The Titans GCC December 2023

GCC

DECEMBER 2023 | VOL 6 ISSUE 4

2023

Beyond Binaries CIOs at the Frontier of Digital Alchemy Pioneering the Technological Renaissance - CIOs as

Digital Alchemists, Merging Innovation with Imagination

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Beyond the Pages Stepping Hand in Hand into the Digital Future

As we approach the end of the year, we find ourselves reflecting on the incredible journey we've shared with CIOs and IT leaders who have steered their organizations through the digital frontier. In this special December issue, we bid farewell to 2023 and celebrate the remarkable achievements, challenges overcome, and innovations spearheaded by these visionary professionals.

Emphasis is placed on the critical task facing future CIOs – the integration of emerging technologies like AI and blockchain with a human-centric focus. The anticipation of financial spaces transitioning from supply dominance to demand-driven behavior underscores the pivotal role technology leaders will play in steering this course.

As we gaze into the future, the crystal ball foresees CIOs investing more time in strategic planning, leveraging AI and machine learning for predictive analytics, and adapting to quantum and edge computing. Cybersecurity takes center stage, aligning the CIO's role more integrally with business strategy, a harbinger of innovation and digital transformation.

The reflections of an IT leader encapsulate the challenges faced in balancing rapid technological advancements, team management, and strategic alignment. Agile development practices emerge as transformative, reducing time-to-market and fostering a collaborative work environment.

GCC

2023

GCF DESK

MANAGING DIRECTOR Tushar Sahoo CO-FOUNDER & CEO Ronak Samantaray GLOBAL HEAD, CONTENT AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCES Anushree Dixit anushree@gecmediagroup.com ASSISTANT EDITORS Rehisha PE rehisha@gecmediagroup.com Sehrish Tariq sehrish@gecmediagroup.com GROUP SALES HEAD Richa S richa@gecmediagroup.com Anuradha Basu anuradha@gecmediagroup.com Ines Ben Rejeb ines@gecmediagroup.com COMMUNICATIONS LEAD Jennefer Lorraine Mendoza jennefer@gecmediagroup.com CREATIVE LEAD Ajay Arya SENIOR DESIGNER Madan Singh

Looking ahead to 2024, we are excited to announce a series of events, starting with the Future IT Summit in February and March. Following this, we have the Security Symposium, BTX Roadshow, and the grand event, the World CIO 200 Summit and many more. These gatherings promise to be a melting pot of ideas, knowledge exchange, and a celebration of the dynamic landscape that CIOs navigate daily.

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jitesh Kumar Sejal Shukla

As the curtains fall on this year's publications, let us step into the future hand in hand with technology leaders, ready to explore the uncharted territories of the digital realm.

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Content

The Tech Alchemy Digital Future through Innovation and Inclusivity

15-18

INARA VALIYEVA CHAIRPERSON INNOVATION AND DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF AZERBAIJAN

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URIEL JAROSLAWSKI, CTO Edenred UAE

BANDER ALTHUBAITY, Director of IT Golf Saudi Company

IRFAN UL HAQ, Head of IT LSC Warehousing and Logistics Services Company

BILAL AHMED JAVERI, CIO Lucky Motor Corporation Limited

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DR FAHAD ALMOQHIM, CIO Saudi Accreditation Center

NAWAF MOHAMED ABDULRAHMAN MOHAMED ABDULQADER, Chief Executive Officer Urbansoft Technologies Middle East WLL, Chief Information Officer

MOHAMMAD HADI ROUSTA, Country IT Manager MAJID AL FUTTAIM – RETAIL

SHAKER ALOWAINATI, Chief Technology Officer INDEX Holding

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DECEMBER 2023

CELEBRATING YEARS OF EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION

TOWARDS AN AI DRIVEN WORLD & ECONOMY UAE, FEBRUARY 2024

KSA, FEBRUARY 2024

MUMBAI | BANGALORE, MARCH 2024

SINGAPORE, MARCH 2024

www.futureitsummit.com UNVEILING THE FUTURE AT #FUTUREITSUMMIT

CIO PROFILE

The Evolving Role of the CIO in a Demand-Driven Economy In the dynamic landscape of technology and business, the role of the Chief Information Officer (CIO) has been undergoing a significant transformation.

From the era of capital-heavy operations to the current demand-driven economy, the CIO's responsibilities have expanded to encompass not just technological expertise but also a keen understanding of customer needs and the integration of diverse talent.

WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF IT AND THE ROLE OF THE CIO IN THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS?

The first generations of CIOs depended on large capital deployment and on achieving process efficiency to succeed, but they were slower at meeting customers’ needs. In the last 10 years, we lived a transition towards a demand driven economy through the massive penetration of smartphones and

URIEL JAROSLAWSKI

CTO Edenred UAE

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CIO PROFILE

the commoditization of cloud computing and SaaS. I believe that in the next 10 years, the same trend will accelerate, and we’ll keep incorporating technical layers that abstract complexity, like nocode / low-code tools, to enable more diverse talent to contribute to building digital products. The success of these teams will depend directly on their ability to learn fast from their users and to react seamlessly.

AI is the best technology we know today for learning fast, but it will only be effective if we understand how to connect it with the right goals. Blockchain technology will also accelerate a demand driven behaviour at scale in the financial space and in other industries that today are still Supply dominant.

The future CIO will have the challenge of connecting all these elements, where the focus will be human centricity.

IN YOUR OPINION HAS THERE BEEN AN

INCREASE IN THE AWARENESS OF DIVERSITY AND THE POSITIVE ROLE IT PLAYS IN THE WORKPLACE?

I believe that diversity has always been a fact, it exists in infinite dimensions because we’re all different in many ways. The challenge we face is inclusion in the workplace, looking at some of these dimensions at a time and overcoming our biases. In my opinion, related to the markets I’m familiar with, there has been an increase in awareness of gender balance in IT in the past years, which helped to create better conditions for many female professionals to develop successful careers in this field. As leaders, many of us accept the social responsibility of driving inclusion, but some ignore that having diverse talent in your company is key to driving business impact because it helps increase the learning speed of the team, improving decision-making, refining the understanding of

customers.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

My dream work environment is driven by a purpose that I can feel proud about, where we share a passion for our customers and where everyone has a genuine sense of ownership. This is a meritocratic place where learning and understanding are more important than knowing, where we measure what we need to improve and set clear goals accordingly. Here, we embrace uncertainty with grace and collective achievements overrule politics.

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

I have the space and the empowerment to try to shape things like in my dream work

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CIO PROFILE environment. Edenred has operations in more than 45 countries, but we keep the startup feeling local. In UAE we build a product for people that live in the same cities we live in, but many of them have difficult conditions.

It’s really rewarding to be able to create a positive impact for them and with such a diverse team.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

I’ve seen great technical talent in my career, but the most successful teams I’ve worked with also have a combination of learning agility, knowing what to do when you don’t know what to do, and a sense of agency, the feeling that there’s almost nothing out of reach and that things depend on your actions. Most of the professionals in our field built their careers in hierarchical environments, where they were rewarded for doing what they were told to do. Changing these cultural aspects and aligning expectations around us during the process is the biggest challenge.

HAS YOUR ORGANISATION ADOPTED AGILE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES OR OTHER INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGIES TO RESPOND MORE FLEXIBLY TO CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS? IF SO, HOW HAS THIS IMPACTED YOUR IT PROJECTS?

Our main way of assessing if we’re organizing our work the right way is by measuring how quickly each team is learning and

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driving impact on our objectives while minimising unintended consequences. We apply Objectives and Key Results as our interdisciplinary way of defining success and each team has the autonomy to define its own practices, as long as the mindset is agile. Many teams take elements from Lean, Kanban, Scrum and XP, but we can’t allow any process to become more important than the principles.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

This will always depend on the context, but we have interdisciplinary squads of between 4 to 8 people each.

Most of the squads focus on a product or on a part of a product that can impact business results by improving penetration, monetisation, or efficiency. Some squads are driven by specific quarterly missions, and others on Platform aspects that intend to simplify the improvement of tools, scalability, resilience, security, speed and efficiency for the rest of the team. We don’t have Project Managers or Product owners, we have Product Managers and we also try not to depend on manual testing for quality assurance.

