06. Cover Story
Pioneering Excellence in IT and Cyber Security
Ashleigh Watson
n t e n t s
16. Ali Safri
Revamping the Paradigm of Digital Transforma on & Achieving Exemplary Business Acumen
22. Mohammed Ghassan Zekrallah
The Rebel's Quest for Financial Independence
30. Shiras Ahamed
A Leadership Journey Defined by Innova on
38. Sumit Barat CxO
Articles Articles
CTOs and the Quest for AGI! Ar ficial General Intelligence
What Keeps CTOs Awake at Night! The Ethical Dilemmas of Technology 26. 34.
How Does Innova on
Turn Technology into Magic in Our Lives?
Intheworldofinnovation,ArthurC.Clarke'sfamous wordsechoafundamentaltruth:"Anysufficiently advancedtechnologyisindistinguishablefrommagic." Aswewitnessremarkabletechnologicaladvancements, thesewordspromptustoreflectontheenchantmentthat groundbreakingdevelopmentsbringtoourdailylives.
Considerthesmartphonesinourpockets,the interconnectedsmartdevicesinourhomes,andthevast expanseoftheinternet.Nottoolongago,these conveniencesseemedlikefeatsofmagic.Theseamless connectionbetweenpeopleacrosstheglobe,instantaccess toinformation,andtheabilitytosummonaridewitha simpletapwereoncethoughttobenothingshortof fantastical.
However,asamazingasthesetechnologicalwondersmay be,theyalsochallengeexistingnorms.AsBuckminster Fullerwiselynoted,"Youneverchangethingsbyfighting theexistingreality."Inaworldmarkedbyrapidchange, clingingtothefamiliarcanimpedeprogress.Totruly transformourreality,wemustembraceinnovationand developnewmodelsthatrendertheoldonesobsolete. LeadingthischargeareChiefTechnologyOfficers(CTOs), positionedattheforefrontofthesetransformative philosophies.
Thetechindustrythrivesoninnovation,consideringitthe lifebloodthatpropelsitforward.Nooneisbetterequipped tospearheadthisinnovationthanacompany'sChief TechnologyOfficer TheroleoftheCTOhasgained paramountimportance,especiallyinthewakeofrapid technologicaladvancements,particularlyinthepostCOVID-19era.
Inlinewiththismindset,ourlatesteditionofTheCIO World,titled"TheMostInfluentialCTOstoFollowin theMiddleEast,"spotlightsleadersembodyingthis innovativespirit.Byhonoringtheseforward-thinkers,our aimistoacknowledgenotonlytheirimpactbutalsotheir unrelentingcommitmenttosteeringusintoanerawhere technologyseamlesslyintertwineswitheveryfacetofour lives.
Haveagreatreadahead! CIO
Managing Editor
CTO in any organization is what you make it. It is foot to floor and maximum acceleration to ensure the company is aligned with its strategic goals and the technology is ensuring the company is offering at maximum efficiency.
AVisionary Leader with Over Three Decades of Impactful Experience!
Inatimecharacterizedbyconstanttechnologicalprogress andshiftingcybersecurityobstacles,thekeydriversof advancementareoftenexceptionalindividuals.These trailblazers,withtheirvariedexperiencesandunwavering commitmenttoinnovation,actasthemastermindsbehind ourdigitaldestiny.Withintherapidlychangingrealmsof technologyandcybersecurity,theyholdacrucialposition inreshapingtheoveralllandscape.
OnesuchindividualisAshleighWatson,aseasonedITand cybersecurityprofessionalwithover30yearsofexperience. Hisjourneyismarkedbyinnovation,acommitmentto superiorIToperationsandsecurity,andatrackrecordof applyingstronggovernancecontrolstoensurehigh-quality offerings.WithextensiveexperienceinC-levelpositions suchasCTO,CISO,andCIO,hisexpertiseinITandCyber Securityhasmadehimasought-afterauthorityinthefield.
Ashleigh’scareerinITandCyberSecuritybeganmorethan threedecadesago,andhispassionforthefieldcontinuesto burnbrightly.Overtheyears,hehasheldvariouspositions, includingservingatthehighestexecutivelevels.His journeyhasbeencharacterizedbyahands-onapproach, allowinghimtomaintainadeepconnectionwithhissubject matter
Hisreputationintheindustryledtoapivotalopportunity whenhewasapproachedbyLugmety.Recognizingthe needforanexperiencedCTO,Ashleighacceptedthe positionwithouthesitation.
Forhim,theroleofaCTOiswhatyoumakeit—a relentlesspursuitofalignmentwithstrategicgoalsandan unwaveringcommitmenttoensuringmaximumefficiency throughtechnology.
TheFoodandBeverage(F&B)sectorisvastandrapidly evolving,particularlyinamarketlikeSaudiArabia,where growthhasbeennothingshortofastronomical.Ashleigh recognizestheimmensepotentialwithinthissectorandis poisedtomakeasignificantimpact.Whatmakesthis journeyevenmoreexcitingistheintegrationofArtificial Intelligence(AI),acutting-edgetechnologythathasthe potentialtorevolutionizeandoptimizetheF&Bindustry.
AsaguestspeakeratnumerouscybersecurityandIT events,hecontinuestoinspireandeducatethenext
generationofprofessionals,ensuringthathisimpactwill endurelongintothefuture.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
RevolutionizingFoodDelivery
SinceitslaunchinJeddahin2016,Lugmetyhas revolutionizedthefooddeliveryindustrybyofferingahighendservicethatbringsrestaurant-qualitymealsdirectlyto customers’doors.Whiletraditionaldeliveryserviceswere limitedtostandardrestaurantsandhousedrivers,Lugmety brokethemoldbypartneringwithhigh-endestablishments andensuringthatthefoodarrivedinthesamepristine conditionasifitwereenjoyedintherestaurantitself.
ByexpandingitsservicestoRiyadhandMakkahin2018, Lugmetyquicklyestablisheditselfasaleaderinthemarket. Inadditiontodelivery,thecompanyintroducedpickupand reservationoptionsforbothindividualcustomersand corporateclients,becomingacomprehensivefoodand beveragesolutionprovider
TheoutbreakofCOVID-19ledtoasurgeinthefood deliverymarket,andLugmetywaswell-preparedtomeet theincreaseddemand.Asthefirstdeliveryapptoobtain permitsallowingitsdriverstofreelynavigatethestreets, Lugmetyexperiencedasignificantboostinallaspectsofits operations.Thetrustitearnedfromclientsandrestaurants alikeevenattractedtheattentionofeventmanagement.
In2020,Lugmetymadeitsmarkontheeventindustryby managingtheprestigiousSaudiCupinRiyadh.Thiswas followedbysuccessfulcollaborationswithmajorevents suchastheannualRedSeaInternationalFilmFestivaland IslamicArtsBiennaleinJeddah,whereLugmetyintroduced itsinnovativeLugmetyOrderingDevices,providinga seamlesscashlesspurchasingexperience.
Furthermore,ithassetitssightsonambitiousgoalsfor 2024.Thecompanyplanstofocusontechnological upgradesandserviceenhancementstoreachanevenwider audience,expandingitsreachacrosstheKingdomand solidifyingitspositionasaleaderinthefooddelivery industry
TriumphsintheWorldofCybersecurityCompliance
Ashleigh’sjourneyincludedworkingonthelargestActive Directorystructuregloballyandensuringfullcompliance withtheSAMACyberSecurityFramework.
The F&B sector is a huge sector, especially in Saudi Arabia, where the growth has been astronomical. In addition, this sector is utilizing Artificial Intelligence, which is another area to optimize the sector.
From working on the largest Active Directory structure in the world to ensuring full compliance with the SAMA CyberSecurity Framework, all were very challenging, but for me, it was a crusade, and with my determination and experience, all of these challenges were overcome. For me, the biggest challenge was people who had no idea what they were doing but thought they knew what they were doing!
Technology is never a challenge. It’s the people!
Thesetaskspresentedsignificantchallenges,buthe approachedthemwithresolutedeterminationanddrew uponhisextensiveexperiencetoovercomeeachobstacle. Forhim,itwasmorethanjustaseriesofchallenges;itwas apersonalcrusadethattheywereabletoconquer successfully.Hesays, “For me, the biggest challenge was people who had no idea what they were doing but thought they knew what they were doing! Technology is never a challenge. It’s the people!”
LeveragingExperienceandTechnology
Whenaskedabouttheirapproachtoinnovationandthe incorporationofnewtechnologiestoenhanceIToperations andsecurity,Ashleighemphasizestheimportanceof experienceandleveragingtechnologyforthebenefitofthe business.
