatever challenge comes my way.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

One of the most challenging

aspects of my job is dealing with multiple technologies and keeping myself up to date. Staying up-todate with the latest technologies and trends in various products requires constant monitoring of news and information sources and updating my knowledge with the latest information.

WHAT IS YOUR 2023 PLAN FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT? HOW DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE THE BUSINESS FORWARD WITH TECHNOLOGY?

I have the plan to move my whole department forward in the digital era by introducing cutting-edge technology and cloud solutions. For example, implementing cloud-based software systems to manage their workflows and automate repetitive tasks, freeing up time for employees to focus on more strategic work. This will bring an added level of

efficiency and productivity to our organization, helping us reach our objectives faster.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

I intend to create a team with an optimal combination of strategic planning, effective communication, and ongoing assistance and growth. This will allow everyone to work collaboratively and remain productive. It is important to me to recognize and reward individual and team achievements, motivate team members and encourage continued collaboration and success.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU LEAD A CULTURALLY DIVERSE TEAM?

For the past 10 years, leading a culturally diverse team has been a great honor for me. As their leader, celebrating festivals and national days together which brings the

team much pleasure and joy, with my enthusiasm always making it even more special. Apart from that encouraged team members to share their experiences and insights with each other to create a culture of mutual respect and understanding.

WHICH WAS YOUR MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO YOUR COMPANY IN 2022 AND HOW DID IT IMPACT OR INFLUENCE THE BUSINESS?

One of my greatest achievements at the company was the implementation & optimization of information security standards. This had an immense impact on making legacy systems procedures more efficient and reliable. Moreover, this helped the business to better manage security risks, comply with legal and regulatory requirements, build stakeholder trust, and enhance

business continuity, efficiency, and productivity.

DEFINE 2022 IN 3 WORDS.

In my perception, year 2023 will be defined as IIT, Innovative; Informative; Technologies Innovative - Technological innovations involve the development of new technologies or the application of existing technologies in new ways. Innovative ideas are essential for driving economic growth and progress in all industries. Informative – Organizations requires staying up to date on latest developments and sharing that knowledge with each other. Technologies - The technology landscape is constantly evolving, by staying up-to-date with the latest trends and developments, individuals and organizations can position themselves to take advantage of new opportunities and stay ahead.

Aligning People, Process and Technology:

Beyond the Borders

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE INDUSTRY HEADING IN 2023?

If it is about my Industry (FMCG) it will have good potential growth, but there will be a global economic slowdown impact. The Information Technology domain has already been impacted heavily by the global economic slowdown and will get

stabilize this year after seeing a surge post covid period.

IN YOUR OPINION HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE AWARENESS OF DIVERSITY AND THE POSITIVE ROLE IT PLAYS IN THE WORKPLACE? When it comes to MNCs/large corporates, diversity is part

and parcel, and awareness of diversity increased multi-fold post covid period because many organizations have moved their support operations to countries with lower labor costs. Diversity does play an important role, and it would be positive mostly, except organizations are very old and connected with roots on a cultural basis.

DUSHYANT GHAGHDA, Leader - Data and Analytics Agthia Group

The difference I want to make with technology is to provide an edge over my peers competition.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

• Work Environment: Clearly defined functions within the organization with RACI and having interdependent KPIs towards Organization Goal/ Vision

• Work Culture: Diversified team, with one KPI (5%) for each team member to promote their culture and increase awareness about their traditions and their speciality

WHAT IS THE MOST ENGAGING OR SATISFYING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

Impact in terms of smiles/relief on people's faces with the help of your job role. For example, if you are in a technology job and your organization is in need of something to be automated, that can save employee time from the mundane job.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

Being in the Technology domain,

convincing people that Technology will make their life easy, cut down the mundane task, and improve their efficiency and productivity. While we explain this, their mind starts thinking that this technology will replace him/her.

WHAT IS YOUR 2023 PLAN FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT? HOW DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE THE BUSINESS FORWARD WITH TECHNOLOGY?

Once the culture and team get aligned with new disruptive technology, even the sky will not be the limit. FMCG business has been growing at a better CAGR and will continue to do. The difference I want to make with technology is to provide an edge over my peers and competition. Data will be the key asset and automation with BI/AI/ML will give rapid progress.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

There are plenty of team-building methods and activities, but my approach is simple and easy. I believe in 3 Es – Empowerment, Empathy and Engagement, and it

has always worked for me to build a successful team.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU LEAD A CULTURALLY DIVERSE TEAM?

Though out my career, I have worked in MNCs, and teams with multiple nationalities, ethnicity, and age group. It has its challenges too, but with lot more engagement and showing interest to learn different cultures while working professionally on tasks, has always exceeded in success. During one of my projects, I stayed for around 2 months constantly in Cairo Egypt, and my English accents changed so much, that some of the local vendors were at times initiating conversation with me in Arabic thinking I am one of them.

WHICH WAS YOUR MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO YOUR COMPANY IN 2022 AND HOW DID IT IMPACT OR INFLUENCE THE BUSINESS?

Assisting in the preparation of the overall Digital Strategy roadmap, by providing BI, Data and Analytics roadmap, has clearly shown a path to success. A list of Projects with necessary expenditure and expected ROI has influenced the business to get convinced/ influenced for taking the route without any further delay. The definition of the Global Operating Model was the game changer.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS.