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

I had the chance to work on 5 M&As in Latin America, where I faced my first cultural shocks around both company and country cultures. I also lived in 5 countries speaking different languages

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and every experience helped me overcome personal biases.

I believe I became humble and curious about cultural diversity because of this. The most diverse team I’ve ever worked with is my current team at Edenred, where there are people from more than 10 nationalities and many different life stories. I learned every day about ways of communicating, about gestures, about the relation with authority and about the view on money and time, this is exciting for me and it’s a journey that I recommend facing with genuine curiosity.

SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS HAVE GAINED PROMINENCE. HOW IS TECHNOLOGY BEING LEVERAGED IN YOUR ORGANISATION TO REDUCE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT AND CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.

At Edenred we have a comprehensive global sustainability and environmental program across all Business Units. Talking specifically about technology actions, one example I can give is our migration towards a platform-as-a-service approach in our Cloud infrastructure. Among other advantages, this provides a consistent and easy-to-manage way to use exactly the resources we need at each given time to run our applications and operations.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS.

Scaling the impact.

CIO PROFILE

Innovation Symphony: Orchestrating Ideas in a Diverse Landscape

"The biggest challenge facing the IT services industry today is the widening digital skills gap."

BANDER ALTHUBAITY

Director of IT Golf Saudi Company

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CIO PROFILE WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF IT AND THE ROLE OF THE CIO IN THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS?

Pioneering innovation, harnessing data-driven insights, and providing intellectual guidance to steer the organisation through a rapidly evolving digital and environmental landscape. In the near-future CIO will spend more time working on business strategy, developing revenue-generating products and services, and influencing ideas on the enterprise roadmap than they do now.

IN YOUR OPINION HAS THERE BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE

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AWARENESS OF DIVERSITY AND THE POSITIVE ROLE IT PLAYS IN THE WORKPLACE?

A workplace that fosters diversity brings together a multitude of ideas and perspectives, igniting innovation and creativity. This allows them to interact in a wider range of social groups and feel more confident in themselves as well as in their interactions with others. Diversity is a catalyst for innovation and creativity. Diverse teams boost innovation by bringing in perspectives, insights, and new ideas to decision-making and solving new problems. This value and knowledge expand growth by adding new possibilities and helping break into new markets.

DECEMBER 2023

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

Work environments can be defined as those workplaces where there is trust, cooperation, safety, risktaking support, accountability, and equity with an environment where the members of the team have a strong sense of camaraderie and a good work ethic.

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

Three factors that are the most important for job satisfaction: culture and values, senior leadership, and career

CIO PROFILE opportunities. Employees are more likely to be satisfied and engaged if their work is varied, interesting, and makes good use of their skills. Feeling secure in your position can help you plan for the future; feel good about the effort and time you invest in your work and find maximum fulfilment in your position.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

Lack of strategy, digitising documents, automating processes, controlling the expanding Data volume, securing information access, minimising information silos, connecting with older systems, and eliminating low-quality data. The biggest challenge facing the IT services industry today is the widening digital skills gap. To overcome this challenge, collaboration between educational institutions and industry players, continuous learning, and talent development are crucial. Successful CIOs must balance the goals and objectives of an organisation while also making sure their teams remain supported, motivated, happy, and successful. CIOs are called upon to be decision makers, leaders, and anticipators.

HAS YOUR ORGANISATION ADOPTED AGILE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES OR OTHER INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGIES TO RESPOND MORE FLEXIBLY TO CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS? IF SO, HOW HAS THIS IMPACTED YOUR IT

PROJECTS?

Agile development uses a flexible planning approach that allows developers to adapt to changes in requirements or priorities throughout the development process. Agile teams are flexible and adaptable to changing requirements and prioritise responding to change over sticking to a rigid plan and that allows continuously assess and improve their processes to ensure that they are delivering the best possible product.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

- Spread the company culture - Define everyone's roles and responsibilities - To ensure that everyone feels respected - To stay as organized as you can - Encourage the team members - Communicate as much as you can - To be open to giving and receiving feedback.

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

Effective communication is key when working with people from diverse backgrounds as working with people from different cultures requires an open-minded attitude and often requires flexibility to accommodate cultural differences and work styles.

SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS HAVE GAINED PROMINENCE. HOW IS

TECHNOLOGY BEING LEVERAGED IN YOUR ORGANISATION TO REDUCE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT AND CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.

The rapid pace of technological innovation presents new opportunities to address a wide range of environmental and social challenges, and developing nations are embracing these technologies to improve sustainability and create a more sustainable future. The role of IT in supporting sustainability initiatives has become increasingly prominent, offering companies new opportunities to enhance their sustainability performance.

It involves tracking and assessing various sustainability indicators, such as greenhouse gas emissions, energy consumption, waste management, social impact, employee well-being, and community engagement.

Scaling data centres on demand, especially when networks consist of heterogeneous devices from different vendors with varying configuration commands, poses difficulties. Efficiently managing data centre networks and dynamically adapting to customer needs through a digital twin network platform can contribute to several sustainability-related aspects such as energy efficiency, resource conservation, and e-waste reduction.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS.

Preparing, testing and the transformation.

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CIO PROFILE

The Future of IT Leadership: A Confluence of AI, Diversity, and Agile Transformation The most engaging aspect of the IT leader's role lies in the opportunity to drive innovation and effect meaningful change. At the forefront of technological advancements, this leader implements solutions that enhance business efficiency while positively impacting the lives of customers and employees.

WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF IT AND THE ROLE OF THE CIO IN THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS?

In the coming 5-10 years, IT will be heavily influenced by the integration of AI and machine learning, not just in operations but in decisionmaking processes. The role of the CIO will evolve to focus more on strategic planning, leveraging these technologies for predictive analytics and personalized customer experiences. The increasing importance of cybersecurity will see CIOs playing a pivotal role in risk management and data protection.

Additionally, the rise of quantum computing and

IRFAN UL HAQ

Head of IT LSC Warehousing and Logistics Services Company

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CIO PROFILE

edge computing will demand new strategies for handling vast amounts of data more efficiently.

The CIO’s role will become more integral to business strategy, driving innovation and digital transformation.

thriving in a globally connected, rapidly evolving business landscape.

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

My dream work environment, as a leader at a visionary level, would be an ecosystem that promotes innovation, collaboration, and inclusivity.

A place where creative thinking is encouraged, and team members feel empowered to take initiative and voice their ideas.

A culture that values continuous learning and growth, providing opportunities for professional development and skill enhancement.

As an IT Leader, I'd ensure open channels of communication, promoting transparency and trust. It would be a place where everyone feels valued and part of a shared mission, driving collective success.

Indeed, there has been a significant increase in awareness regarding diversity and its positive impact on the workplace.

Organisations are recognising that diverse teams bring a variety of perspectives, leading to more creative solutions and better decision-making. This awareness is driving comprehensive hiring practices and adopting environments where different backgrounds and viewpoints are valued and leveraged.

Moreover, this shift is strategic; companies with diverse workforces are seeing tangible benefits in terms of innovation, market relevance, and financial performance. It's becoming clear that embracing diversity is key to

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

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

The most engaging aspect of my role is the opportunity to

drive innovation and influence meaningful change.

Being at the head of technological advancements, I get to implement solutions that not only enhance business efficiency but also positively impact the lives of our customers and employees.

The satisfaction comes from seeing a project evolve from an idea to a tangible, impactful reality. Additionally, leading and mentoring a diverse team, and watching them grow and succeed, brings immense pleasure. Each day presents new challenges and learning opportunities, keeping the work dynamic and continually pushing the boundaries of what's possible in our industry.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

The most challenging aspect of my role as IT leader is steering the balance between rapid technological advancements and aligning them with our long-term business strategy.

This challenge is compounded by the need to manage a diverse team and constantly evolving cybersecurity threats.

Keeping pace with emerging

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CIO PROFILE technologies, while ensuring their integration adds value to our business, requires a strategic vision coupled with a practical approach. Additionally, as the technology landscape evolves, so do the skill requirements, necessitating continual learning and adaptation both for myself and my team.

This constant juggling act between innovation, team management, and strategic alignment forms the core of the challenges I face.