Hebelievesthattechnologyshouldserveasatoolrather thandictateoperations.Byactivelyengagingwith technologyandsecuritymeasures,Ashleighgainsa comprehensiveunderstandingoftheseareasandisableto enhanceservicesthroughconfigurationimprovements.
Herecognizesthatembracingunfamiliartechnologycanbe overwhelming.However,theyhavediscoveredthatby effectivelycommunicatingtheadvantagesinsimpleterms toseniormanagement,theycanobtaintheirsupport.
InnovativeGovernanceMeasures
Inthediscussionaboutthestrategiesandmeasures implementedtoenforcestronggovernancecontrolsand achieveahigh-qualityoffering,itwasmentionedthatthe utilizationofISOframeworks,CIS,COBIT,andFinTech frameworkshasbeeninstrumentalinensuringtheoptimal standardoftheofferingandmaintainingafirmgrip.The implementationofSDLCisalsoenforcedwhenadopting DevOpsandDevSecOpsstrategies.
StrengtheningSecurityStandards
Thecommitmenttobolsteringsecuritystandardswas underscoredthroughastrategicapproachthatinvolvedthe implementationofconfigurationchangesandharnessingthe powerofCISframeworks.Thesemeasureswereapplied comprehensivelyacrossvarioussystems,encompassing Windows,Linux,Unix,andthedynamicrealmsofDevOps andDevSecOps.
Toensureongoingcomplianceandtheintegrationofthe latestsecurityupdates,templatesforoperatingsystem
buildswereintroduced,effectivelyfortifyingthesecurity postureofeachbuildthroughouttheenterprise.
Several key initiatives were undertaken in pursuit of this goal:
Ÿ EnhancedServicesSecurity:ServicesincludingEmail, Databases,Sharepoint,andDeveloperOperations benefitedfromautomatedconfigurationenhancements, contributingtoaheightenedlevelofsecurity.
Ÿ CodeSecurityAssurance:TheDevOpsTeamadopted SonarQubetoprovideanadditionallayerofsecurity assuranceforthecodetheydevelop,reinforcingthe commitmenttosecuresoftwarepractices.
Ÿ StandardizedTechnologyStack:Theestablishmentofa standardizedtechnologystackfordeploymentand systemmanagementstreamlinestheprocessofsecurity updates.Thisapproach,basedonpredefinedstandards, simplifiesthetaskofmaintainingasecureandresilient ITenvironment.
PerspectiveonProcessandControls
ThroughoutAshleigh’sprofessionaljourney,theimportance ofwell-definedprocessesandrobustcontrolshasbecome increasinglyevident.Inearlieryears,theseaspectsmay haveseemedcumbersomeorsecondary,butashis experiencegrew,sodidhisappreciationfortheir significance.
Technology is the servant, not the master.
Inthedynamiclandscapeoflargerenterprisesandcomplex solutions,Ashleighcametounderstandthateffective processesandsoundmanagementarenotmereformalities; theyareindispensablepillarsofsuccess.Thisrealization hasconsistentlyyieldedpositiveresults,underscoringthe pivotalrolethatprocessesandcontrolsplayinachieving organizationalobjectivesandmaintainingoperational excellence.
ProminentRoleasaSpeakerandPanelist
Ashleigh’sreputationasaknownfigureinhisfieldhasled tonumerousinvitationstospeakatvariousevents.In2022,
heservedasthechairofthepanelfortwosessionsat InterSec.
Impressedbyhisexpertise,Ashleighwaslateraskedtobea guestspeakeratanothereventlaterintheyear.His extensiveexperiencehasalsogarneredrequestsforhis participationinroundtablediscussions,bothinpersonand online.
Hesaid, “The events give me even more exposure, and I have found numerous individuals from around the world contact me through LinkedIn, asking for consulting and other services within the IT and cyber security industries.”
PassionforContinuousLearning
Ashleighisanavidreaderwhosubscribestoevery publicationandonlineresource.Stayingcurrentand constantlylearningisessentialtohim.Heishands-onand valuestheskilloflearningonadailybasis.Inaddition,he maintainsnumerousvirtualnetworksandsystemstokeep hisskillsuptodateinallareas,fromActiveDirectoryto Zeek.Thiscommitmentisnotlimitedtohisworklife;it extendstohissparetimeathomeaswell.
KeyAchievements
Ÿ ActiveDirectoryimplementationatBAESystemsin 2004/2005withsoliddesignandefficientfunctionality
Ÿ SuccessfulachievementofSAMALevel3cyber securitymaturityatAlYusrduringhistenureasCISO.
Ÿ SuccessfulimplementationforAramcoSACS002
ComplianceforBinZomahandasistercompany
SeamlessmigrationfromofExchangeversionswith over3000mailboxes;resultinginzeromailboxfailures anderrorcounts,thankstosignificantplanningefforts.
TheremarkabletransformationofITservicesin 1weeksresultedinaselfsufficientdepartment.
CompleterealignmentofKACare’schaotic indowsServer2012R2infrastructure, leavingbehindasolid,welldocumentedsystem.
MentoringnumerousSaudi NationalsinITandcyber securityandwitnessing theircareerdevelopment.
Ÿ ImplementationofISO 27001:2013foraUK companyasavirtualCISO, successfullypassinga4-dayaudit withnomajornon-conformance issuesraisedandachieving100% compliance.
andcybersecurityisakintoa crusade,ashisvastexperiencesallowhimtogenerateideas ithalong-standingbackgroundinIT, assumingtheroleofCISObecameaseamlesstask. Additionally,hisproficiencyasadeveloperfacilitatedthe implementationofDevSecOpssolutions,whilehis expertiseinITengineeringmadeiteffortlesstoenhance securityacrossvariousplatforms,suchasWindows.
CelebratingOutstandingAchievements
● CISOoftheYear2023
● GivenanexceptionbySAMAtobeCISOinthe FinancialSectorinSaudiArabia(TheonlynonSaudievertoholdthisrole)
● GoldCharteredStatus:MicrosoftWindows Server:Onlyoneof50intheworld
● Chairman’sAwardforActiveDirectory implementationfortheentireKingdomofSaudi Arabia:BAESystems CIO
Chief Technology Officer
Ali Safri
Avanza Innova ons
Ali Safri
Revamping the Paradigm of Digital Transforma on & Achieving Exemplary Business Acumen
Exploring Boundless Horizons of Computer Software and Leading the Web 3!
Inaworldwhereeverypartofourlivesconnectswith thedigitalworld,animportantquestionarises:What willthefuturedigitalworldbelike?Howwillitimpact thewaywelive,work,andcommunicate?Theanswersare notguesses,butthedrivingforcebehindthedigital revolutionthatishappening.
AliSafri,aforward-thinkingChiefTechnologyOfficer, Innovator,andArchitect,isleadingtheway,discovering newopportunitiesincomputersoftwareandleadingthe changeinourdigitalenvironment.
Ali'sjourneyisatestamenttohisprofoundunderstanding oftheever-evolvingtechnologylandscape.Hehas witnessedthetransitionfromtheearlydaysofx86 machinesandDOS-basedoperatingsystemstothecurrent digitalera.Hisvisionextendsbeyondthepresent,witha keeneyeonthefuture,drivenbyemergingtechnologies.
TheadventoftheInternet,theproliferationofsmartphones, andtherapidlyapproachingWeb3.0eraunderscoreAli's commitmenttostayingattheforefrontofdigital innovation.He'safirmbelieverinthetransformativepower oftechnologieslikeBlockchain,Metaverse,GenerativeAI, IoT,andQuantumComputing.Forhim,it'snotjustabout adoptingthesetechnologiesforthesakeofit;it'sabouthow theycanreshapebusinesses,createnewmodels,enhance efficiency,andempoweremployeesandcustomersalike.
AliSafri'sjourneybeganwithaninsatiablecuriosityabout howsoftwareworksandhowitcanevolvetoopennew possibilities.Hisrelentlessexploration,learning,and implementationofemergingtechnologiesareallaimedat aligningtechnologywithbusinessobjectives.Forhim, technologyisameanstoimprovelives,enhance experiences,optimizeefficiency,reducecosts,andkeep enterprisesrelevantintheever-shiftingdigitallandscape.
Hispassionisnotjustforsoftwarebutforthe transformationandempowermentthatsoftwarecanbringto
Biggest challenge is the retention of the skillset as when you work in an emerging technology area not many people understand the tech stack and as soon as you train them, they nd better opportunities.
individualsandorganizations.AliSafriisnotjustan industryleader;he'savisionaryshapingthefutureofthe digitalworld,oneinnovationatatime.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Couldyoupleasebriefaboutyourcompanyandits inceptionstory?