• Disruptive

• Disturbing (global economy slowdown)

• Distinctive

Evolving Challenges, From Idea

to Growth

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE INDUSTRY HEADING IN 2023?

In 2023, I believe the tech industry will continue to heavily invest in AI, predictive analytics and automation as they become increasingly essential for businesses to remain competitive and innovative. We will likely see greater integration of these technologies into various industry verticals, from healthcare to finance to transportation, transforming the way we work and live.

IN YOUR OPINION HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE AWARENESS OF DIVERSITY AND THE POSITIVE ROLE IT PLAYS

At GCC Services, we recognize the importance of creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, not only for the benefit of our business but also to better serve the communities in which we operate. By embracing diversity, we can gain a better understanding of the unique needs of our customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders, and build stronger relationships with them. This also aligns with our wider ESG strategy, which prioritizes social responsibility and sustainable practices for long-term success. By prioritizing

ADAM LALANI, IT Director GCC Services

At a high level, our company strategy is to pursue aggressive growth.

diversity and inclusion, we can demonstrate our commitment to social responsibility and build a stronger, more resilient business for the future.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

I like to feel at the end of each day that I made a difference. I love to work with people who are collaborative and open to new ways of doing things – and a workplace culture that has an experimental start-up feel to it. Structure and order are important, but too much red tape chokes innovation.

WHAT IS THE MOST ENGAGING OR SATISFYING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

The most fulfilling aspect of my job is seeing the impact that my team's work has on our stakeholders. When someone shares how the team's efforts have made a real difference, it reinforces the sense of pride and purpose that we all share. I feel proud when team members grow and develop along with the company.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

The most challenging aspect of my job is dealing with unproductive calls that as they unfold show they have no clear purpose and often have to be the one to bring them to a close. There is enough time in our day to

achieve everything we set out to if use it wisely.

WHAT IS YOUR 2023 PLAN FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT? HOW DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE THE BUSINESS FORWARD WITH TECHNOLOGY?

I don’t want to give too much away and surrender our competitive advantage, but at a high level, our company strategy is to pursue aggressive growth. Our departmental plans revolve around using technology to support that aggressive growth.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU LEAD A CULTURALLY DIVERSE TEAM?

As the leader of a multicultural technology team, I work with team members from 8 different nationalities. Each person brings unique perspectives and experiences to our work, which makes our team more diverse and dynamic. By embracing and leveraging these differences, we create a more inclusive and collaborative workplace where everyone can contribute and grow.

WHICH WAS YOUR MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO YOUR COMPANY IN 2022 AND HOW DID IT IMPACT OR INFLUENCE THE BUSINESS?

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

To build high-performance teams, people need to wake up in the morning and be excited by what they will do that day, what they might learn, what they might share, and if they make a positive difference in the lives of others. So, I always look to put people into roles they enjoy as much as possible.

In 2022, my most significant contribution to the company was actually twofold. Firstly, the successful migration of our datacentre from on-premises infrastructure to Azure cloud, resulted in improved scalability, efficiency, and cost savings. Secondly, a complete overhaul and redesign of our IT security model, ensuring that our company's sensitive data and information are protected against modern threats and cyber-attacks. Both of these initiatives have had a significant impact on our company's operations, security posture, and overall competitiveness in the marketplace.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS.

AAA - AI, Automation, Analytics

Cloud Journey in

Digital TransformationDemystified

The cloud offerings enable organizations to reduce overall IT costs in multiple ways and reap maximum value from the offering.

With the onset of the pandemic, many organizations have accelerated their Digital Transformation programs and Cloud strategy by months and if not years! Organizations have utilized the slow periods to drive the transition to migrate from legacy systems to the cloud to level the various benefits offered, and also have driven many adoption campaigns to prepare the workforce as things pick up pace again.

Over and above, in today's time, many organizations grow via mergers and acquisitions, and even if they have planned on-prem or private cloud environments, the introduction of the new cloud layout into the existing architecture will force the business to adopt and leap into the multi-cloud stage. With pioneer cloud service providers as well as many specialized smaller providers entering the market, the

organizations should look at way planning with a multi-cloud focus, so that the upcoming investments can be channelled accordingly and the right onboarding and training of resources is part of the plan and strategy.

KEY DRIVERS OF HYBRID CLOUD

There are two different aspects to brought up, one is about organizations deciding to go the multi-cloud way, and the other way different clouds for different services. We see a growing trend towards IT being more and more of a business enabler and to facilitate the growing demands of the business means being flexible, scalable, and agile while being effective in operating as an open unit. A well-strategized approach to multi-cloud adoption could be classified by the below drivers: Business Growth is the driver for

such an approach to keep in pace with business expansions, reach a wider global audience, and capture a greater market share.

Efficiency helps to streamline processes, resulting in improved productivity and deliver customer requirements faster.

Customer Experience by leveraging new channels of engagement and automation. Agility to enable IT to be more responsive to the business needs and react faster by leveraging Saas technologies rather than being consumed in traditional application and infrastructure management tasks. Cost can be better structured and spread out over time depending on the various licensing models available, enabling IT to operate as an open unit with the organization. Assurance, data and applications will be secure and available with better uptimes in the cloud

governed by the cloud service provider's SLAs.

On the other hand, choosing from different cloud providers have different evaluation factors to be taken into consideration. Different cloud service providers have various offerings and services that could support your unique business characteristics and objective.