HAS YOUR ORGANISATION ADOPTED AGILE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES OR OTHER INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGIES TO RESPOND MORE FLEXIBLY TO CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS? IF SO, HOW HAS THIS IMPACTED YOUR IT PROJECTS?

Yes, our organisation has adopted agile development practices, alongside other innovative methodologies, to enhance flexibility and responsiveness to changing market conditions.

This transition has been transformative for our IT projects. Agile methodologies have enabled us to work in more collaborative, cross-functional teams, encouraging a culture of continuous feedback and rapid iteration.

The approach has significantly reduced our time-to-market for new features and products, allowing us to respond more quickly to customer needs and market demands.

Moreover, it has cultivated a more adaptive work environment,

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where team members are encouraged to think creatively, propose solutions, and adapt to new challenges dynamically.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

Building effective teams is a critical part of my role. My approach is multifaceted, focusing firstly on diversity – not just in terms of background and expertise but also in thought and approach.

I believe diverse teams are more innovative and effective.

Secondly, I emphasise the importance of continuous learning and skill development, providing my team with opportunities for personal and professional growth.

This involves regular training sessions, mentorship programs, and encouraging cross-functional collaboration.

Lastly, promoting a culture of open communication and psychological safety is paramount, ensuring that every team member feels valued, heard, and motivated to contribute their best.

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

Leading a culturally diverse team was an enlightening and rewarding experience. It occurred during the current project involving team members from Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Managing time zones, language barriers, and cultural differences presented unique challenges. To overcome these, I emphasised the importance of clear communication and adopted an

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inclusive environment where everyone felt comfortable sharing their perspectives.

We utilised digital collaboration tools to bridge the geographical divide and scheduled regular virtual team-building activities to strengthen our bonds. This experience taught me the value of diverse viewpoints in driving innovation and problem-solving, and how effective leadership can harness this diversity to achieve remarkable results.

SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS HAVE GAINED PROMINENCE. HOW IS TECHNOLOGY BEING LEVERAGED IN YOUR ORGANISATION TO REDUCE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT AND CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.

Our organisation is in the early stages of integrating sustainability into our core operations. We recognise the importance and are gradually exploring how technology can aid in this transition.

Initiatives like using data analytics for more efficient routing and resource utilization are underway, aiming to reduce our carbon footprint. We're also investigating the potential of IoT for energy management in our facilities.

While there's still much work to be done, these steps mark the beginning of our journey towards a more sustainable, environmentally responsible future, demonstrating our commitment to embracing technology for ecological benefits.

CIO PROFILE

The Tech Alchemy: Digital Future through Innovation and Inclusivity Embarking on a dynamic journey of technological evolution, Azerbaijan is carving its path towards becoming a digital powerhouse. As AI transforms industries worldwide, IDDA is at the forefront, incorporating AI into digital services and supporting innovative companies in the AI sector.

CAN YOU PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE CURRENT STATE OF INNOVATION AND THE BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM IN AZERBAIJAN? WHAT ARE THE KEY STRENGTHS AND CHALLENGES?

Azerbaijan is among the countries with an actively developing business and innovation ecosystem.

We plan to make Azerbaijan the preferred Eurasian hub for technology businesses in the near future and continue building from that position for the long term. Maintaining a continuous growth mindset and trajectory is crucial for us, so naturally we have been heavily focusing on major and material initiatives such as digitalization and building the best conditions for ICT businesses’ development through various incentive schemes.

"A strong tech community is the best way towards a sustainable innovation and digital ecosystem."

INARA VALIYEVA

Chairperson Innovation and Digital Development Agency of Azerbaijan

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CIO PROFILE This includes digitalizing all the processes within the country and streamlining data exchange for the benefit of citizens, government and businesses. It also includes adjusting the legislation through such initiatives as the technopark residence law introduced in 2023.

It offers IT companies a significant set of benefits, including multiple tax waivers for 10 years and no work permits for relocating ICT specialists. Over 60 residents have already benefited from this law and 6 international companies are currently in the process of obtaining technopark residence.

Overall Azerbaijan is a country with big business potential, both nationally and regionally, competitive salaries for IT professionals and a high quality of life in a secure and secular country. Moreover, there is a growing professional community that is highly motivated to build a strong local tech community and continue driving the digitalisation of Azerbaijan, ultimately creating the long-term business and innovation ecosystem of a digital Azerbaijan.

enabling environment for local and foreign ICT companies, invest in human capital and establish as well as support the infrastructure that helps startups develop.

Since then, we have launched several successful projects and programs, thus becoming a trusted partner for the government and local businesses. We are already seeing very encouraging engagement signs from the local community, such as the demand and the number of applications for the various educational programs exceeding the current capacity as well as more and more international companies that recognize Azerbaijan’s potential and are willing to invest in fostering the emerging ICT talent in the region.

We realise that a lot of our work was not widely known, so from 2023 onwards we are also focusing on extending our approach towards “connecting” with the wider international business and innovation community for the benefit of people and businesses in Azerbaijan.

HOW HAS THE ROLE OF YOUR AGENCY EVOLVED OVER THE YEARS IN DRIVING INNOVATION AND DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTRY?

WHAT ARE THE MAJOR INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS THAT YOUR AGENCY IS CURRENTLY INVOLVED IN TO PROMOTE INNOVATION AND DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN AZERBAIJAN?

The Innovation and Digital Development Agency was established in 2021 under the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport of Azerbaijan. We outlined our mission as fostering a culture of innovation and driving digitalization within the country.

Our goals were to create an

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IDDA has several areas that it currently focuses on. One of them is digitalization, where one of our top priorities is leveraging usercentric public services and we are now working on launching the Mygov portal aimed to

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streamline government-to-citizen communications. The portal shall be launched along with a comprehensive app, so people will be able to access all data and services from the government in one place at any time and from any location. We are also working on introducing a more efficient, paperless government through our own platform which is built on the principles of openness and allowing users to leverage their existing IT investments.

Apart from that, IDDA focuses on capacity building and human capital development projects, the aim of which is the creation, reskilling, and upskilling of IT specialists.

One of the key projects is our own Technest scholarship program, established in 2021, which has already granted 3500 scholarships across 26 regions in Azerbaijan and the number of applications to this point has exceeded 12000.

We also partner with renowned international academic programs to provide the best education options to Azerbaijani specialists, including Holberton School - pioneers in IT peer-to-peer education and Israel’s most prestigious technological university Technion, with which we have established the Azerbaijan Cybersecurity Center.

To make the government more data-driven, IDDA has also started the Chief Digital Transformation Officer (CDTO) Program. Its launch took place in November this year gathering 40 government agency employees and began with a training consisting of 2 sessions that were held by the heads of state institutions from Estonia,

CIO PROFILE England and other countries.

Driving innovations in the region is a key area of the Agency’s focus as well. We put our efforts into ecosystem development by supporting the Caucasus Ventures Fund and local business angel clubs. Finally, to attract global ICT talent and companies, a ‘Relocation Program’ was launched last year.

As part of this program, IDDA offers businesses comprehensive support - from relocation advice to work permit procedures.

HOW IS YOUR AGENCY ADDRESSING CYBERSECURITY CONCERNS AND ENSURING THE PROTECTION OF DIGITAL ASSETS AND INFORMATION IN THE COUNTRY'S INNOVATION AND BUSINESS LANDSCAPE?

Cybersecurity is indeed a key component of sustainable digital development and a high priority for Azerbaijan. As the amount of digital data is increasing, so does the number of cyber-attacks. The type of attacks is changing as well since technology is evolving rapidly.

We have a proactive approach to addressing these challenges. In March this year, we established the Azerbaijan Cybersecurity Center.

So far 60 alumni graduated from this program, and it seeks to train more than 1000 cybersecurity specialists. The centre is equipped with classrooms, training rooms, simulation rooms and laboratories with the best equipment, where students can conduct research and develop new cutting-edge cyber security products.

Apart from that, we have encouraged the laws and

legislation for critical infrastructure protection and defined requirements to protect entities from such kinds of attacks.

Awareness campaigns are also to be launched to educate the public and company employees about the new types of attacks and establish basic rules to ensure data protection.