TheAvanzaGroupcompany"AvanzaSolutions"startedan innovationcentertoincubatenewideasfromwithinthe companyitself.Theorganization-wideprogramwascalled Cosmosandwasstartedaround2015.SinceIwasheading GlobalPresaleswithabasketofbankingandalternate deliverychannelproductsandhadalotofideas,Iwas askedtoleadthatdivisionasanadditionalresponsibility
Thatresultedincertainideasthatthecompanyopenedasa fewseparatebusinesses.Thiswasaround2016whencrypto andblockchainwerebothnotthatpopular,butduetomy interestinemergingtechnology,Iwasactivelyfollowing andhackingthisdiscipline.Iconvincedthemanagementto participateinanacceleratorprogrambytheDubai governmentanddevelopedanenterpriseblockchain solutionforreconciliationandsettlements.Afteritssuccess andduetotheaddressablemarketchunkoftheenterprise blockchainanditspossibilities,anewcompanynamed AvanzaInnovationswasformedwiththemandatetowork immediatelyintheenterpriseblockchainspacealongwitha
mandatetoexploreotheremergingtechnologiesingeneral. IwasnominatedastheCTOandco-founderofthisnew companynamed"AvanzaInnovations".Thenameofthe companyreflectsitsmissionasAvanzaInnovations!We lovetoinnovate!
Whatstrategiesdoyouemploytodriveinnovationand technologicaladvancementwithinyourorganization, andhowdoyouprioritizetechnologyprojectsand initiativestoalignwiththecompany'sgoalsand objectives?
Weareatechnologyprovider,andthemostimportantthing forusisourcustomersandtheirjourneyswithinnovation andemergingtechnology Thestrategyisbasedonthree steps:knowingtheTrends,QuicklyBuiltPlatforms,and DeliverQualityImplementations.
Wekeepourselvesupdatedwiththeevolvingtechnology, researchanddevelop,experiment,anduseourmaturityin developingsoftwareproductsandplatformsaroundthe concept,andweshowourtargetcustomerstheefficiency andeffectivenessthatnascenttechnologyadoptionwill bringalongwithapropervaluerealization.Atthesame time,implementationofsuchhugemulti-levelorganization projectsisachallengewhenyoutakeenterpriseblockchain, forexample;thus,theplatformmustberobust,basedon lowcodewithalotofmicro-servicesaswellassecurity, performance,andqualitybakedin,andnotviaacustom productfittingonespecificrequirement.Thus,ourmaturity inquickplatformdevelopmentanddeploymentgivesusan advantageintheimplementationofproduction-grade systemsfasterwithlessbudgetandmorerepeatable outcomes.
ThethreemostprominentplatformscreatedareCIPHER forenterpriseblockchain(whichwonmanyinternational awards,e.g.,APICTA),ORIONformetaverse,andImpulse tocatertoGenerativeAIAdoption,andamhumbledto haveanopportunityatAvanzatoideateanddevelopthe same.
Atthesametime,internalprocessestoscaletheresource poolbasedoncustomerdemandaremature,sowedeliver asperourclientexpectationsoroverachieve.
Canyoushareanexampleofasuccessfultechnology implementationthatyouhaveoverseenanditsimpact ontheorganization?
We,AvanzaandI,asCTOandArchitect,havedelivered manysuccessstoriesofmulti-organizationEnterprise Blockchainandboasttoholdthemostmarketshareinthe GCCforbigenterprise-gradeproductionblockchain consortiums,workingin3+yearsinproduction,someof whicharebelow
• UAETradeConnectisaplatformof14+UAEBanks cateringtoTradeFinanceandinvoiceduplication fraud.BuiltfortheBanksandbytheBanks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EyZGPH9Qpus
• ARMACOInvoiceVerificationisARMACO'sfirst blockchainsuccessstoryforquickinvoiceverification withitssuppliersandcapturesthecontractual conditionsofextremelycomplexlong-formcontracts, thelifecycledataoftheProcuretoPayprocess capturedonblockchain,andautomaticblockchainenabledinvoiceandsupportingdocumentgeneration withmutualtrust.ItisusedbyARAMCOandits10+ suppliernetwork. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSWwLuWuJM&t=29s
• Thelostpassportuse-caseisablockchain-enabled solutionutilizedbyDubaiPolice,GDRFA,Dubai Courts,andProsecutionforissuinglostpassport certificates.
https://www.khaleejtimes.com/news/emergencies/dubai -police-use-blockchain-to-issue-nearly-4000-lostpassport-certificates
• BENEFITKYCistheblockchain-enabledKYC sharingnetworkfor40+Banksandfinancial institutionsutilizedin Bahrain.https://avanzainnovations.com/blog/portfolio/b enefit/#:~:text=Idea%20of%20eKYC%20is%20to,this %20network%20seamlessly%20and%20effectively.
• DubaiCustoms,E-CommerceChain,isaconsortium of40+logistics,Couriers,E-Commercecompanies, and3freezonesspearheadedbyDubaiCustomsand aimstohaveacleartraceofe-commercetransaction journeysend-to-endonablockchain,facilitatingquick customsprocessingandgettingappropriatesubsidiesto optimizethee-commercesupplychain.
https://mediaoffice.ae/en/news/2023/September/1109/Dubai-South-completes-blockchain
• K-CompaniesinKuwait,shippingnominationuse case,isaconsortiumofKNPC,KPC,KOC,KOTC, anditsgroupofinspectors,shippinglines,andother playersaimedatautomatingtheend-to-endshipment nominationprocesstogenerateelectronicverifiable documentsbackedbyblockchainviamutual consensus.
Howdoyouensurethesecurityandintegrityofthe organization'stechnologyinfrastructure?
Securityisanintegralpartofoursoftwaredevelopment methodologyandacorepartofthesoftwaredevelopment lifecycle.
• Thedevelopmentphasehascodereviews,threat modeling,misusecasedesign,andverificationusing real-timevulnerability-checkingtools.
• Theplatformthuscreatedhasapplicationsecurity bakedin.
• Theplatformishardened,soanyimplementationgets in-builtsecurity,andtheimplementationengineerofa specificprojecthaslesschanceofviolatingthesecurity asitisbuiltintotheplatform.
• Deploymentisdoneonclientinfrastructureusinga secureautomaticDevOpsprocess.
• Securityisacontinuousprocess,andwetakeitvery seriously
• Ourenterprise-gradeplatformshaveclearedwithflying colorssecurityassessmentsfrommultiple organizationsthatarepartoftheblockchain consortiumslistedaboveandhavebeeninproduction forthelast2–3years.
Whatstepsdoyoutaketostayup-to-datewiththelatest trendsandadvancementsintechnology?
Cultivateacultureofpassionatetechguyswholove technologyandkeeponexploringwhatishappeninginthe marketintermsofemergingtechnologies.Allocate resourcestoexperimentandhacktheseemerging technologiesandbakeyourenterpriseexperiencetocreate platformsthatdelivervalue.
Atthesametime,participateinthoughtleadershipby attendingandspeakingatvarioustop-notchconferencesso thatselectedtopicspushandchallengeyoumoreto innovate.
Howdoyoufosteracollaborativeandproductive relationshipbetweenthetechnologyteamandother departmentswithintheorganization?
Asatechnologyprovider,99%ofourorganizationis technologyitself.Ratherthanusingtechnologyinternally, wearetechnologypartnerswithourcustomersandhelp themintheirjourneyofadoptionandimplementationof nascenttechnologies,showingthemwhatispossible.
Canyoudiscussanychallengesyouhavefacedasa CTOandhowyouhaveovercomethem?
Thebiggestchallengeistheretentionoftheskillset,as whenyouworkinanemergingtechnologyarea,notmany peopleunderstandthetechstack,andassoonasyoutrain them,theyfindbetteropportunities.Thatiswhywehave maturedourtrainingpipelineandbakedthemostpower intotheplatformsthatwehavebuilt.Byhiringfreshtalent, wecantrainthemonourplatformandderivemutualvalue forthecompanyaswellasvaluefortheemployeeby growingtheirskillset,behavior,andabilitytochallenge whatispossible.Wearealwayshappytoseeourworkforce grow,eitherwithusoriftheywishtoleaveus.Theyare muchmorerefinedandpolished,andanyoneworkingfor Avanzacanvouchforthesame.
Howdoyoupromoteacultureofcontinuouslearning andprofessionaldevelopmentwithinyourtechnology team?