Cloud Security: Security is of prime concern in the cloud and unique business use cases, industry regulatory requirements, etc need to be taken into consideration.

Cloud Compliance: Depending on the organization and industry, the relevant compliance standard that is applicable can be selected as offered by the service provider.

Architecture: Consideration of how the architecture will be incorporated into your workflows, and facilitate ease of integration and consolidation.

Manageability: Different service providers have different management and orchestration tools, hence ease of use, effort, and time needed to manage the cloud infrastructure has a significant weightage.

Service Levels: Cloud SLAs and clear contractual relationships are essential to have the trust in place, citing the business’ strict needs of availability, response time, capacity, etc.

Costs: Varying cost models and pricing structures offered by service providers is a significant factor to be selected based on business model, budget and timeline.

Support: Options offered by the cloud provider on what level and form of support is needed by the business.

KEY BENEFITS OF A MULTICLOUD STRATEGY

Avoiding Vendor Lock-In is one of the most important multi-cloud advantages. If applications are built to work on one platform, the business will be tied to the same and it will be hard to switch at a later stage leading to vendor lockin. Taking a multi-cloud approach sets the business free from this approach, and can leverage new services, price benefits and deals offered by the different cloud service providers.

Other key benefits that can be leveraged are as follows:

• Taking advantage of the strengths of multiple cloud providers enabled business to adopt best-of-breed solutions

• Maximum opportunity to optimize cost and performance

by reviewing, comparing and picking what’s ideally architected needed for the business.

• Achieve complete agility, flexibility, scalability and workload mobility between cloud platforms with the ability to scale up and scale down depending on business requirements and even quickly spreading across geographically if needed.

• Reliability and resilience contribute to Business continuity which ensures service uptimes and commitments to customers.

• Robust Security and Risk Management enables business to set detailed policies to secure their applications and virtual platforms.

• Drive innovation by leveraging apps, and solutions built by the cloud service providers such as Machine Learning, AI, Language processing, etc to complement the business workflows.

CONFIDENCE BOOSTER FOR MOVING MORE WORKLOADS TO THE CLOUDS

The availability of datacentres of public cloud providers such as AWS and Microsoft for instance locally is a confidence booster for moving more workloads to the clouds of these providers. This is definitely a booster, especially citing the regulatory requirements of having the data locally which is applicable across many organizations in different industry segments. Also, the local presence will give a lot of confidence to traditional on prem

IT houses to reconsider moving to the cloud or even build a strategy to spread services across the cloud providers as it's due to an infrastructure refresh or new Digital Transformation initiatives kick-off.

CYBERSECURITY VULNERABILITIES EXPOSED MORE IN A MULTI-CLOUD SCENARIO?

Cybersecurity is a significant challenge when it comes to a multi cloud scenario, especially when the workloads, applications, and assets are spread across multiple platforms. It does introduce complexities, which can make it harder to secure data and prevent data leakage. It can be addressed however; it goes to say that more time and effort is required to enhance security across the platforms.

On a more positive note, since you are on multiple platforms and if have architected it well, you will not have a single point of failure and the other service providers can share the load until services are reinstated.

Digital Revolution in Healthcare: Growing Advanced Technologies

WHERE DO YOU SEE THE INDUSTRY HEADING IN 2023?

The UAE’s healthcare industry will continue to excel and take the lead worldwide and in the Gulf region in 2023, reiterating its readiness to meet health concerns and conform to the highest international standards. The UAE has been steadily increasing its healthcare spending in recent years. For instance, healthcare and community protection services received AED3.835 billion in government funding in 2016, but this amount climbed to AED4.8 billion in the general budget for 2023. The UAE has given significant attention to its hospital and medical centre infrastructure. UAE's Vision 2040 has healthcare as a priority sector for the UAE government, and the country will continue to be an attractive location for establishing a regional distribution center for healthcare services.

Research has found that diversifying your team can boost productivity by 35%. A diverse workforce is more likely to understand your customers' needs and come up with ideas to fulfill them. Diversity in the workplace will also increase employee morale and instill a desire to be more effective and

work more efficiently.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE? (50 WORDS)

An ideal work environment is one where you feel supported, engaged, and have all the tools necessary to do your best work

ABU MARIE, Senior IT Director WPI Health Investment, Waha Capital Company

IN YOUR OPINION HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE AWARENESS OF DIVERSITY AND THE POSITIVE ROLE IT PLAYS IN THE WORKPLACE.

UAE's Vision 2040 includes healthcare as a priority sector for the UAE government

ASAM

and advance your career. This is going to differ from person to person. My ideal work environment is one where I have the opportunity to support a team with the services and abilities that meet the needs of the group with little supervision. I also enjoy a collaborative environment that allows for flexibility in how we get our work done.

WHAT IS THE MOST ENGAGING OR SATISFYING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE? (50 WORDS)

Being able to work in an environment where you feel satisfied with your position and what you do can allow you to work at your best. A company environment where you and your coworkers feel similar levels of job satisfaction can often be positive and harmonious. Being able to work within a positive atmosphere may lead to more efficient and optimal work processes.

WHAT IS THE MOST

CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE? (50 WORDS)

Concerns about technology and innovation, Executive uncertainty in a changing world.