COULD YOU SHARE INSIGHTS INTO THE KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS OR METRICS THAT YOUR AGENCY USES TO MEASURE THE SUCCESS AND IMPACT OF INNOVATION AND DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS IN THE COUNTRY?

There are several things we consider when analysing our success rate. For the Digital Government portal, we aim to have a quick exchange of data between different governmental bodies, so the users can access all their data online and get all services in a minimum number of clicks. It should be easy to use and run smoothly without any crucial problems - this is why we do a lot of testing before we present it to the public. Another thing we want to do is to educate people about how the portals work. So, the awareness and engagement of the public will be the key factors here.

When it comes to education it is important for us to have an impact on both the community and the industry here. We keep track of the Technest graduates, and they show an impressive 91% employment rate, which means that the number of qualified IT professionals in Azerbaijan keeps growing.

"AI is one of the most discussed topics these days and there is no doubt that it will affect and is already having a big impact on industries across the world."

We also track the success cases of the local tech startups: the way they developed their potential, the number of MVPs and the number and size of investments they got. And of course, the trust of big international brands is an indicator that our work is visible and appreciated by the foreign community.

WHAT SPECIFIC PLANS OR INITIATIVES DOES YOUR AGENCY HAVE TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF RENEWABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, GIVEN THEIR GLOBAL SIGNIFICANCE IN ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES?

Azerbaijan's market of renewable energy sources has only started to grow, but we can already see a big progress which is evident from changes in the legislation. From the Agency's side, we highly support local IT startups that focus on this topic, and welcome international companies into Azerbaijan who are willing to share their experience

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CIO PROFILE and implement projects to support the cause.

We have also for two subsequent years supported the ClimateLaunchpad, the green business ideas competition, which has a big focus on renewable energy technologies. Last year one of our Azerbaijani startups Recepta won second place regionally and was acknowledged as one of the top ten projects worldwide.

CAN YOU PROVIDE INSIGHTS INTO THE LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY AND PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE YOUR AGENCY'S MANAGEMENT TEAM, AND HOW THESE PRINCIPLES CONTRIBUTE TO THE AGENCY'S SUCCESS?

To build a sustainable innovation ecosystem it is important to work together on the common goals of digitising and streamlining the processes. It is important to adjust the legislation while creating proper infrastructure and investing in human capital. This only can be done through the joint efforts of the government, businesses and local community. So, building and maintaining strong partnerships and relations is the approach we are taking.

It is also important to keep an open mind and be ready to adjust to the rapidly changing IT industry.

Our agency employees constantly increase their knowledge and skills and visit international events exchanging experience with colleagues.

IN THE BROADER CONTEXT OF AI AND ITS IMPACT ON

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SOCIETY AND INDUSTRIES, WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE MOST PROMISING OPPORTUNITIES AND THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES THAT AI PRESENTS, AND HOW IS YOUR AGENCY ADDRESSING THEM?

AI is one of the most discussed topics these days and there is no doubt that it will affect and is already having a big impact on industries across the world. The opportunities for its implementation are raising productivity and optimising service delivery. The challenge is that people will have to adjust to the new reality and embrace technology, learning how to work with it, to become more effective.

We for one are exploring how to incorporate AI into the redesign of digital services on our Mygov platform. Chatbots and virtual assistants are transforming citizen interactions, delivering instant responses to inquiries, and enhancing the overall user experience with increased accessibility and user-friendliness.

Predictive analytics contribute to more efficient resource allocation, ensuring that government services are delivered where and when they are needed most.

Also, as an enabler, we provide support to new innovative companies who set the path in the AI industry.

HOW DOES YOUR AGENCY PROMOTE INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY IN THE INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM, ENSURING THAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE

DECEMBER 2023

ACCESSIBLE TO ALL SEGMENTS OF THE POPULATION.

Promoting diversity and inclusion in the tech sector is one of the main goals of the Innovation and Digital Development Agency. One such initiative is the Technest scholarship program, which covers up to 100% of tuition for selected candidates of all ages, genders and incomes. Also, to ensure accessibility to innovations in regions, IDDA has supported the opening of Innovation centres in 3 regions this year.

IDDA also supports such communities as Women in Tech, Women in STEM, and AWIS (Azerbaijani Women in Science) and collaborates with Femmes Digitales to empower hundreds of Azerbaijani women, particularly from rural areas, in tech. This year's event attracted thousands of female participants, and a 33-member jury picked 33 finalists and 12 winners, showcasing the rising role of women in Azerbaijan's ICT sector.

WHAT ADVICE OR RECOMMENDATIONS DO YOU HAVE FOR BUSINESSES, ENTREPRENEURS, AND INVESTORS INTERESTED IN PARTICIPATING IN THE INNOVATION AND DIGITAL ECOSYSTEM.

Be persistent, open to new opportunities and flexible to new approaches. Share your experience and learn from the best. A strong tech community is the best way towards a sustainable innovation and digital ecosystem.

CIO PROFILE

CIO PROFILE

Beyond Tech Provider to Experience Orchestrator WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF IT AND THE ROLE OF THE CIO IN THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS?

a. One of the major upcoming trends that we see is the exponential rise in seamless and deep cross platform integration and connectivity – simply

put; everything being connected with everything!

Your mobile device is already talking with your home appliances, your watch, or your car. Your car is talking to its service hub and manufacturer and everything from the food you like to the clothes you want are shaping what is being offered to you as a consumer!

"Being a tech leader, I always look beyond my scope of work to add extra value to make people’s work easier."

BILAL AHMED JAVERI

CIO Lucky Motor Corporation Limited

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DECEMBER 2023

CIO PROFILE b. The boundaries encompassing the role of the CIO are now blurred. The CIO is no longer the conventional technology service provider who works with business requirements and suggests solutions – this role is now more of a user and business enabler who thinks, not in terms of IT infrastructure or business applications, but as an experience provider.

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

Awareness of diversity has become inevitable in this day and age even for those workplaces where it was non-existent. With more and more businesses going global and expanding across cultural and geographic boundaries, diversity has not only become a concept to embrace but also opened up a world of

possibilities and opportunities.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

My dream environment is one that doesn’t take a step back but rather steps in and fosters a culture that is supportive and inclusive rather than one that creates a sentiment of “that’s your job, not mine”. Such a work environment creates stronger bonds between co-workers laterally and across hierarchies. The best feeling for an employee is to feel safe at work knowing that your team has got your back and the leadership is empathetic with you. People in such organisations work as a single unit and share a common purpose.

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

The most engaging and satisfying or rewarding aspect of my role is

when I find myself working with others with a common objective – and then see how people with diverse expertise come together and add that little bit of their magic that makes it all fall into place in harmony. It is always amazing to see how different functions play out their parts and achieve a common goal – being a tech leader, I always look beyond my scope of work to add extra value to make people’s work easier!

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

The most challenging aspect of a CIO role, in my opinion, is to strike the right balance between freedom of innovation and maintaining a secure and structured approach to things.

Many times, innovation seems to be slowed down by governance and structures. But at the same time, ensuring security, compliance and adherence to

DECEMBER 2023

THE TITANS 21

CIO PROFILE standards are what ensure a safe environment that cultivates this innovation and convenience. Some see it as a trade-off but if we create a mind-set where we see it as safeguarding or innovation so that it really achieves our vision, then it creates a win-win situation, hitting that sweet spot.

HAS YOUR ORGANISATION ADOPTED AGILE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES OR OTHER INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGIES TO RESPOND MORE FLEXIBLY TO CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS? IF SO, HOW HAS THIS IMPACTED YOUR IT PROJECTS?

Things have definitely shifted in the more agile direction because gone are the days when one could adhere to silo-like structures and disconnected phases with noniterative/incremental progression.

With stakeholders and users playing a more active role in tech development, IT projects have become more and more collaborative in nature. Workable builds are deployed more frequently and the concept of build and evolve as you go is becoming the norm with the fast-paced business environment of today.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

a. There are two aspects to building teams: i. Hire new talent/members – the hiring process has become more organic with new and convenient ways of reaching out to employers instead of standard application processes; platforms like LinkedIn

22 THE TITANS

and social media groups have opened up vast pools of talented resources that connect more naturally and directly. Assessment and references of candidates have become more convenient with multi-fold networking and availability of resources online as freelancers or 3rd party work assignments. With people preferring the non-binding, flexible, work from anywhere nature of opportunities these platforms offer, more and more employees are moving from their conventional 9-to-5 to this model.