Acultureofcontinuouslearningandprofessional developmentcomesfromexamples.TheCTOknowshow togetproblemssolved,evenatthecodelevel,ifrequired. TheAlphamanagers,themanageriallayerbelow,are peoplewithasoftwarebackgroundwholovetechnology andgetintocodeifrequired.Alllowerlayersshould alwayslookattheirmanagersassmarter,more knowledgeable,moretech-savvy,andleaderswhosolve problems.Ifthatisacultureatthegrass-rootslevel,then
continuouslearninghappensasanoutcomeautomatically aspeoplearepassionateabouttheircore.
Comparethattomanagerswhoarejustreportingfrom lowerlayerstoupperlayerswithoutaddinganyvalueof theirown;thensuchorganizationalculturebecomes political,theblamegamestarts,andthedesiretoshineby virtueofknowledge,skill,andcreativitydeclines.
Whatareyourthoughtsonemergingtechnologiessuch asartificialintelligence,blockchain,andtheInternetof Things,andhowdoyouseethemimpactingyour industry?
Blockchain,AI,Metaverse,QuantumComputing,andIoT arethefuturetechnologystack,andalltheseemerging technologieswillconvergeandmutuallyboosteachotherin theiradoption.WeatAvanzaarepassionateaboutallof themandhavesolutionstohelpenterprisesadoptand implementthemaswearetechnologyproviders.
GenerativeAIisapromisingtechnologythatwillallow generatingcontentatsuperspeedsandaccuracy,whichin turnwillcreatetheproblemoffakepaperdocumentsthat look100%genuine,whichwillresultintheadoptionof blockchainasaverifiable,authentic,andtraceabledigital record.
Similarly,vulnerabilityanalysisofcode,whichis,bythe way,80%opensourceutilizedacrosstheworld,will becomeeasyandinthehandsofthemassesifgenerative AI-basedvulnerabilitytoolsmature,thusaddingtothe surfaceareaofcybersecurityandputtingpressureon centralizeddatabasesastheywillbecometargetsofdata integrityviolations,whichagainwillresultinblockchain adoptionastheonlyviablesolution.
Real-timevoiceandaudio-generatedsocialengineeringwill advanceviagenerativeAI,whichwillquestionthevery existenceofatrueidentityandblockchain-basedtraceable identitywillbetheonlycure.
IoTistheearsandeyesoftherealworld,whichwouldbe relayingdataintoimmersiveexperiencesbasedon metaverses,whichhaveatouchofthephysicalworldand thepowerofthedigitalworld.GenerativeAIwillbeused tocreate3Drealmsandfantasyworldsfaster,thusbothIoT andGenerativeAIwilladvancethedisciplineofthe metaverse.
Seemytalkhereonmypredictionsontheconvergenceof alltheemergingtechnologies.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsnYuEOgjMw&t=1s
Mohammed Ghassan Zekrallah
The Rebel's Quest for Financial Independence
Escaping the Matrix, Defying the System, and Redefining Success!
Thetraditional9-5jobcanbefulfilling.Youspend
longhoursworking,meetingdeadlines,stayingupto-datewithcertifications,andattendingendless meetings.Althoughthisroutinemayseemsatisfactory,have youconsideredsomething?Inthemidstofdedicating yourselftotheselonghours,youmayfindthatyouhave stoppedlivingforyourowndreams.Youbecomeso accustomedtoyourroleasanemployeethatyouneglect yourownambitions.Now,thereisnothingwrongwith beinganemployee;youhaveundoubtedlyworkedhardto getthere.However,settlingintocomfortandneglecting personalgrowthbeyondyour9-to-5jobisnotthepatha rebelliousspiritwouldchoose.
Inaworldwhereconformityoftenseemstobethenorm, therearethosewhorefusetostaywithinthelines,those whopursuealifeoutsidethebox.Meettherebel, MohammedGhassanZekrallah,Co-FounderandCTO atCura,whoseinsatiablehungerforfreedomandfinancial independenceignitedatransformationaljourney Thisisthe storyofanindividualwhodaredtobreakfreefromthe constraintsofasalariedlifeandrewritethescriptoftheir owndestiny.
Life,formany,canoftenfeellikeapuzzlewherewe're expectedtofitintopredeterminedspaces.Butforhim, existencewassynonymouswithresistingthestatusquo.A naggingfeelingofbeingenslavedtoalifethatlacked fulfillmentservedasaconstantreminderthatadifferent pathmustbecarved.Compoundedbytheweightof financialstressandtheresponsibilityofcaringforbeloved parentsasthesoleprovider,hisheartlongedtooffera betterqualityoflife,especiallyduringtheirgoldenyears.
Aroundthefourthyearoftheircareerassuccessful softwareengineers,hisdesireto"escapethematrix"began toconsumehisthoughts.Theyearningforfinancial freedomandthepursuitofassetsoutsidetheconfinesofa salariedemployee'sexistencegrewstrongerwitheach
passingday Astheideatookroot,itevolvedinto somethingakintotheinceptionofapowerfulconcept—an ideathatcoulddefineordestroyone'slife.Zekrallahsaw thevirusofthisideaspreadwithin,creatingadefining moment.
ThejourneyofZekrallah,fromtheconfinesofacorporate cubicletotheworldofentrepreneurship,representsa testamenttotheresilienceofthehumanspirit.Itisastory ofbreakingfreefromthemold,refusingtobedefinedby societalexpectations,andembarkingonajourneyto financialindependence.
Below are the highlights of the interview:
Couldyoupleasetellaboutyourselfandwhatmotivated youtoembarkonthissector?
Convincedbythesebeliefs,Istartedtalkingalotaboutmy interestinlaunchingastartupwithfriendsand acquaintances,andIindulgedinstartupbuildingculture, whichIthinkattractedtherightpeoplethatcameintomy lifelater,buttherighttimehasn'tyetcome.
Nothinghappenedforanother2years.I'mnowinthe7th yearofmyverysuccessfulbutboringsoftwareengineering career.Istartedtogetreallyfrustratedworkingoncorporate governmentprojects,mostlyimplementationprojects,and asa“builder”,Ialwayswantedto‘build’asoftwareproduct ofmyownvision.Sinceworkingonproductsiscompletely differentfromworkingonprojects,Idefinitelywantedto createatechnicallychallengingproductthatIcouldbe proudtohavebuiltmyself.
Onedayattheendof2014,Igotacallfrommyfriend WaelKabli,whowasaSharePointconsultantatMicrosoft SaudiArabia(nowco-founderandCEOofCura).Hesaid, Youknow,sinceyou'reobsessedwiththisstartupthing,I haveanideatocreateamedicalappwherepatientsand doctorsinteractanddodiagnosesonline.Letmeexplainit toyou.Threemonthslater,IquitmyjobandjoinedCuraas co-founder,CTO,andemployee#1.
I SEE AI IMPACTING THE HEALTHCARE INDUSTRY IN A BIG WAY. IT CAN GREATLY HELP IN SCALING PRIMARY CARE SERVICES, EARLY DISEASE DETECTION AND PREVENTION BY ANALYZING LARGE GENOME DATASETS, PATTERN RECOGNITION TO DETECT GENETIC DISORDERS, CANCER DETECTION, AND MUTATION. THE USE CASES ARE ENDLESS.
Mohammed Ghassan Zekrallah Co-founder and CTO Cura
Iworkedfrommyverysmall1-bedroomapartmentfor1.5 years,leftmyapartmentforFridayprayersonly,andgained 40kilosofweight,buteventually,Ibuiltandlaunchedall Curaproductsmyself(iOS,Android,Backend,AWS).After gaininginitialtraction,wegotaseedinvestmentroundfor $1millionin2016.Waelwasabletojoinfull-timeasCEO then,andCurawasofficiallybornasacompany.
Fastforwardyearslater,andCuraistheleaderintelehealth inSaudiArabia,poweringover3milliontelemedicine consultationstodate.BackedbySaudiAramcoandELM VCasleadinvestorsinour$4millionSeries-Around. Cura’smissionistoenhancethehealthcaredeliverymodel andbridgethegapbetweenin-personandonlinehealthcare services.Curaprovidesreliable24/7accesstothebest licensedandcertifieddoctorsinstantly,soyougetyour medicationsandproperadviceasfastaspossible.For example,ifyouhavethefluandfeelsick,opentheCura appandrequestaninstantconsultation.Youwillbe matchedwithafamilyconsultantandgetaguaranteed responseinlessthan5minutes.Youwillgetdiagnosedand getane-prescriptionacceptedinallSaudipharmacies. Betteryet,wegetthee-prescriptiondeliveredtoyourhome thesameday Allwithoutyouhavingtoleaveyourhome. Youaresickalready;whyshouldyoubother?That’show wewanthealthcaretobe,andthat’swhatwearealready doingtoday.