WHAT IS YOUR 2023 PLAN FOR YOUR DEPARTMENT? HOW DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE THE BUSINESS FORWARD WITH TECHNOLOGY?

Moving into the digital field and reduce of using paper and manual tools, driving healthcare into digital and using AI technology, meeting UAE regulations and policies related to healthcare and IT security / Cybersecurity.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and expectations, Empower the team to make smart decisions, Encourage listening and feedback, Encourage a growth mindset and Provide coaching.

CAN YOU TELL ME ABOUT A TIME YOU LEAD A

CULTURALLY DIVERSE TEAM?

I managed a team of 24 engineers of different nationalities, and manage them by implementing a policy that has zero tolerance for harassment. Increasing the motivation in the workplace, one of the things I had to do is create a sense of belonging. It helps if you create better social bonds and creativity in the workplace.

WHICH WAS YOUR MOST SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO YOUR COMPANY IN 2022 AND HOW DID IT IMPACT OR INFLUENCE THE BUSINESS?

Providing outstanding patient experience, streamlining systems and company processes, driving business into innovation and digital transformation. It helps the business to improve its functions and operations by allowing for faster processing, and improved experience with new technology.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS. Creation, power and change

The World CIO 200 Summit Morocco edition

The World CIO 200 Summit 2023 Morocco edition was successfully held on 1st June 2023 at Hôtel Les Jardins De La Koutoubia . The event was attended by panelists, winners and attendees. The World CIO 200 Summit Morocco edition honored nearly 10 top IT decision makers.

Attendees and keynote speakers were welcomed by Anushree Dixit, Global Head, Global CIO Forum. She also shared the collective vision of the Global CIO Forum as a platform of knowledge sharing and networking for likeminded CIOs globally, with the audience.

The event followed the theme of ‘Rise of the power’. The World CIO 200 2023 roadshow is designed to help IT leaders develop and enhance the qualities of leadership, power, vision and focus. Through a series of workshops, knowledge-sharing sessions, thoughtprovoking life experiences, panel discussions, and networking events, the event explored the latest trends and innovations in IT leadership.

The panel discussion was moderated by Anushree Dixit, Global Head, Global CIO Forum. The panelists discussed the qualities and traits needed for an IT leader and how they understand the technology to be

able to align the business and technology strategies. It was an unforgettable event for the technology heads and Morocco witnessed great responses from the IT experts as well.

THE CIO LEADERSHIP PANEL ON ‘RISE OF THE POWER’ WAS TOGETHER JOINED BY

Mohamed El Mehdi Driouiche-Vice President Digital & IT/ Royal Air Maroc

Mohammed Belrhitri CIO BANK AL YOUSR

Youness Zmirli CIO Foundever

Mohammed Bahri CIO ASWAK ASSALAM

Dr. Ing. Imen Hbir Co-Founder CTO Robocare

The World CIO 200 Summit West Africa edition

The World CIO 200 Summit 2023 West Africa edition was successfully held on 6th July 2023 virtually. The event was attended by panelists, winners and attendees. The World CIO 200 Summit West Africa edition felicitated nearly 10 top IT leaders. Attendees and keynote speakers were welcomed by Ronak Samantaray, Co-Founder & CEO, Global CIO Forum. He shared the vision of The World CIO 200 Summit, the event to identify the latest trends and innovations in the IT industry and recognizes the IT leaders and like-minded technology heads.

The event followed the theme of ‘Rise of the power’. The World CIO 200 2023 roadshow is designed to help IT leaders develop and enhance the qualities of leadership, power, vision and focus. The event was kicked off by Shoyinka Shodunke, Chief Information Officer, MTN Nigeria with his country inaugural keynote on 'Metamorphose: BSS

Transformation in the Digital Age'.

The CIO leadership panel on ‘Rise of the Power’ was together joined by,

• Gerald Ilukwe- Chief Information Officer, Kaduna State Government

• Ayodeji Jegede- Information Technology Operations and MIS Reporting, Providus Bank

• Steve Uma- CIO & Head, Information Services and Technology, NSIA INSURANCE LIMITED

• Adeoluwa Akomolafe- Chief Information Officer, Wema Bank Plc.

• Dominic Kebenei-Head of ICT, Associated Battery Manufacturers EA (ABM Group)

The panelists discussed the key qualities that IT leaders need to cultivate in order to succeed in the growing business environment and competitive technology sector. The panel discussion was moderated by Jayakumar Mohanachandran, Chief

Research Officer, CAAS. According to him, the CIOs must have new and transformative competencies and should identify the talent and retain the same. He also shared the vision of The World CIO 200 event and highlighted the growing significance of the roadshow.

Venkatesh Mahadevan, founding member, CAAS, shared the aim and vision of CAAS which is a technology revolutionary platform that has been formed with the purpose of delivering technology-enabled solutions at a better price and great quality by subject matter experts themselves.

The event was closed by Anushree Dixit, Global Head - Content & Strategic Alliances, Global CIO Forum and she thanked all the participants in The World CIO 200 Summit, West Africa edition.

Global CIO Forum felicitated nearly 10 winners with The World CIO 200 Awards 2023.

The roadshow will continue in the remaining countries and will culminate in a grand finale at Baku, Azerbaijan from 17th to 19th September.