As a result of the lean nature of this arrangement, employers are also moving towards this model when looking for talent. ii. Build and uplift existing teams – with employees valuing a holistic experience more than just financial remuneration, team members appreciate human gestures more when it comes to experience at work. Instead of the run-of-themill perks and benefits, I believe in offering employees experiential perks and development opportunities that include flexible work arrangements, training and learning opportunities and ways to have a wholesome experience at work.

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

I have been part of culturally diverse teams but not led them formally. Working on global projects with IBM back in the day, I have had several opportunities to be part of teams that were made up of people from all over the world; all bringing in their

DECEMBER 2023

unique cultures, their regional perspectives, their expertise and the mix of it all created not just a multi-cultural work environment but also an exchange and fusion of different ways of life, simultaneously adding value to not only the client and the project but to the project team as a whole.

SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS HAVE GAINED PROMINENCE. HOW IS TECHNOLOGY BEING LEVERAGED IN YOUR ORGANISATION TO REDUCE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT AND CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.

In our organisation, technology plays a pivotal role in minimising our environmental impact.

We've implemented energyefficient systems, embraced virtual collaboration tools to reduce travel, and adopted cloud computing for streamlined resource utilization. IoT devices monitor and optimize resource usage, while data analytics identify areas for further improvement.

Emphasis on paperless operations and eco-friendly practices, coupled with ongoing tech upgrades, exemplifies our commitment to sustainability.

Through these measures, we aim to not only reduce our carbon footprint but also foster a culture of environmental responsibility across the organisation.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS.

The AI Revolution.

2024

CIO PROFILE

TRANSFORMATION IN

SECURITY NETWORKING BUSINESS APPLICATIONS IT & COMPUTING TRANSFORMATION IN

TRANSFORMATION IN

TRANSFORMATION IN

02 MAY - UAE 09 MAY - KSA

TOWARDS AN AI DRIVEN WORLD & ECONOMY UAE, FEBRUARY 2024

KSA, FEBRUARY 2024

SINGAPORE, MARCH 2024

MUMBAI | BANGALORE, MARCH 2024

The 10th Edition of Future IT Summit Towards an AI-Driven World and Economy The 10th edition of the Future IT Summit

The summit's primary objective is to

through enlightening panel discussions.

is set to unfold across multiple strategic

explore the far-reaching impact of AI on

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overarching theme of FITS 2024, "Towards

active involvement of over 200 leading

to honour pioneers driving transformation

an AI-Driven World and Economy," aims to

CIOs, showcasing more than 10 case

within the IT landscape and the 'Top 10 IT

explore the profound impact of AI on

studies, hosting two immersive

Companies to Work for 2024 Awards,'

technology and business landscapes.

workshops, and engaging participants

recognizing organizations that prioritize

24 THE TITANS

DECEMBER 2023

www.futureitsummit.com UNVEILING THE FUTURE AT #FUTUREITSUMMIT

CELEBRATING YEARS OF EXCELLENCE AND INNOVATION

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DECEMBER 2023

THE TITANS 25

CIO PROFILE

Digital Dreams, Real Results: A 23-Year Odyssey of IT Leadership

"The most challenging aspect is to create a balance between staying current with technological advancement."

IMRAN HASHIM

Director IT Infrastructure Medgulf Saudi Arabia

26 THE TITANS

DECEMBER 2023

CIO PROFILE WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF IT AND THE ROLE OF THE CIO IN THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS?

In the future, IT will not just play the role of the technical arm of the organisation, rather it will play a more pivotal and constructive role in every industry, such as digitising business processes, using new technologies like AI and ML to minimise human interaction in decision making and eventually grow in the respective field. The role of the CIO will not be technical anymore rather a director to leverages technologies purely for business growth.

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

Yes, there has been a massive increase in awareness and this is due to the widespread use of daily-based gadgets and social media. While I have to admit that a lot of wrong information has also spread out there, overall, the awareness is there and it is increasing day by day. The most important aspect is the fact that the need for this awareness has been felt all around.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

In my opinion, the dream work environment is where the workers are given ample chances to grow to their full potential and

the management plays the role of guide rather than the police.

People should be provided the opportunity to stick to the organisational and personal goals in a manner that suits their routines. They must be provided with the chance to maintain a work-life balance. Finally, the work environment should not convert people to machines but rather let them feel life while machines take charge of many workloads.

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

When I see my job, I don’t take it as a burden rather I take it as an opportunity to explore more of my passion while achieving the organisational needs. Luckily, for the whole of my career, my passion has been my work and that enables me to go the extra mile to achieve excellence.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

The most challenging aspect is to create a balance between staying current with technological advancement. There are a lot of developments happening both horizontally and vertically you must spend lots of time and effort to keep track of what new is happening all around. This creates a situation when you have to maintain what you already have and also prepare for what is coming as a challenge which is a great challenge in itself.

HAS YOUR ORGANISATION ADOPTED AGILE

DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES OR OTHER INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGIES TO RESPOND MORE FLEXIBLY TO CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS? IF SO, HOW HAS THIS IMPACTED YOUR IT PROJECTS?

Well, this has been an area of concern for many companies I have worked with. The company I am working with at the moment is luckily using the agile practice and it has helped us adopt several technical initiatives which have resulted in improving the overall posture of technology as well as business services.

Using a Low-code and No-code platform is one of the examples, and going digital and targeting a substantial amount of revenue through digital channels is another one. As a result, our IT projects have now become clearer and result-oriented as they are now tightly coupled with the business challenges and organisational objectives.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

Building a team is one of the challenges of today’s time of constantly changing technologies.

The key is to board people who are with you even for a shorter stint, they must be clear in their minds and actions about what they want to achieve. Few skills can be learned through mentoring and coaching, but a few are part of the character of the people.

I prefer the people to be in my team who are flexible in their thought process for going around the practices of adopting and

DECEMBER 2023

THE TITANS 27

CIO PROFILE

implementing certain technologies and who can be trusted for their results without too much micromanagement. The other challenge is the retention of the team for at least the duration of certain projects for which organisational development has to step in.

ground where an all-inclusive environment is created where there is liberation of expression with acceptable tolerance from all. Once you can create a tolerant culture, you reap the rewards of combined efforts and positive results.

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

SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS HAVE GAINED PROMINENCE. HOW IS TECHNOLOGY BEING LEVERAGED IN YOUR ORGANISATION TO REDUCE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT AND CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.

For over 23 years, I have led the team with cultural diversity and that is true for my current team as well. The biggest challenge aside from the language barrier is the cultural norms for different geographical regions. The ideal scenario is to create a common

28 THE TITANS

We are promoting reducing

DECEMBER 2023

the carbon footprint, and hence despite having our own data centre, we are increasing awareness of the least use of fossil fuels and also promoting the use of green energy. For this purpose, we are increasing the plants within the organisation, helping society to grow more trees, and also promoting the recycling and reuse of most of the items. Within the company, we have removed over 90% of printing and encourage going digital for internal and external communications.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS.

This was a year that saw the growth of Robotics, AI and machine learning.

CIO PROFILE

Tech Evolution and Inclusion Imperatives: Future of IT WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF IT AND THE ROLE OF THE CIO IN THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS?

The global IT industry is undergoing significant changes at a tremendous speed, and the coming decade will bring many amazing technological advances. Technologies such as AI, ML, and IoT

are leading innovations and developments across all business sectors. These technologies will also advance the development of other technologies, example, Edge Computing, 5G, Datafication, Internet of Behaviours, VR, AR, No-Code Applications, Sustainable Technology, Digital Trust, Blockchain and Cybersecurity. CIOs should be up-to-date on the development and usage

"We use an efficient cloud data center and optimized digital assets."

DR FAHAD ALMOQHIM

CIO Saudi Accreditation Center

DECEMBER 2023

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CIO PROFILE of these technologies and should be influential strategic visionary, data-driven, selective, creative, and catalyst of change to steer the organisation through a rapidly evolving digital world.

innovation, business growth, and success.

