GET TO KNOW
What changes to your job role have
you seen in the last year and how do
you see these developing in the next
12 months?
As a business owner, as well as in an advisory
capacity, my role is twofold: not only do I
help organisations and people implement
new technology but, taking a step back,
I help them identify the right technology
investments that will give them a good return.
Given the number of opportunities for
investment, particularly in the tech space, I
have seen an upsurge in organisations and
people turning to folks like myself for advice.
What advice would you offer
somebody aspiring to obtain C-level
position in your industry?
I am the founder of Bitcoin VIP, a
crypto assets global distribution service
for institutions and trading professionals,
and I serve on the advisory board of
several other blockchain-based ventures,
including VIMANA Global – Blockchain
Urban Airspace, STASIS – Stable coin for
Governments, DeNet – decentralised data
storage and hosting, and BasisNeuro – a
marketplace for neuro-tech.
How do you deal with stress and
unwind outside the office?
No matter how busy I am or how much
travelling I do, I always put my health and
well-being first. As a matter of lifestyle, I try
to limit the amount of coffee I consume,
drink more water, do yoga in the morning,
walk as much as I can, get a lot of fresh air
and, most importantly, get a good night’s
sleep. I also try and spend as much time as I
can with my family.
If you could go back and change one
career decision what would it be?
I really can’t think of any decision that I
would change. I am not saying that every
business decision I have made has been the
right one, but rather than kick myself for
the bad decisions, I’ve made it a point to
understand what I did wrong, learn from it
and then apply that to the next time I am
faced with a similar situation.
What do you currently identify as
the major areas of investment in
your industry?
AI and Blockchain will be areas of major
investment in the next three to five years.
100
INTELLIGENTCIO
Government and enterprises
in the Middle East are really on the forefront
when it comes to harnessing the potential of
latest technologies. Between the continued
push towards smart cities, initiatives like the
Dubai Future Accelerators and investment
in autonomous vehicles, I believe Blockchain
will be a mainstream technology in
enterprises across the region, particularly in
the government and transportation sectors.
What are the region-specific
challenges when implementing new
technologies in the Middle East?
Just from my experience in the region
with VIMANA, the biggest challenge is
unpredictability in terms of execution
timelines. I think that has a lot to do with the
fact that the market is still maturing and not
as open as in the West, in terms of setting up
a business, bringing people on board, etc.
I’d advise any aspiring C-level executive
to make sure they are really passionate
about what it is they are doing rather than
treating it like just another job. That is the
key to success, I believe. Also, don’t forget
about yourself; we spend too much time
focusing on work and not enough focusing
on personal development and the people
we care about. You need to set aside time
for yourself and your family, to relax and
recharge your batteries. Plan a holiday, not
just once a year, but once every quarter,
even if it is as simple as a staycation. n
“
DON’T FORGET
ABOUT
YOURSELF; WE
SPEND TOO MUCH
TIME FOCUSING
ON WORK AND
NOT ENOUGH
FOCUSING ON
PERSONAL
DEVELOPMENT
AND THE PEOPLE
WE CARE ABOUT.
www.intelligentcio.com