The World CIO 200 Summit South & East Africa edition

The World CIO 200 Summit 2023 South & East Africa edition was successfully held on 14th July 2023 virtually. The event was embellished by some inspirational panelists, winners and attendees. The World CIO 200 Summit South & East Africa edition honored 17 top IT leaders.

Attendees and keynote speakers were welcomed by Anushree Dixit, Global Head - Content & Strategic Alliances, Global CIO Forum. She also shared the collective vision of the Global CIO Forum as a platform of knowledge sharing and networking for like-minded CIOs globally, with the audience.

The event followed the theme of ‘Rise of the power’. The World CIO 200 2023 roadshow is designed to help IT leaders develop and enhance the qualities of leadership, power, vision and focus. The event was kicked off by George Njuguna, Director, Digital IT (CIO), Safaricom PLC with his country

inaugural keynote on ‘Evolution of the role of the CIO’. The following panelists joined the panel discussion on the topic ‘Rise of the Power’,

• Dr. Makaziwe Makamba, Board Member & Senior Research Analyst, Department of Communications & Digital Technologies, Republic of South Africa

• Isabellah Mokaya, IT Manager, Bayobab Kenya

• Bernard Rono, Head of ICT/CIO, Kenya Tea Packers Limited

• Warren Hero, CIO, Webber Wentzel

The panelists discussed the traits and qualities that IT leaders need to cultivate in their respective industry and how these qualities can help them to develop and apply the skills in the workplace. The panel discussion was moderated by Amit, Saxena, CIO, Ramco Group Kenya.

Venkatesh Mahadevan, founding member, CaaS, shared the aim and vision of CaaS which is a

technology revolutionary platform that has been formed with the purpose of delivering technology-enabled solutions at a better price and great quality by subject matter experts themselves. Jayakumar Mohanachandran, Chief Research Officer, CaaS shared his views on RaaS, Research-as-a-Service, which is a research division of CaaS. According to him RaaS works directly with end customers, works directly with partners to find out what the end customers really need and works with major principles to analyze feedback on any product or services, go to market strategy and more.

Global CIO Forum felicitated 17 winners with The World CIO 200 Awards 2023.

The World CIO 200 Summit UAE edition witnessed the

RISE OF THE POWER of IT leaders

The World CIO 200 Summit 2023 UAE edition was successfully held at Address Sky View Dubai on 18th July. UAE witnessed a momentous event with the participation of influential leaders and their remarkable knowledge sharing sessions. The World CIO 200 Summit UAE edition felicitated 125 top IT leaders with the World CIO 200 Awards.

Attendees and keynote speakers were welcomed by Ronak Samantaray, Co-Founder & CEO, Global CIO Forum. He shared the vision of The World CIO 200 Summit which identified the latest trends and innovations in the IT industry and recognizes the IT leaders and like-minded technology heads.

The event followed the theme of ‘Rise of the power’. The World CIO 200 2023 roadshow is designed to help IT leaders develop and enhance the qualities of leadership, power, vision and focus.

The event was embellished by some thought provoking and influential speakers and they shared their perspectives on the growing importance of technology and the emerging technologies that are predicted to be disruptive in the near future. Abrar Hussain, Regional Sales Leader, Oracle shared his vision on the topic ‘Oracle and the Modern Enterprise’.

Ali El Kontar, Founder & CEO, Zero&One spoke about ‘The Art of Possible’, Charbel Zreiby, Director, Channel Presales, Middle East, Turkey and Africa,

Dell Technologies spoke about ‘Accelerate intelligent outcomes everywhere with AI’, and Chaitanya Peddi, Co-founder & Product Head, Darwinbox shared his vision on the topic ‘Innovation Redefined: Leveraging AI to Shape the Future of Work. Keyur Joshi, Head of Advanced Computing, META, Eviden shared his vision on the topic ‘AI in Digital Transformation’ and Naveen Hemanna, Regional Head - Middle East, Turkey & Africa, Xoxoday spoke about ‘Transforming Businesses with Digital Rewards & Incentives’.

Following are the panelists who take part in the panel discussion on the following topics:

RISE OF THE POWER

Aditya Kaushik, CIO, ZMI Holdings , Aamir Khan, Head of Enterprise & Data Architecture, Al Tayer Group, Mohammed Ameen, IT Director, Masafi LLC, Ahmed Shawky, Regional Director of Information Technology, Millennium Hotels and Resorts.

Moderated by: Jayakumar Mohanachandran, Chief Research Officer, I am CAAS

ELIMINATING DATA DEBT AND REPLACING LEGACIES

Muhamed Noufel, Cluster IT Manager, Royal Continental Hotels & Suites, Sunil Paul, Co-Founder & MD, Finesse Global, Gigi Mathew Thomas, Group Director IT & Digital Transformation, Ittihad International Investment LLC and Riasat Ali, Group Head of IT, RAK PORTS

PARTNERS OF THE EVENT

PLATINUM PARTNERS

GOLD PARTNERS

SILVER PARTNERS

DIGITAL REWARD PARTNER

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNERS

BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION

POWERED BY

ORGANIZED BY

MANAGING PARTNER

COMMUNITY PARTNERS

THE ROADSHOW WILL CONTINUE IN THE REMAINING COUNTRIES AND WILL CULMINATE IN A GRAND FINALE AT BAKU, AZERBAIJAN FROM 17TH TO 19TH SEPTEMBER.