Wealsoprovidepsychiatryandpsychologycounseling onlinewithdoctorsandtherapiststotreatdifferentmental healthdisordersandconcernsusingreal-timemessaging andvideocalls.Wealsoprovidewellnessprogramsthatare 5to8weeklyscheduledsessionswiththerapiststohelpyou achievecertainhealthgoalslikecopingwithdepression, dealingwithyouranxiety,andchangingyournegative thinkingpatterns,whichinvolvestructuredworkand
assignmentsyouhavetodelivertoyourtherapisttofurther progressonyourprogram.
Wehaveextendedourofferingtoincludecorporate wellnesstoachievehealthandwellnessgoalsatthe organizationallevelforallourmployeesaswell.
Whatstrategiesdoyouemploytodriveinnovationand technologicaladvancementwithinyourorganization, andhowdoyouprioritizetechnologyprojectsand initiativestoalignwiththecompany'sgoalsand objectives?
Ihaveaclearsetofprincipleswhenitcomestotechnology advancementwithintheorganization.I’mnotabelieverin the‘hype’andIdon’tjumpimmediatelyonadaptingtrendy technologies,asIknowthesearepromotedforyoubythe vendor’ssalesandmarketingteamstomakeyoufeellike youarelackingsomething.Ialwaysassessverycarefully whattheactualvalueisandwhattheactualbenefitsare beingdeliveredfromacertainnewtechnologyincontrast towhatwehavealready.Ifyoufollowthis,youwillfind yourselfinvestinginworthystuffonlyandsavingyour organizationtimeandmoney
Canyoushareanexampleofasuccessfultechnology implementationthatyouhaveoverseenanditsimpact ontheorganization?
OneprojectIrememberisrevampingourentirewebsite architectureandtechnologytouseReact.jswithNext.js.It wasahugeprojectfilledwithmanychallenges,especially aroundserver-siderenderingandSEOoptimizations,but wereapedalltheinvestmentswemadeinitandhadagreat websitelaunch.
Whatstepsdoyoutaketostayup-to-datewiththelatest trendsandadvancementsintechnology?
Ialwaysgoogle‘thefutureofxxx’tounderstandwherea certaintechnologyisheadedandinwhatwaysit'sreplacing oldones.Ithenfollowthemostinfluentialsubjectmatter expertsonthosetechnologiesonLinkedIn,andIfollowall YouTubechannelsaroundthesetopics.Thisway,Ifind informationaboutthelatesttrendsalwaysbeingpushedto meinsteadofhavingtopullthem.WhenInoticetheriseof acertaintechnologyandlotsoftalkaboutit,Iincreasemy prioritytolearnandreadaboutittounderstanditfurther.
Howdoyoufosteracollaborativeandproductive relationshipbetweenthetechnologyteamandother departmentswithintheorganization?
Abalancebetweenbeingalittlebitprotectiveofthe engineeringteamandnotwastingtheirtimeincountless meetingswithbusinessdepartmentsisneededwhilealso notfullyabstractingthemsotheyunderstandthebusiness end-userandthechallengestheyface.Thisisimportantto changeengineers’perspectivesandmindsetsabouthow theyapproachsolvingcustomers’problems.Ifyoudon’t hearitfromthesource,youwillnotreallyunderstandthe frustrationbehindit,andthereforeyouwon’tsolveit correctly Thiscan’thappenwithouthavingclear,open,and consistentcommunicationchannelsbetweendepartments, whichneedstobepartoftheorganization'sculture.
Canyoudiscussanychallengesyouhavefacedasa CTOandhowyouhaveovercomethem?
IthinkbeingaCTOinatechnologycompanydelivering softwareproductsisdifferentfrombeingaCTOinanontechcompany.IhavetodobothjobsofCTOandCIOina technologycompany,soIneedtotakecareofourproduct's softwarearchitectureandsourcecodeimplementation, whichisourcorebusiness,inadditiontoensuring customers’dataandinformationprivacy,security,anddata redundancy.Mixingbothmindsetsischallenging sometimes,asyoumaylikedoingonejobmorethanthe other.Thistaughtmetheimportanceofbalanceandhowto trainmymindsettoadaptquickertothesesituationsand leavepersonalpreferencesaside.
Howdoyoupromoteacultureofcontinuouslearning andprofessionaldevelopmentwithinyourtechnology team?
Tobehonest,Idon’tinvestmuchinthisbecauseIdon’t haveto.Thebestsolutiontoaproblemistoneverhavethe probleminthefirstplace.Whenyouinvestinyourhiring processandhiregreatsoftwareengineersthatare analytical,smartandhavethis‘curiositymindset’builtinto
them,theytendtoalwaysbeincontinuouslearningand professionaldevelopmentmodethemselveswithoutyou havingtoenforcethisattheorganizationlevel.I’mluckyto havehadgreathiresinmycareerandonlyafewbadones.I knowthismaynotapplyatalargerorganizationallevel,but that’smyexperiencesofar
Whatareyourthoughtsonemergingtechnologiessuch asartificialintelligence,blockchain,andtheInternetof Things,andhowdoyouseethemimpactingyour industry?
TheamazingrecentadvancementinArtificialIntelligence isdefinitelyintroducingahugeshiftinthewaytechnology leadersshouldthinkwhenapproachingtheimplementation oftheirsoftware,products,andservices.IseeAIimpacting thehealthcareindustryinabigway.Itcangreatlyhelpin scalingprimarycareservices,earlydiseasedetectionand preventionbyanalyzinglargegenomedatasets,pattern recognitiontodetectgeneticdisorders,cancerdetection, andmutation.Theusecasesareendless.
Pleasegiveusafewtestimonialsfromyourclientsand awardsorrecognitionthataccuratelyhighlightyour achievementsinthecorporateniche.
Awards:
• Cura–SaudiArabia’sleadingtelehealthstartup, announcesaSAR15millionSeries-Ainvestmentfrom ELMand Waed.https://company.cura.healthcare/en/series-a/
• EntrepreneurshipWorldCupSaudiFinals1stPlace Winners:
• https://innovation.kaust.edu.sa/ewc-cura
• SheikhSalemAlAliAlSabahInformaticsAward2017 Winners:https://company.cura.healthcare/ar/alsabahawa rd2017/
• StepConference20171stplacewinners
• ArabnetRiyad2016-3rdplacewinner: arabnet.me/english/editorials/business/industry/meetall-the-winners-from-arabnet-riyadh-2016-
Website:
https://cura.healthcare/ar/
https://company.cura.healthcare/en/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/waelkablli/recentactivity/shares/
https://twitter.com/AppCura
https://www.linkedin.com/company/13197258/
Artificial General Intelligence
Canmachinesthink?wonderedAlanTuringbackin 1950,thegeniusbehindcomputerscience.Now, ChiefTechnologyOfficers(CTOs)areatthe forefrontofanewmissioninspiredbyTuring'sthoughts. Thequestionhasevolvedfrom'Canmachinesthink?'to 'Canmachinesthinklikehumans?'Thisleadsustothe pursuitofArtificialGeneralIntelligence(AGI),afancy termthatbasicallymeansmakingmachinesunderstand, learn,andadapttoabunchofdifferenttasks,justlikewe do.
Intheworldoftech,thingsarealwayschanging.CTOs,the unsungheroesbehindthescenes,aren'tjustdealingwith thesechangesbutarealsosteeringinnovationthatcan changeourfuture.AGI,alsoknownas"strongAI,"islike theEverestoftechevolution.UnlikeregularAIthat'sgood atspecificjobs,AGIaimstohavethesmartstounderstand lotsofdifferentthings,kindoflikehowourbrainswork.
WhybotherwithAGI?Well,it'sallaboutthepotentialit holds.Imagineaworldwheremachinesdon'tjustdowhat they'retoldbutalsogetcontext,learnfromexperiences, andmakedecisionsontheirown.It'snotaboutmaking robotsthatfollowinstructionsbutaboutcreatingentities thatcanworktogether,comeupwithideas,andbe innovativealongsidehumans.
AsCTOsdiveintothismission,they'refacingboth technicalandethicalchallenges.TheroadtoAGIistough, butit'sthechallengeitselfthatpushestechnologyforward.
TheTechAdventure:PlayingwithAlgorithmsandData
ForCTOs,thejourneytoAGIislikeputtingtogethera greatorchestra.Theyneedtomixalgorithms,data,and
computingpowertomakeanintelligencethat'slikehow humansthink.Machinelearningisabigpartofthis.It helpssystemslearnfromdata,recognizepatterns,andmake predictions.