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

A positive work environment is a key to success in your career and having a quality life! Therefore, I am always keen to join an organisation run by ambitious leadership and diverse talents, with high qualifications and ethics, and constantly strive to empower, develop and appreciate them. An organisation that embraces clarity, fairness and transparency, and it values open communication, collaboration, flexibility and worklife balance, growth opportunities, employee recognition, creativity, and supporting employee performance.

Workplace diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are increasingly becoming part of organisations' culture globally. Thanks to technology, remote work has enabled organisations to attract a broader pool of diverse talents.

Locally, Saudi Vision 2030 has succeeded in achieving equal opportunities and women in the workplace, as well as, it is fostering an open and welcoming economic environment that attracts international companies and talents; as diversity in the workplace is a key driver of

30 THE TITANS

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

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

Helping all employees and

DECEMBER 2023

clients to achieve their goals and perform their work easily and effectively, overcoming challenges, transforming some of our current activities to better achieve our objectives, working with ambitious teams, and building the next generation of creative and effective digital leaders.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

Leading several teams and large projects at the same time, dealing with many individuals who have different needs and challenges, keeping up with the latest technologies, and managing changes effectively; But of course, the fun and success lie in overcoming these challenges!

HAS YOUR ORGANISATION ADOPTED AGILE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES OR OTHER INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGIES TO RESPOND MORE FLEXIBLY TO

CIO PROFILE

CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS? IF SO, HOW HAS THIS IMPACTED YOUR IT PROJECTS?

We use agile development methodology in all our IT projects, so we have managed to respond quickly and effectively to changing customer needs or market conditions. For example, during the COVID-19 crisis, we were able to implement some technical and operational changes in response to the pandemic conditions and ensure business continuity.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

The IT industry is dynamic and ever-changing, and to stay on top, organisations must have highperforming teams to withstand the winds of change and seize opportunities. I believe that building a successful team begins with choosing the right members who have the required technical competencies, the necessary soft skills, and an intense desire to

take on challenges and continuous learning. After that, it is important to have one common vision for the team and clarify the goals and expectations of its members.

Next, I ensure that employees are empowered by promoting confidence, delegation, trying and learning, coaching, recognition, open communication, and growth opportunities.

success.

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

Through several digital initiatives, such as digitizing documents, processes and operations, and applying digital trust technologies to reduce paper and ink usage, and contribute to a paperless work environment. Also, we use an efficient cloud data center and optimized digital assets. Moreover, we adopt remote work, whether between team members or in dealing with customers, to reduce the need of using transportation.

Being a leader of a diverse team is both an exciting and challenging experience! I have been blessed to work in multiple projects involving diverse team members whether it was during my postgraduate studies in the UK or in my career.

Currently, I lead teams with members of diverse genders, cultures, and backgrounds. This diversity enabled us to benefit from the collective mind power in motivating creativity, enriching discussion, and maximizing our

SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS HAVE GAINED PROMINENCE. HOW IS TECHNOLOGY BEING LEVERAGED IN YOUR ORGANISATION TO REDUCE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT AND CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS.

Disrupting, challenging, interesting!

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CIO PROFILE

Trends Reshaping IT Leadership, Diversity, and Sustainability As the CEO of a Digital Transformation Services Provider, steering the strategic vision through innovation and market trends is both engaging and satisfying. Nurturing a dynamic work culture, collaborating with diverse experts, and solving complex challenges contribute to the company's trajectory.

WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF IT AND THE ROLE OF THE CIO IN THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS?

In the coming five years, I foresee pivotal trends shaping the IT landscape such as; extended/ virtual reality, cybersecurity, Internet of Things (IoT) automation, quantum computing, and an acceleration of digital transformation.

The role of Chief Information Officer (CIO), will evolve to encompass strategic leadership, steering

NAWAF MOHAMED ABDULRAHMAN MOHAMED ABDULQADER

Chief Executive Officer Urbansoft Technologies Middle East WLL, Chief Information Officer

32 THE TITANS

DECEMBER 2023

CIO PROFILE digital transformation through AI, IoT, and cloud computing, prioritising cybersecurity and risk management to fortify defences, championing data governance and analytics for actionable insights, evaluating and adopting emerging technologies, fostering collaboration across business units, as well as leading with agility and adaptability. The CIO's multifaceted responsibilities will be instrumental in navigating the dynamic technological terrain and driving organizational success.

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

Yes, there has been a noticeable increase in awareness regarding diversity and its positive impact in the workplace. Organizations are increasingly recognising that diverse teams foster innovation, creativity, and a broader range of perspectives. Beyond being a moral imperative, embracing diversity is now seen as a strategic advantage in a globalized world. This heightened awareness is reflected in initiatives to promote inclusivity, address biases, and create equitable work environments, contributing to improved employee morale, productivity, and overall business success. Embracing diversity is not just a trend; it's a fundamental aspect of progressive and forward-thinking workplaces.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK

ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

The futuristic work environment is going to foster innovation and well-being. In this dynamic culture, flexible schedules and remote collaboration seamlessly integrate with cutting-edge technologies. The emphasis is on continuous learning, and with AIdriven personalized development plans, diversity and inclusion are paramount to drive creativity.

Sustainability is embedded in operations to promote ecofriendly practices. Decisionmaking is decentralised to empower teams, and a supportive mental health framework ensures employees thrive. The workplace welcomes adaptability and change. It is a blend of high-tech efficiency, human-centric values, and sustainable practices, a vision where work is not just a place but an inspiring journey towards collective success.

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

As the CEO of a growing Digital Transformation Services Provider, the most engaging aspect is steering the strategic vision.

Leading the team through innovation and market trends, I find satisfaction in driving the company's success. Nurturing a dynamic work culture, where talents flourish, and ideas thrive, is rewarding. Collaborating with diverse experts, I enjoy solving complex challenges and shaping the company's trajectory. The continuous evolution in technology keeps the role dynamic, ensuring

that each day brings new opportunities for growth and impact. Ultimately, it's the journey of transforming ideas into tangible solutions and contributing to the IT landscape's advancement that fuels my passion.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

The most challenging aspect of my role is navigating rapid change. Balancing innovation with operational stability requires constant adaptation to market dynamics and emerging technologies. Strategic decisionmaking in the face of uncertainty demands foresight and agility.

Managing diverse talents and aligning them with the company's vision poses continual challenges.

Additionally, ensuring scalability without compromising quality presents a persistent balancing act. Yet, these challenges are the crucible for growth, pushing me to lead with resilience, make informed decisions, and foster an adaptive culture that thrives in the dynamic IT landscape.

HAS YOUR ORGANISATION ADOPTED AGILE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES OR OTHER INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGIES TO RESPOND MORE FLEXIBLY TO CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS? IF SO, HOW HAS THIS IMPACTED YOUR IT PROJECTS?

Urbansoft Technologies' is committed to constant transformation and the adoption of agile methodologies emphasising

DECEMBER 2023

THE TITANS 33

CIO PROFILE iterative, collaborative, and adaptive approaches to software development, fostering flexibility and responsiveness to project delivery has significantly enhanced our responsiveness to evolving market conditions. However, the fact that agile methodology is based on the principle of flexibility, which means that requirements can change frequently, introduces challenges to plan and budget projects, therefore in addition to agile development, we have also explored other innovative methodologies such as Lean, DevOps, and Design Thinking.

These methodologies have helped us to streamline our processes, reduce waste, and improve the quality of our deliverables.

Overall, adopting agile development practices and other innovative methodologies has had a positive impact on our IT projects. By being more flexible and collaborative, we are able to deliver better outcomes for our clients and stay ahead of the competition.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

In building effective IT teams, emphasise a balanced blend of technical expertise and collaboration. Foster a culture that values continuous learning, innovation, and open communication. Encourage cross-functional skills, promoting a diverse workforce. Implement agile methodologies to enhance flexibility and responsiveness.

Prioritise employee well-being, provide growth opportunities, and recognize achievements.

34 THE TITANS

Embrace a shared vision, aligning team goals with the company's strategic objectives. Establish clear communication channels and foster a collaborative environment where each team member contributes to the collective success, creating a dynamic and high-performing IT team.