RISE OF THE POWER

GLOBAL STRATEGIC PARTNERS

BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION VS DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION - HOW DOES A CIO UNDERSTAND THE LINE OF DIFFERENCE AND BRING CHANGE

Stacy Samuel Vanchippara, Corporate Director of Technology, Ishraq Hospitality, Aus Alzubaidi, Director IT & Digital Transformation Leader, MBC GROUP, Syed Ashar Ahmed, Head of Malls IT & PMO, Emaar, Shahood Siddiqui, CTO, COFE App

Moderated by: Zeeshan Hadi, Country Manager UAE & Africa, HPE Aruba Networking

LEADERSHIP DOS AND DON’TS

H.E. Mubaraka Ibrahim, Acting CIO, Emirates Health Services, Akshay Lamba, Chief Digital Officer, Kalaam Telecom Group, Jayaraj Perumalsamy, Group Head of IT, Barakat and Alan Brouard, Director IT, Etihad Rail

Moderated by: Rajat Goel, Deputy Vice President, 3i Infotech Ltd.

LOOKING TO 2024

Faisal Syed - Group Digital Transformation Manager – Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, Ali KatkhadaGroup CIO

Depa Group and Kashif Rasheed - IT & Digital Transformation Project Manager- UnionCoop

Moderated by: Mohammed Mahnashi, Digital Transformation & Data Management Advisor, Saudi Electronic University.

CAAS, the technology revolutionary platform that has been formed with the purpose of delivering technologyenabled solutions at a better price and great quality by subject matter experts themselves, was also highlighted by the organizers of CAAS from different countries. Venkatesh Mahadevan, Founding Member, CAAS, addressed the delegates at the UAE edition of the World CIO 200 Summit 2023 and spoke about the amazing journey and vision of CAAS, since its launch in Bangkok in 2022. Manoj Saxena, CAAS|Sustainability, shared his vision on ‘CaaS and Sustainability’ and its importance for the modern enterprises across the world. Mohammed Mahnashi, CAAS, Saudi Arabia shared his vision on the outreach of CaaS and its establishment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Alan Brouard, CAAS, Wellbeing, shared his vision on ‘The CaaS way to Wellbeing’. Sabin Subramannian, CAAS | Competency Framework and Muhamed Noufel, CAAS | Hospitality Forum shared their vision on the launch of CaaS’ new vertical- Hospitality Forum. Jayakumar Mohanachandran, Chief Research Officer, Research-as-a-Service, CAAS spoke about the Research-as-a-service arm of CaaS and how it is all set to disrupt the research and market study landscape.

The World CIO 200 Summit Bahrain edition successfully held under the patronage of H.H.

Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa

The World CIO 200 Summit 2023 Bahrain edition was successfully held at The Art Hotel & Resort, Bahrain on 20th July under the patronage of H.H. Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa. H.H. Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy President Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of the General Sports Authority, and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, presented CIO & CEO Country Awards 2023 to the winners in The World CIO 200 Summit Bahrain Edition.

Attendees and keynote speakers were welcomed by Dr. Jassim Haji, President, IGOAI. He shared the

technological vision of Bahrain, deploying modern technologies to further develop the country’s services and shared the aim of The World CIO 200 Summit which identifies the latest trends in the IT industry and recognizes like-minded technology heads.

The event followed the theme of ‘Rise of the power’. The World CIO 200 2023 roadshow is designed to help IT leaders develop and enhance the qualities of leadership, power, vision and focus. All the influential panelists gathered for the discussion at the World CIO 200 Summit made the event a more interesting and thought provoking one.

RISE OF THE POWER

Anas Kamaluddin-Head of Technology-Strategic Business Units Yusuf bin Ahmed Kanoo Group, Anupama Prasanth-Dean-College of Computer StudiesUniversity of Technology Bahrain, ERKAN AYTÜRK–Chief

Technology Officer – Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo

Moderated by: Khalid Jalal, Bahrain Country Manager-International Group of Artificial Intelligence

LEADERSHIP DOS AND DON’TS

Alka Srivastava-ICT Manager Healthcare-Ibn

Al-Nafees Hospital, Kai Miethig-CEO and Founder-W-AI-STE and Fatema Akbar - Head of Technology and Innovative Teaching Unit-Gulf University

Moderated by: Mahmood Aladraj -Chief Executive Officer- VirtuThinko

ELIMINATING DATA DEBT AND REPLACING LEGACIES

Ahmed M Buti- Regularity Audit Manager - Bahrain

National Audit Office, Shaker AlOwainati - CIO - Ahjar

Gallery Online, Wafeeq Ajoor - Executive IT/Cloud AdvisorNational Health Regularity Authority (NHRA) - Kingdom of Bahrain, Shaima Almeer-Senior Space Data Analyst-NSSA

Moderated by: Ahmed Saleh AlBalooshi - Managing Director-Fintech ICT Services & Consultations

Welcomed by Dr. Jassim Haji, President, IGOAI

The World CIO 200 Summit 2023 Malaysia edition

On 24th July 2023, Malaysia witnessed the gathering of many top inspiring IT leaders in The World CIO 200 Summit at W Kuala Lumpur Hotel. The like-minded technology heads shared their knowledge and vision on the growing tech trends and how businesses are leveraging these technologies to improve their services and productivity. The World World CIO 200 Summit Malaysia edition felicitated 25 top IT leaders with the World CIO 200 Awards.