SwitchingfromregularAItoAGIneedsachangein approach.WhileregularAIisgoodatcertainjobs,AGI needsabroaderunderstandingoftheworld.Itneedstobe abletousewhatitlearnedinoneareaforsomething completelydifferent.CTOsareworkingonmaking algorithmsthatnotonlyspecializebutalsounderstand generalstuff,somachinescanusewhattheylearninnew situations.
Andthenthere'sthedata.It'snotjustabouthavinglotsofit; it'sabouthavingdifferentkinds.AGIneedstoseelotsof differentthingstobeassmartashumans.CTOsarefiguring outhowtocollectdatathatshowsallthedifferent experienceshumanshave.
EthicalCrossroads:MakingAGIMorallyRight
ThequestforAGIisn'tjustatechchallenge;it'sabig ethicalpuzzle.Asmachinesgetsmarter,questionsabout who'sresponsible,bias,andaccountabilitybecome important.CTOsareatanethicalcrossroads,tryingto balancetheneedforprogresswithmakingsureAGI followshumanvalues.
Bias,abigprobleminAI,becomeseventrickierinAGI. Thebiasesinthedatausedtotrainthesesystemscanmake existinginequalitiesworse.CTOshavethejobofcreating AIthat'snotjustsmartbutalsofair TheethicalpartofAGI needsabalancebetweenmakingnewthingsandthinking abouthowtheyaffectsociety.
Andthere'sthequestionofcontrol.Asmachinesgetas smartashumans,who'sincharge?CTOsneedtodesign AGIsystemsthataresmartbutalsosomethingwecan understandandcontrol.Makingsurehumansstayincontrol isanimportantethicalconsideration,sowedon'tendup withmachinesdoingunpredictablethings.
BalancingAct:BeingInnovativeWithoutBreakingthe Rules
ForCTOs,thejourneytoAGIislikewalkingona tightrope.Theyneedtopushthelimitsofinnovation withoutgoingtoofar AGIsoundsamazing,butitalso meansCTOsneedtobecarefulaboutnewethicalproblems. Theyoftenhavetochoosebetweengoingfastandbeing cautioustomakesureAGIfollowswhatsocietythinksis right.
GettingtoAGIisn'tarace,butastep-by-stepprocess. CTOsarealwaysimprovingalgorithms,makingbetter datasets,anddealingwithethicalquestions.It'snotjust aboutreachingafinishline;it'saboutgettingthere responsibly.CTOsneedtobebothtechwizardsandethical guides,makingdecisionsthatshapethefuture.
WorkingTogether:HumansandMachinesCreating Tomorrow
Inthemiddleofallthetechandethicalstuff,thequestfor AGIislikeacanvaswherehumansandmachineswork togethertocreatethefuture.CTOsaretheonesleadingthis teamwork,makingsurethemixofalgorithmsmatcheswhat humanscareabout.
Themagichappenswhenhumanideasmeetmachine smarts.CTOsaren'tjustdesigningalgorithms;they're helpinghumansandmachinesteamup.It'snotastoryof humansagainstmachinesbutastoryofworkingtogether, whereeachsidehelpstheothermoveforward.
Intheend,thequestforAGIismorethanatechadventure; it'sabigpartofhowhumansandmachinesconnect.CTOs, leadingthisjourney,dealwithtechchallengesandethical questions.ThequestforAGIisn'tjustaboutmakingsmarter machines;it'saboutcreatingafuturewheremachinesand humansliveandworktogetherinharmony Asthemixof algorithmsandethicalquestionscontinues,CTOsstayat thehelm,steeringtowardafuturewhereArtificialGeneral Intelligenceisn'tjustatechmarvelbutasignofhow humanscanbesmartandworktogetherresponsibly.
- Alaya Brown
Shiras Ahamed A Leadership Journey Dened
by Innovation
Empowering Digital Transformation Through Strategic Vision, Diverse Expertise, and Inspirational Leadership!
Leadership,oftencomparedtoajourney,mirrorsthe
dynamicinterplaybetweenthenavigatorandthe cartographer.Whilesomeleadersadeptlysteertheir teamsthroughtheknown,itistherarefewwhoembarkon amissiontoredrawthemapsofpossibility.These trailblazersarenotcontentwithsimplyfollowing establishedroutes;theycarvenewpaths,unveiling unexploredvistasofpotential.
MeetShirasAhamed,theChiefTechnologyOfficerof EnextInformationTechnologyLLC.,adrivingforce behindDubai'stechnologicalrenaissance.
Withanimpressive16-yearlegacyintheITindustry,hehas steeredEnexttonewheightsthroughapassionfor technologythatbordersonthevisionary.Atthehelmofthe company'stechnologicalstrategies,heorchestratesa seamlessalignmentwithbusinessobjectives,fosteringa culturewhereinnovationisnotjustencouragedbut embeddedinthecompany'sDNA.
Ahamed'sskillsetisaformidablefusionofexpertise spanningsoftwaredevelopment,digitalgrowthhacking, projectmanagement,andstrategicplanning.Thisdiversity equipshimnotonlytoidentifyindustrytrendsbutalsoto leadEnextthroughtheintricateandever-shiftinglandscape oftheITworld.
Atthecoreofhisleadershipphilosophyliesthecultivation ofaculturemarkedbycontinuouslearningandinnovation. Thisapproachempowershisteamtoconsistentlydeliver exceptionalresults.Hisinspirationalleadershipstyleis recognizedforhisabilitytoconveyintricatetechnical conceptstonon-technicalstakeholders,facilitatingwellinformeddecision-making.
Encourage open communication by establishing regular channels for interaction, such as cross-functional meetings and collaborative project sessions. This promotes transparency and ensures that information lows seamlessly across teams.
AsthedrivingforcebehindEnext'sdigitaltransformation initiatives,heensuresthatthecompanyremainsatthe forefrontoftechnologicalinnovation.Hisstrategicacumen, coupledwithadeepunderstandingofemerging technologies,positionsEnextasatrailblazerintheIT sector
InarapidlychangingITlandscape,Ahamed'sstrategic visionhasproventobeaguidinglightforEnext.Hisability tonotonlyadapttochangebuttoanticipateandcapitalize onemergingtrendssetshimapartasaluminaryinthe industry.Underhisleadership,EnextInformation Technologyhasbecomesynonymouswithagility, innovation,andexcellence.
WhileAhamedisundeniablyatech-savvyleader,heis equallyrecognizedforhisemphasisonthehumanaspectof leadership.Histeam-centricapproachfosterscollaboration, creativity,andasenseofsharedpurpose.Thispeople-first philosophycontributesnotonlytoEnext'ssuccessbutalso totheprofessionalgrowthandsatisfactionofitsemployees. AstheChiefTechnologyOfficer,heexemplifiestheperfect blendoftechnicalprowess,strategicforesight,and
empatheticleadership.Hisjourneyisnotjustatestamentto personalsuccessbutalsoabeaconfortheentireITindustry, showcasingthetransformativepoweroftechnologywhen ledbyvisionaries.
Below are the interview highlights:
CouldyoupleasebriefaboutENEXTInformation Technologyanditsinceptionstory?
ENEXTInformationTechnologystandsasaprominent forceintheITandDigitalGrowthHackinglandscape.Our company'sinceptionstoryisrootedinacommitmentto deliveringandupholdingtop-tierITservicesforbusinesses andcorporateentities.
Atourcore,wespecializeinWebandMobileApp Development,DigitalMarketing,e-commerceSolutions, TravelAgencySolutions,WhatsAppAPIsolutions,Cloud andDedicatedHostingSolutions,BusinessEmail Solutions,andmore.Ourcomprehensivesuiteofservicesis designedtocatertothediverseneedsofourclients, ensuringtheirdigitalpresenceisnotonlyestablishedbut alsooptimizedforsuccess.
Withafoundationbuiltonexpertiseandarelentlesspursuit ofexcellence,ENEXTInformationTechnologycontinues tobeatrustedpartnerforthoseseekinghigh-quality solutionsintheever-evolvingrealmsofITandDigital GrowthHacking.
Whatstrategiesdoyouemploytodriveinnovationand technologicaladvancementwithinyourorganization, andhowdoyouprioritizetechnologyprojectsand initiativestoalignwiththecompany'sgoalsand objectives?
• CultivateInnovation:Instillacultureofinnovationby encouragingcreativethinking,experimentingwith emergingtechnologies,andpromotingcontinuous learningamongteammembers.
• StayTech-Savvy:Keepabreastofindustrytrends throughconferences,networks,andpublications. Applythisknowledgetoidentifyopportunitiesfor technology-drivenvaluewithintheorganization.