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

Leading a culturally diverse team requires cultural intelligence, open communication, and respect for differences. Embrace inclusivity by understanding and appreciating various cultural perspectives. Foster a collaborative environment where each team member feels valued.

Implement inclusive practices in decision-making and recognize the strengths diverse backgrounds bring. Regularly assess and address cultural dynamics to ensure a harmonious and productive work atmosphere. By promoting cultural understanding and leveraging diverse talents, you can lead a dynamic, innovative, and high-performing team that thrives on the richness of its cultural diversity.

SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS HAVE GAINED PROMINENCE. HOW IS TECHNOLOGY BEING LEVERAGED IN YOUR ORGANISATION TO REDUCE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT AND CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.

Technology plays a pivotal role

DECEMBER 2023

in reducing our environmental footprint and advancing sustainability goals. At Urbansoft we leverage technology to achieve this in several ways.

Firstly, we have adopted a cloudfirst strategy that enables us to reduce our energy consumption and carbon footprint. By leveraging cloud infrastructure, we can reduce the need for onpremises data centres, which consume a significant amount of energy. This has helped us to reduce our carbon emissions and minimize our impact on the environment.

Secondly, we have implemented a paperless environment across our organization. By digitising our workflows and processes, we have been able to significantly reduce our paper usage and waste. This has helped us to reduce our environmental impact and improve our operational efficiency.

Finally, we have embraced a hybrid work model that allows our employees to work from home or remotely. This has helped us to reduce our carbon footprint by minimizing the need for commuting and travel.

It has also enabled us to create a more flexible and dynamic work environment that fosters collaboration and innovation.

By integrating technology with sustainable practices, we aim to meet environmental benchmarks and align our operations with a commitment to a greener future.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS.

Innovative, Transformative, and Dynamic.

CIO PROFILE

Team Building Tapestry: Weaving Diversity, Motivation, and Innovation WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF IT AND THE ROLE OF THE CIO IN THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS?

Digital transformation is changing the way we work. Where AI, big data, and machine learning play a big role.

• With the help of new technologies, the Cloud services will be less costly and lead to centralised servers and systems.

• ERP systems will be the key to success, especially for big companies. Decentralised systems can’t serve organizations in the future.

• IT security and security awareness is a nonnegotiable for all employees. IT security is a shared responsibility and should be voiced starting from the CEO of the company all the way down to managers and employees.

Therefore, CIOs will play a crucial role. They should make sure the IT strategy is aligned with the business vision and mission. CIOs should leverage the new technologies for company growth and bridge the gap between technology and business; but don’t jump to every fancy technology that will lead to overspending.

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

Yes, especially in GCC countries. Nowadays you will see more women in power, and people with different abilities (with disability). The market has proven a

"CIOs should leverage the new technologies for company growth and bridge the gap between technology and business."

MOHAMMAD HADI ROUSTA

Country IT Manager MAJID AL FUTTAIM – RETAIL

DECEMBER 2023

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CIO PROFILE company rich in diversity of gender, nationality, and age is more flexible and innovative.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

I am lucky to say that I am happy in my current role and company.

Culture and environment are the key to success. I like a positive environment that enables personal growth, has a reasonable work-life balance, teamwork is valued, and where every single employee has a chance to talk and be bold.

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

Not being only an IT specialist.

Meet the company CEO, COO, and country manager regularly and discuss company plans and strategies. Influencing the company's decisions and being accountable and responsible for them. Steering the technologies to be aligned with the company's vision and mission. Wide range of responsibilities. Daily challenges and tangible outcomes make my work environment pleasant.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

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From a leader’s perspective; I would say dealing with systems is easier than dealing with human resources. It is easy to find any issue or problem in a system but not easy to find it with a human.

Keeping the team motivated and up to date is another side of the same coin.

36 THE TITANS

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From an IT perspective; balancing between budget and new technologies as well as IT security is challenging.

Changing end-of-life devices will cost you a lot but you can’t close your eyes to vulnerabilities.

Every challenge brings you a new experience and we need to leverage them for growth.

HAS YOUR ORGANISATION ADOPTED AGILE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES OR OTHER INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGIES TO RESPOND MORE FLEXIBLY TO CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS? IF SO, HOW HAS THIS IMPACTED YOUR IT PROJECTS?

Innovation is in our DNA. Clearly, plenty of new ideas involve technology. We need to check all aspects and the most important ones are ROI, IT Security, and resources.

Once your company is the market leader, you will launch projects with uncertainty and unfortunately, sometimes projects will be retired in a short time due to internal or external reasons which is a loss for the company.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

Let’s talk about it in a wider range. Once a person applies for a job, means he is already selfmotivated. The performance of new joiners can prove the ideology.

Our responsibility is to keep this motivation up. I believe we need to take care of our team cautiously then they will take care of the

DECEMBER 2023

business. 80% of the manager's power comes from his team.

So, I tried to create a diverse team with diverse mindsets in a positive environment. Keep them up to date with training and frequent meetings. Provide them with a clear roadmap to IT strategy and company plans.

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

My team before COVID was a mixed culture of Omani, Indian, Georgian, Egyptian, Filipino, Lebanese, Moroccan, and Tunisian.

By removing barriers and adapting to all cultures team succeeded in bringing a wealth of innovation and ideas. It was truly a gifted team.

SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS HAVE GAINED PROMINENCE. HOW IS TECHNOLOGY BEING LEVERAGED IN YOUR ORGANISATION TO REDUCE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT AND CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.

Our company used to have a huge archive room to store printed paper. In IT we succeed in digitalizing those reports.

Confidently, I can say more than 85% of paper print has stopped and we are working to reach to go green strategy which means 100%.

This digital transformation helps in data availability, integrity, cost saving, and agile approach as well.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS.

Digital Transformation, IT Security, AI.

CIO PROFILE

Team Fusion: Building Multiverse Talent for Tomorrow's Challenges In the coming years, the IT landscape is set to undergo a transformative journey. At the helm of this technological revolution stand Chief Information Officers (CIOs), charged with orchestrating these changes and providing strategic leadership to ensure organisations not only survive but thrive in the digital realm.

WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF IT AND THE ROLE OF THE CIO IN THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS?

In the next 5-10 years, key IT trends will include digital transformation, increased AI and automation integration, the rise of edge computing, heightened cybersecurity challenges, growth in hybrid and multi-cloud environments, widespread adoption of 5G, a focus on data privacy and governance, and

ABBAS BAZZI

IT Director Creative Technology Solutions

DECEMBER 2023

THE TITANS 37

CIO PROFILE

an emphasis on sustainability.

CIOs will play a crucial role in orchestrating these changes, requiring strategic leadership to navigate evolving technologies and ensure organizations thrive in the digital landscape.

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

Certainly. There's a discernible rise in awareness about the positive impact of diversity in the workplace. Organizations increasingly acknowledge the

38 THE TITANS

value of diverse perspectives, fostering inclusive environments for innovation. Recognising diversity as both a moral imperative and strategic advantage, businesses prioritise equal opportunities, leveraging varied skills to navigate the complexities of the modern business landscape.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

My ideal work environment is one that promotes innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning. I envision a culture that

DECEMBER 2023

values open communication, embraces diversity, and rewards achievements. Striking a balance between work and personal life is essential. I seek a forwardthinking atmosphere that adapts to technological advancements and prioritizes employee wellbeing. This holistic approach fosters a motivated and empowered workforce dedicated to achieving shared objectives.

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

The most engaging aspect of my role as IT Director in an edtech company is witnessing

CIO PROFILE the transformative impact of technology on education.

Facilitating schools and universities in adopting innovative solutions for teaching and learning brings immense satisfaction.

Seeing students and educators embrace technology, enhancing the educational experience, and preparing future generations for a digital world is truly fulfilling.

WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

The most challenging aspect of my role as IT Director in an edtech company is navigating the dynamic landscape of educational technology. Balancing the rapid evolution of tech solutions with the unique needs of diverse educational institutions poses ongoing challenges. Ensuring seamless integration, addressing cybersecurity concerns, and aligning with varied pedagogical approaches require constant adaptation. Yet, overcoming these challenges is essential to provide effective, future-ready solutions for schools and universities.