Attendees and keynote speakers were welcomed by Jennefer Lorraine Mendoza, Project Lead Manager, GEC Media Group. She shared the vision of The World CIO 200 Summit which identifies the latest trends and innovations in the IT industry and recognizes the remarkable contributions of the IT leaders to their industry.

The event follows the theme of ‘Rise of the power’. The World CIO 200 2023 roadshow is designed to help IT leaders develop and enhance the qualities of leadership, power, vision and focus.

Dr. Shubhabrata Samantaray-Founder- Enheroes Global Energy kicked off the event with his country inaugural keynote on 'Championing Corporate Sustainability with Responsible AI'. The event became more engaging and interesting through a thought-

provoking panel discussion by some influential panelists.

Joo Ming Thang -Group CIO- UCSI Group, Mohamed Ariff Ameedeen -Chief Information Officer- Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Ts. Izuddin Abdullah - Head of IT-TNB Integrated Learning Solution, Julian Wong -Senior Vice President – Chief Technology Officer-Magnum 4D Berhad and Yap Ming Cur-Head of IT-Biocon Biologics who all took part in an interesting panel discussion on the topic 'Rise of the Power'.

The panel discussion was moderated by Ts. Saiful Bakhtiar O. - Head of IT, Shared Services-PNB Commercial Sdn. Berhad.

The World CIO 200 Summit Malaysia edition honored 25 top IT leaders with World CIO 200 Awards in Legend, Master, Leader and Next-Gen CIO categories.

The event was successful with the support of the sponsors and also made the event an unforgettable experience for all the attendees.

Below are the sponsors for the World CIO 200 Summit Malaysia edition,

• Positive Technologies

• SeeBurger

• Xoxoday

The World CIO 200 Summit 2023 Philippines edition

The World CIO 200 Summit Philippines edition honored top IT leaders with the World CIO 200 Awards on 26th July at City of Dreams Manila, Philippines. The event was successful with the presence of top IT leaders who made the event more engaging and effective.

Attendees and keynote speakers were welcomed by Jennefer Lorraine Mendoza, Project Lead Manager, GEC Media Group. She shared the success story of World CIO 200 roadshow in every country and honoring the success of CIOs for their contribution to the industry.

The event follows the theme of ‘Rise of the power’. The World CIO 200 2023 roadshow is designed to help IT leaders develop and enhance the qualities of leadership, power, vision and focus.

Sheridan Leroy P. Laroza, Senior Director of Information Technology, Thermo Fisher Scientific kicked off the event with his country inaugural keynote. DM Varun, Regional Head-SEA, Xoxoday spoke about every industry’s growing technology needs and trends and innovations in the tech world. The event became more engaging and interesting through a thought-provoking panel discussion by some influential panelists.

Sheridan Leroy P. Laroza-Senior Director of

Information Technology-Thermo Fisher Scientific, Oliver Junio-Dean / Information Technology DirectorUniversity of Perpetual Help System – Laguna, Gemma Rose D -CIO-Cyber Security Philippines CERT, Noel Adalia Dimasacat-CIO-Alexander Karl Group Corp., Kenneth Catugas-Head of IT-ING and Arlene Romasanta-Chief/Information Technology OfficerDICT-MISS took part in an engaging panel discussion on the topic 'Rise of the Power'.

The panel discussion was moderated by Dr. Mary Joy Abueg-President-National ICT Confederation of the Philippines (NICP).

The World CIO 200 Summit Philippines edition honored 23 top IT leaders with World CIO 200 Awards in Legend, Master, Leader and Next-Gen CIO categories.

The event was successful with the support of the sponsors and also made the event an unforgettable experience for all the attendees.

Below are the sponsors for the World CIO 200 Summit Philippines edition,

• Positive Technologies

• SeeBurger

• Xoxoday

• Lingaro

• Inypay

The World CIO 200 Summit 2023 Kuwait edition

The World CIO 200 Summit Kuwait edition honored top IT leaders with the World CIO 200 Awards on 1st August at Millennium Hotel and Convention Centre, Kuwait. The event was successful with the presence of top IT leaders who made the event more engaging and effective.

Attendees and keynote speakers were welcomed by Jai Kumar, Project Specialist, GEC Media Group. He shared the success story of World CIO 200 roadshow in every country and the vision of World CIO 200 Summit which is a great opportunity to develop and enhance leadership qualities of every IT leader.

The event follows the theme of ‘Rise of the power’. The World CIO 200 2023 roadshow is designed to help IT leaders develop and enhance the qualities of leadership, power, vision and focus.

Mohammed Alqahtani, IT Manager, Kuwait Fire Force kicked off the event with his country inaugural keynote. Dinesh Varadharajan, Chief Product Officer, Kissflow shared his perspective on the growing importance of technology and the emerging technologies that are predicted to be disruptive in the near future. The event became more engaging and interesting through a thought-provoking panel discussion by some influential panelists.

PANEL DISCUSSION: RISE OF THE POWER

• Dr. Thalaya Alfozan, IT Director/ IT Consultant, Kuwait Ministry of Finance

• Manoj Ramachandran, Group CIO, Al Babtain Group of Companies

• Anis Mattur, Group Head of IT, ALHASAWI GROUP and

• Adiy Al-Nakhal -IT Infrastructure Manager-Ali Alghanim Sons Automotive Co.