• EncourageCollaboration:Promotecross-functional collaborationthroughregularmeetingsandworkshops, allowingemployeestoshareideas,proposesolutions, andcollaborateontechnologyinitiatives.
• ForgePartnerships:Establishpartnershipswithtech vendors,startups,andresearchinstitutionsforaccessto cutting-edgetechnologies.Collaborateonprojectsto leverageexternalknowledgeandexpediteinnovation.
Chief Technology Officer ENEXT INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY LLC.
• TechAssessments:Regularlyassesstheorganization's techlandscapetoidentifyareasforoptimizationor modernization.Prioritizeprojectsbasedonpotential impactandalignmentwithstrategicobjectives.
• RoadmapDevelopment:Createacomprehensive technologyroadmapalignedwiththecompany's strategicplan.Prioritizeprojectsthathavethehighest impactonkeybusinessobjectives.
• StakeholderEngagement:Collaboratecloselywith stakeholderstounderstandtheirneedsandinvolve themindecision-making.Communicateproject benefitsandexpectedoutcomestoensurealignment withoverallorganizationalgoals.
• OptimizeResourceAllocation:Efficientlyallocate resourcesbasedonbudget,timeline,andpotential returnoninvestment.Consideragilemethodologiesfor effectiveprojectmanagement.
• MeasureandEvaluate:EstablishKPIsandmetricsto measureprojectsuccess.Regularlyevaluatetheimpact onorganizationalgoals,usingfeedbackanddatadriveninsightstorefinetechnologystrategies continuously
Shiras Ahamed
Howdoyouensurethesecurityandintegrityofthe organization'stechnologyinfrastructure?
RobustSecurityMeasures:Implementrobustsecurity measures,includingfirewalls,encryption,andantivirus software,tofortifytheorganization'sdefenseagainst potentialthreats.
• RiskAssessments:Conductthoroughriskassessments toidentifyvulnerabilitiesandproactivelyapply mitigationstosafeguardtheintegrityofthetechnology infrastructure.
• AccessControls:Enforcestringentaccesscontrolsby implementingstrongauthenticationmechanismsand regularlyreviewinguserprivilegestolimitpotential securityrisks.
• EmployeeEducation:Conductcomprehensivetraining programstoenhanceemployeeawarenessofsecurity protocols,ensuringtheyactivelycontributeto maintainingasecuretechnologyenvironment.
• IncidentResponse:Establishandconsistentlyupdate protocolsforincidenthandlingtoswiftlyand effectivelyrespondtoanypotentialsecurityincidents, minimizingpotentialdamage.
• DataBackup:Regularlybackupcriticaldataand conductroutinetestsofdatarestorationproceduresto ensuredataintegrityandavailabilityintheeventof unforeseenincidents.
• StayUpdated:Stayabreastofthelatestsecuritybest practicesandframeworks,incorporatingthemintothe organization'ssecuritystrategytoaddressevolving threatseffectively
• ExternalAudits:Engageexternalauditorstoconduct periodicsecurityassessments,providinganobjective evaluationoftheorganization'ssecuritypostureand identifyingareasforimprovement.
• Monitoring:Utilizeadvancedmonitoringsystemsto detectanomaliesandpotentialthreatsinreal-time, enablingproactiveresponsestomitigatesecurityrisks promptly.
Whatstepsdoyoutaketostayup-to-datewiththelatest trendsandadvancementsintechnology?
AstheChiefTechnologyOfficer,maintainingaleadingedgeperspectiveontechnologicaladvancementsis paramount.Toachievethis:
• ContinuousLearning:Engageinongoinglearning throughindustrypublicationsandtechblogs,ensuring acurrentunderstandingofthelatesttrendsand innovations.
• Networking:Activelyparticipateinconferencesand eventstogleanvaluableinsights,establishconnections, andstayattunedtoemergingdevelopmentsinthetech landscape.
• VendorRelationships:Cultivaterobustrelationships withtechvendorstoreceivefirsthandinformation abouttheirlatestofferings,facilitatinginformed decision-making.
• CollaborationwithInstitutions:Collaboratewith organizationsandresearchinstitutionstoexplore innovationopportunitiesandgainexposuretocuttingedgetechnologies.
• IndependentResearch:Conductindependentresearch onemergingtechnologies,leveragingbothinternaland externalexpertisetostayaheadofindustry advancements.
• IndustryAssociations:Participateinindustry associationsandforums,engagingindiscussionsand knowledgesharingtostayinformedaboutindustry trendsandbestpractices.
• TechnologyRoadmap:Developacomprehensive technologyroadmap,incorporatingResearchand Development(R&D)initiatives,toproactively integrateadvancementsintotheorganization'slongtermstrategies.Thisensuresthattheorganization remainsagileandadaptivetotheevolving technologicallandscape.
Howdoyoufosteracollaborativeandproductive relationshipbetweenthetechnologyteamandother departmentswithintheorganization?
• OpenCommunication:Encourageopen communicationbyestablishingregularchannelsfor interaction,suchascross-functionalmeetingsand collaborativeprojectsessions.Thispromotes transparencyandensuresthatinformationflows seamlesslyacrossteams.
• CulturalEmphasisonUnderstanding:Fosteraculture ofmutualunderstandingandrespect.Facilitate knowledge-sharingsessionswhereteammembersfrom differentdepartmentscanlearnabouteachother'sroles andresponsibilities,enhancingoverallcomprehension.
• InclusioninStrategicDiscussions:Involvetechnology teammembersinstrategicdiscussionsanddecisionmakingprocesses.Ensuringtheirperspectivesare valuednotonlyenhancescollaborationbutalso contributestowell-informedandinclusive organizationaldecisions.
• Cross-FunctionalTraining:Provideresourcesand supportforcross-functionaltrainingandskill development.Thisempowersteammembersto broadentheirskillsets,facilitatingamoreversatileand adaptableworkforce.
• RecognitionofContributions:Celebratesuccessesand recognizecontributionsfromboththetechnologyteam andotherdepartments.Acknowledgingachievements fostersasenseofunityandsharedaccomplishment, reinforcingtheimportanceofcollaborativeefforts.
Byimplementingthesemeasures,youcreatean environmentthatnotonlypromotescollaborationbutalso enhancesproductivityandinnovationacrossallfacetsof theorganization. CIO
The Ethical of TechnologyDilemmas
Haveyoueverfoundyourselflyinginbedatnight, staringattheceiling,andwonderingaboutthe ethicaldilemmasthattechnologybringstoour doorstep?Well,you'renotalone.ChiefTechnologyOfficers (CTOs),theunsungheroesbehindthescenesofourdigital world,grapplewithamyriadofethicalconcernsthatcan keepthemtossingandturningintheweehours.
In this article, let's take a peek behind the tech curtain and explore the ethical tightropes that CTOs navigate daily
ThePrivacyPredicament
Picturethis:You'rescrollingthroughyourfavoritesocial mediaapp,casuallylikingpicturesofcutepetsandmouthwateringfood.Littledoyouknow,anintricatewebof algorithmsisquietlycollectingeveryclick,like,and commentyoumake.CTOsareacutelyawareoftheprivacy paradox:thedelicatebalancebetweenproviding personalizedexperiencesandrespectinguserprivacy.
CTOsfindthemselvescaughtinthecrossfire,tornbetween deliveringtailoredservicesandsafeguardinguserdata. Strikingthisbalanceislikewalkingatightrope;onewrong moveandtheconsequencescouldbecatastrophic.The dilemmaliesinunderstandingwherepersonalizationends andtheinvasionbegins,andCTOsgrapplewiththisethical puzzledaily.
AI'sMoralQuandaries
ArtificialIntelligence(AI)isthebuzzwordofthetechtown, promisingadvancementsthatwereonceconfinedtothe realmofsciencefiction.However,withgreatpowercomes greatresponsibility,andCTOsareacutelyawareofthe moralquandariesassociatedwithAI.ThedeploymentofAI
Keeps CTOs Awake at Night!
indecision-makingprocesses,fromhiringtocriminal justice,raisesconcernsaboutbias,transparency,and accountability.
ImagineanAIsystemsortingthroughjobapplications.If thealgorithmsaretrainedonbiasedhistoricaldata,they mayperpetuateexistinginequalities.CTOsfacetheethical challengeofensuringthatAIsystemsarenotjustpowerful butalsofairandunbiased.It'saconstantbattletofine-tune algorithms,eliminatebiases,andcreateAIsystemsthat reflectthevaluesofajustandequitablesociety
TheEnvironmentalConundrum
Intheracefortechnologicalsupremacy,environmental impactoftentakesabackseat.Datacenters,theunsung heroesofthedigitalage,consumevastamountsofenergy. CTOsgrapplewiththeethicaldilemmaofbalancingthe demandforseamlessconnectivitywiththeenvironmental costofpoweringthedigitalinfrastructure.