HAS YOUR ORGANISATION ADOPTED AGILE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES OR OTHER INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGIES TO RESPOND MORE FLEXIBLY TO CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS? IF SO, HOW HAS THIS IMPACTED YOUR IT PROJECTS?

Yes, Creative Technology Solutions has embraced agile development practices. This shift has significantly enhanced

our flexibility in responding to changing market conditions.

Agile methodologies enable iterative and collaborative project management, fostering quicker adaptation to evolving requirements. This approach has improved project efficiency, accelerated time-to-market, and enhanced overall responsiveness to dynamic industry demands, ensuring our IT projects align more closely with the evolving needs of our clients and the market.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

I plan to build diverse, multidisciplinary teams capable of tackling emerging technologies.

Emphasizing a blend of expertise in AI, cybersecurity, and the latest IT trends, I seek individuals with a passion for continuous learning.

Fostering a collaborative culture that encourages knowledge sharing and cross-functional collaboration will be key. This approach ensures our teams are not only proficient in current technologies but also agile and well-prepared to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of emerging technologies in the market.

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

Leading a culturally diverse team, I prioritised inclusivity, valuing each member's unique perspective. By fostering open communication and acknowledging cultural differences, we created a collaborative environment.

Leading by example, I demonstrated the importance of cultural sensitivity and encouraged a shared commitment to our goals. This approach not only enhanced team cohesion but also enriched our problem-solving capabilities, showcasing the power of diversity in achieving collective success.

SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS HAVE GAINED PROMINENCE. HOW IS TECHNOLOGY BEING LEVERAGED IN YOUR ORGANISATION TO REDUCE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT AND CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.

At Creative Technology Solutions, our commitment to sustainability is integrated into every facet. With all services and data centers migrated to the cloud, we've achieved greater energy efficiency and reduced our environmental footprint.

Embracing cloud solutions not only optimizes resource usage but also aligns with our ecofriendly initiatives. Additionally, our digital transformation efforts eliminate paper consumption, emphasizing a responsible, techdriven approach. Through these measures, we actively contribute to sustainability goals, embodying the ethos of Creative Technology Solutions in fostering a greener, digitally empowered future.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS.

Innovative, Adaptable, Inclusive.

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THE TITANS 39

CIO PROFILE

The Future of IT: A Visionary Approach to Data, Diversity, and Innovation In the realm of Information Technology, the trajectory ahead is defined by the integration of Data Centric Technologies and Leadership, marking a paradigm shift in the industry.

WHAT TRENDS DO YOU SEE SHAPING THE FUTURE OF IT AND THE ROLE OF THE CIO IN THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS? One of the important trends that would shape the future of IT is Data Centric Technologies and Leadership. It is poised to be a top IT primarily value proposition.

CIOs will be at the forefront of data management and analytics. They will

SHAKER ALOWAINATI

Chief Technology Officer INDEX Holding

40 THE TITANS

DECEMBER 2023

CIO PROFILE evolve into data stewards, ensuring that the organization harnesses the full potential of its data assets for informed decision-making, competitive advantage, and personalized customer experiences. The CTO/ CIO role of facilitating the Data Centric mechanisms will evolve IT resourcing from its historical focus on application development and operations to data management that enables the power and advantages of advanced analytics and emerging AI solutions. By then you will allow more AIs and other new emerging technologies such as IoT and blockchain, in the workspace.

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

The awareness of diversity has been increased across organizations nowadays and many of the companies understand the importance of diversity on their workspace richness. It can allow adoption very fast and boost creativity and innovation. The great part about that is, creativity comes naturally when you have diversity. In my experience, the most valuable key ideas usually come from thinking outside the box. When people come from different backgrounds, have a variety of life experiences, and see the world in unique ways, multiple perspectives are brought to the table. People from a variety of backgrounds offer a handful of solutions, rather than one

uninspired solution which is based on the same cultural voice. Diverse teams naturally eliminate the standard approach to problem solving as that gives better decision making. Overall, diversity creates greater opportunities for professional growth.

PLEASE DESCRIBE YOUR DREAM WORK ENVIRONMENT AND WORK CULTURE?

Building company culture has become a central point for businesses nowadays. The best culture that I push for is to allow a continuous improvement culture. Continuing with the enhancement and never settle mindset, can allow IT to drive business. Moreover, leading IT innovation and driving digital transformation initiatives continuously is becoming my dream work environment culture.

That can come when starting to identify the business gaps and challenges to allow more strategic design thinking to resolve these

challenges which offer the business to be more growing and sustainable.

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

The most engaging and satisfying aspect of my current job role is the following: 1. Trust is a key factor for me to deliver most of my efforts to exceed the expectations of our management, and everyone we interact with.

2. Give us the freedom to use our skills and expertise in the workspace to address the challenges we are facing.

3. A collaborative work environment is essential to create a positive impact.

4. Feeling valued for my contributions at work is a significant aspect of job satisfaction.

5. The opportunity to develop and enhance my skills and advance my career is an important factor in my job satisfaction as well.

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THE TITANS 41

CIO PROFILE WHAT IS THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT OF YOUR JOB ROLE?

The most challenging aspect of my current job is relocating to another country. This is the first challenge I accepted to allow the best value for my organization.

The other challenge is to change the culture to the way I see it will allow my IT Strategy plan to fly across all our types of business.

You know, addressing cultural changes is not that easy, however, we believe in the capabilities we have, and we will lead the changes and will allow more adoptions in our workspace to create harmony between the business and IT as this will definitely be considered a top priority at the current stage.

HAS YOUR ORGANISATION ADOPTED AGILE DEVELOPMENT PRACTICES OR OTHER INNOVATIVE METHODOLOGIES TO RESPOND MORE FLEXIBLY TO CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS? IF SO, HOW HAS THIS IMPACTED YOUR IT PROJECTS?

Our organization has adopted agile development practice, however, due to a lack of certain important elements of the project management methodologies such as planning, monitoring, and documenting and these impacted the quality of the delivery of the projects. We are currently in the process of adopting a new IT development practice that allows more collaboration between the team, focusing more on business analysis and requirements, spending more time in planning,

42 THE TITANS

and testing the outcomes in a more strategic manner. Those adoptions will be safer in the long term as they should deal with the current challenges and resolve them permanently.

to treat every conversation as an opportunity to understand other’s perspective. Also, I ensure equity in retention and promotion as that will always empower the team to be prepared for the next challenge.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BUILD YOUR TEAMS?

SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS HAVE GAINED PROMINENCE. HOW IS TECHNOLOGY BEING LEVERAGED IN YOUR ORGANISATION TO REDUCE ITS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT AND CONTRIBUTE TO SUSTAINABILITY GOALS.

Building a stable diversified team is one of my interests. Hence, Part of our IT Strategy is to enhance the IT Organizational Structure.

This means that we give priority to building the team in every stage of our action plan. That is absolutely vital to capitalize on the IT team and upskill them to be able to adapt to the fast changes in the IT Era. By having a qualified and experienced well-structured IT Team, we can grow strategically, and we will be capable of delivering all the business requirements in a timely manner.

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

Managing a diversified cultural team, through the ability to understand, appreciate, and interact with the team from a cultural or belief perspective.

Dealing with such caliber team members is required to demonstrate cultural competence, show respect for cultural differences and recognize how those differences drive engagement, productivity, and innovation on one team. I still remember when I dealt in the past with such a combination of the team, I gave attention to active listening from the team members

DECEMBER 2023

Sustainability is one of the important pillars we keep in our IT Strategy. In the past, we allowed, in one of the main projects I delivered previously, which is the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance - BIBF headquarters construction project, we implemented a solar system to support clean energy, and we used it to source our power to save in our electricity consumption all the year. Moreover, we have made the BIBF building become smart building by having all environmental control sensors in the main Data Center. Also, we have allowed smart lighting, Smart AC, and Smart water consumption.

Currently, we embed all our plans towards achieving Sustainability and environmental protection by investing in clean energy and allowing our headquarters to be a smarter building than ever.

DEFINE 2023 IN 3 WORDS.

Year of change.

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