• Moderated by: Basil Al-Suwaidan, CISM, SSCP, CDPSE Al-Suwaidan-General Manager –Information Security, Privacy and Anti-Fraud Department-KIB

RAPID FIRE SESSION: LEADERSHIP DOS AND DON’TS

• Husain A ALNakkas, CIO, National Assembly of Kuwait, Imran Anwar, ICT Manager, Alghanim Healthcare

• Ekrami Sedhom-Infrastructure Manager-ACE Hardware

• Mohammed Alqahtani-IT Manager-Kuwait Fire Force

• Moderated by: Kamal Eldesouky-Group IT DirectorUnited Real Estate (URC)

The World CIO 200 Summit Kuwait edition honored 29 top IT leaders with World CIO 200 Awards in Legend, Master, Leader and Next-Gen CIO categories.

The World CIO 200 Summit 2023 KSA edition

On 2nd August 2023, Saudi Arabia witnessed an overwhelming crowd of tech leaders at Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya, Saudi Arabia. It was a prestigious gathering of IT leaders and professionals from various industries. The event aimed to foster collaboration, exchange knowledge, and recognize outstanding contributions in the IT sector. Attendees enjoyed a day filled with insightful panel discussions, engaging speaking sessions, and culminated with the prestigious World CIO 200 Awards ceremony.

Attendees and keynote speakers were welcomed by Anushree Dixit, Global Head - Content & Strategic Alliances, Global CIO Forum. She shared the vision of The World CIO 200 Summit which is designed to explore the latest advancements, trends, and opportunities in the IT domain.

The event followed the theme of ‘Rise of the power’. The World CIO 200 2023 roadshow is designed to help IT leaders develop and enhance the qualities of leadership, power, vision and focus.

Dr. Maher Aldukheil, VP of Technology and Digital Transformation, Hail Health Cluster kicked off the event with his country inaugural keynote.

Renowned industry experts delivered keynotes and presentations on cutting-edge technologies and

strategies. Ali El Kontar, Founder & CEO, Zero&One shared his vision on 'The Art of Possible'. Michael C., Synology Sales Head, APAC & MEA Region spoke about ‘Empowering Business Resilience: Three Steps to Effective Data Protection’ in an interesting tech talk session. Omar Elsawi, Territory Manager KSA Egypt Levant Kuwait – Collaboration, Barco spoke about 'The Evolution of Meetings and Meeting Rooms in the Post-COVID Era'. Abhimanyu Choudhary, Co-Founder, Xoxoday spoke about how Xoxoday is making every day a rewarding day with their unique digital rewards and loyalty program. Dinesh Varadharajan, Chief Product Officer, Kissflow shared his vision on the technological trends that are reshaping businesses and industries.

CAAS, the technology revolutionary platform that has been formed with the purpose of delivering technology-enabled solutions at a better price and great quality by subject matter experts themselves, was also highlighted by the organizers of CAAS from different countries. Jayakumar Mohanachandran, Research-as-a-Service, Chief Research Officer, I am CAAS spoke about the Research-as-a-service arm of CaaS and how it is all set to disrupt the research and market study landscape. Mohammed Mahnashi, I am CAAS Saudi Arabia shared his vision on CaaS'

outreach and establishment in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Expert panels discussed current trends, challenges, and future prospects in IT.

'RISE OF THE POWER'

• Jayesh Maganlal, CIO, ROSHN

• Suhail Akhtar, Chief Information Office, AlKifah Contracting

• Aamir Khalid Pirzada, CIO, National Metal Manufacturing and Casting Company (Maadaniyah)

• Anas Mosa, IT Director, Public Investment Fund (PIF)

• Moderated by: Jayakumar Mohanachandran, Chief Research Officer, I am CAAS

BUSINESS TRANSFORMATION VS DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION – HOW DOES A CIO UNDERSTAND THE LINE OF DIFFERENCE AND BRING CHANGE

• Fadwa AlBawardi, Founder & CEO, FSAB Consulting Office: Digital Transformation & Strategic Planning Consultation

• Reem Alattas, Digital Transformation Expert, SAP

• Ahmed AlZahrani, Director of Health Technology Development, Ministry of National Guard Health

Affairs (MNG-HA)

• Mohammed Al Shobani, CIO, SAICO Insurance

• Moderated by: Dr Ismaeel Almakrami, Director, Ministry of Health Saudi Arabia

The event culminated with the prestigious World CIO 200 Awards ceremony, recognizing top IT leaders for their exemplary contributions.

The success of the IT Summit was made possible by the valuable support and contributions from the following partners:

PLATINUM PARTNERS

• ZERO&ONE

• Kissflow

GOLD PARTNERS

• BARCO

• MindfireTechnologies

• PAESSLER PRTG

• CloudHost

• Logitech

• Positive Technologies

• Synology

DIGITAL REWARD PARTNER

• Xoxoday SUPPORTING PARTNER

• Finesse

GLOBAL STRATEGIC PARTNERS

• OPX Technology

• CAAS

The World CIO 200 Summit KSA edition proved to be a resounding success, uniting IT leaders, fostering knowledge exchange, and recognizing outstanding contributions in the field. The event's impact is expected to resonate throughout the IT industry for months to come.

ROAD TO THE WORLD CIO 200 SUMMIT

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