Thecloud,whichseemsetherealinname,hasavery tangibleenvironmentalfootprint.CTOsarechallengedto findeco-friendlysolutions,optimizeenergyconsumption, andexploresustainablepracticestomitigatethe environmentalimpactoftechnology.It'sadelicatedance betweenprogressandpreservation,andCTOsareatthe forefrontofthisenvironmentalconundrum.
SecurityStruggles
Inaworldrifewithcyberthreatsanddatabreaches,the ethicalresponsibilityofsafeguardinguserinformationrests heavilyontheshouldersofCTOs.Theconstantbattle againsthackers,whoseemtobeonestepahead,keeps CTOsawakeatnight.Thedilemmaisnotjustabout buildingimpenetrabledigitalfortressesbutalsoabout respectingusertrustandensuringthatsecuritymeasuresdo notinfringeonuserprivacy.
Withtheincreasingsophisticationofcyberthreats,CTOs mustnavigatethefinelinebetweenrobustsecurity measuresanduser-friendlyexperiences.It'saperpetual chessgamewherethestakesarehigh,andtheconsequences ofawrongmovecouldbecatastrophic.
EthicsinEmergingTechnologies
Astechnologycontinuestoadvanceatabreakneckpace, CTOsfindthemselvesinunchartedterritory,grapplingwith theethicalimplicationsofemergingtechnologies.From biotechnologytobrain-computerinterfaces,ethical dilemmasareevolving,challengingCTOstostayaheadof thecurve.
Takegeneticengineering,forinstance.CTOsmustnavigate theethicalminefieldofgeneediting,weighingthepotential benefitsagainsttheethicalconcernssurroundingtampering withthebuildingblocksoflife.Astechnologyunlocksnew frontiers,CTOsfacethedauntingtaskofestablishing ethicalframeworksthatguidetheresponsibledevelopment anddeploymentofemergingtechnologies.
Conclusion:
CTOsfindthemselvesattheintersectionofinnovationand ethics.Theethicaldilemmastheyfacearenotabstract conceptsbutrealchallengesthatshapethedigitalworldwe inhabit.Balancingthedemandsofprogresswiththe responsibilityofethicalstewardshipisnosmallfeat,and CTOscarrythisweightontheirshoulders.
Aswerevelintheconveniencesandmarvelsthat technologybrings,it'sessentialtorecognizetheethical tightropethatCTOswalk.Thenexttimeyousendatweet, orderamealthroughanapp,ormarvelatthecapabilitiesof AI,spareathoughtfortheCTOsworkingbehindthe scenes,navigatingtheethicalmazetoensurethatourdigital futureisnotjustadvancedbutalsoethicalandresponsible. Afterall,theethicaldilemmasoftechnologyarenotjust theirconcern;theyareourstoo.
- Alaya Brown
Climatechangeisnolongeratheorybutareality
AccordingtoareportbytheMinistryofEarth Sciences(MoES)publishedin2020, theimpactsof climatechangehavebecomescientificallyevidentinthe Indiansubcontinentthroughacomparisonoflong-term climaticpatterns.Thereporthighlightedevidenceof climatechangeinIndia,citingspecificfactsasfollows:
Ÿ Between1901and2018,Indiaexperiencedanaverage temperatureriseof0.7°C.Itisprojectedthat temperaturescouldincreaseby4.4°Cbytheyear2100 comparedtothe1976-2005average.
Ÿ Thewarmestdayandcoldestnighttemperatureshave risenbyapproximately0.63°Cand0.4°C,respectively, overtherecent30-yearperiod(1986-2015).
Ÿ Summermonsoonrainfallhasdecreasedby6%from 1951to2015.
Ÿ There’sanincreasedfrequencyoflocalizedheavy rainfall,leadingtoflashfloodsandaprojectedrisein dailyextremerainfall.
Ÿ Thefrequencyofseverepost-monsooncyclonicstorms hassignificantlyincreasedinthelasttwodecades.
Ÿ SealevelsintheIndianOceanhaverisenatarateof 1.06mm-1.75mmperyearduring1874-2004.
Ÿ WhilecentralIndia’shumidregionshavebecome drought-prone,coastalareas,EasternUP,Gujarat,and majorurbanareaslikeMumbai,Kolkata,andChennai arebecomingflood-prone.
Giventhesecircumstances,thereisagrowingneedfora robustregulatoryframework,policy-drivenmitigation measures,andvoluntaryinitiativestolimitGreenhouseGas (GHG)emissions.AfterIndia’scommitmenttoachieving NetZeroby2070, numerouscompaniesinthecountryhave voluntarilypledgedtoreducetheirGHGemissionsand combatclimatechange.
Therenewableenergysectorstandstogainundersuch circumstancessinceitproducesenergywithoutemitting GHGs.However,likeanylarge-scaleinfrastructure, renewablepowergenerationfacilitiesarealsosusceptibleto physicalrisksarisingfromclimatechange.Someofthese risksinclude:
Ÿ Flashfloodscausedbyextremerainfallleadingto infrastructuredamage,equipmentdamage,and additionalcapitalexpenditureforrepairs.
Ÿ Heatstressandrisingtemperaturesleadtoreducedsolar photovoltaicefficiencyandacceleratedaging.
Ÿ Changesinwindspeedcausinginfrastructureand equipmentdamage,increasedsoiling,andstructure collapse,affectingwindturbinegeneratorproductivity
Ÿ Damagetoassociatedinfrastructureduringextreme weatherevents,leadingtostrandedassetsandreduced productivity
Hence,it’scrucialforrenewableenergycompaniesto incorporateclimatechangeriskmitigationstrategiesatboth thecorporateandprojectlevels.Employingtechnological solutionstoaddressclimatechangerisks,suchasselecting moduletechnologieswithlowertemperaturecoefficients, becomesessential.
SustainabilityStrategy
Theenvironmentalimpactofrenewableenergysystemshas beenaconcernfordecades.Severalpredominant environmentalimpactshavebeenidentified,including:
1. Landuseandthermalpollution
2. Pollutantdischargeduringconstruction
3. Visualimpacts
4. Effectsonnaturalresources
Withtherapidincreaseinthescaleofrenewableenergy projectsinIndia,fromkilowattstogigawatts,emerging sustainabilitychallengesarenowbeingrecognized.These challengesinclude:
Ÿ Impactonnaturalcapital:Large-scale,renewableenergy installationscandisruptcriticalnaturalhabitatsand impactlocalfauna.Transmissionlinesandwind turbines,forexample,canharmavianfauna.Water usageformodulecleaningaffectslocalwaterresources, andimpropermoduledisposalcanleadtosoil contamination.
Ÿ Impactonhumancapital:Lackofstandardizedhuman resourcepractices,unequalemploymentopportunities, andinadequatetrainingandmentoringimpactthe workforce.Healthandsafetyconcernsalsoariseasthe industryexpands.
Ÿ Impactonsocialcapital:Unethicallaborpracticesby vendorsandsub-vendors,non-compliancewith internationalguidelines,andunsustainablepractices erodesocialcapital.
Ÿ ConsideringthecumulativeimpactontheGreatIndian Bustard(ahighlyendangeredavianspecies)from transmissionlines,theSupremeCourtofIndiaordered alltransmissionlinesintheirhabitattobemoved
underground Anumberofoperating/under constructionrenewableenergyassetsfallunderthe purviewofthisjudgment.
Ÿ Since2021,therehavebeenincreasingglobal concernsaboutpossiblehumanrightsviolationsin XinjiangprovinceofChina.Pursuanttothis,thereis anindustry-widefocusondevelopingsustainable supplychains.
Consideringthesechallenges,renewableenergycompanies shouldshifttowardsaholisticsustainabilityapproach. Addressingsustainabilityissuesateverystageofthe business,frombiddingtodecommissioning,offers numerousbenefits:
Ÿ Enhancedbrandimageandcompetitiveadvantage
Ÿ Increasedproductivityandreducedcostsandrisks
Ÿ Improvedcompliancewithregulations
Ÿ Long-termoperationalstability
Ÿ Attractionofemployeesandinvestors
Ÿ Valueadditiontoinstitutionalandcommercial customersprocuringgreenpower.
Thepursuitofsustainabilityisnotjustaboutpotential benefitsandrisks;itistheresponsiblecourseofaction.It’s timetoapproachsustainabilityholisticallyandintegrateit intoallaspectsoftherenewableenergybusiness.
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