october 2023 / vol. 1 issue 6 / an ITP Media Group publication Kyndryl’s Fionnuala Morris on why collaboration, innovation and diversity are vital to success Leading with purpose Redington edge_october 2023 3 contents october 2023 10 12 20 cover story Leading with purpose Kyndryl’s Fionnuala Morris spotlights the company’s unique strategy to success 204 edge_october 2023 “Tech events ignite the spark of creativity and encourage the development of the next big thing in technology” From Page 58 30 other stories How crypto is giving fiat a run for its money Nicola Buonanno, VP South EMEA, Chainalysis, elaborates on the matura- tion of crypto 42 Gadget Watch 6 amazing gadgets to keep an eye out for 52 Review Ring Spotlight Cam Plus 56 contents 34 Safra Catz, CEO, Oracle Alois Reitbauer, Chief Technology Strategist, Dynatraceedge_october 2023 5 editor’s letter PO Box 500024, Dubai, UAE Tel: +971 (0)4 444 3000 Web: www.itp.com Offi ces in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, London & Mumbai ITP Media Group CEO Ali Akawi Managing Director Alex Reeve Editorial Group Editor Kate-Lynne Wolmarans +971 4 444 3541 / kate.wolmarans@itp.com Editor Adelle Geronimo +971 4 444 3497 / adelle.geronimo@itp.com Commercial Editor Arya Devi +971 4 444 3175 / arya.devi@itp.com Art Art Director Amjad Ayche Designer Tofi q Memon Advertising Group Commercial Director Anup Nagpurkar +971 4 444 3573 / anup.nagpurkar@itp.com Group Commercial Manager Priyanka Pillai +971 4 444 3399 / priyanka.pillai@itp.com Client Services Manager Cherylann DAbreo +971 4 444 3404 / cherlyann.dabreo@itp.com Photography Chief Photographer Rajesh Raghav Videographer Muhammad Kaleem Video Editor Liju Cheruvathur Social Media & Production Manager Andy Ruedas Multimedia Producer Mina Vucic Production Production Manager Denny Kollannoor Production Coordinator Manoj Mahadevan Senior Image Editor Emmalyn Robles Distribution Circulation Executive Rajesh Pillai Distribution Coordinator Avinash Pereira Marketing Director of Events & Marketing Daniel Fewtrell ITP Group CEO Ali Akawi CFO Toby Jay Spencer-Davies October has always been a thrilling period for the tech industry here in the region, and this year is no exception. As we step into this month, our excitement is building up for GITEX Global, which promises to be an electrifying showcase of innovation and tech brilliance. This month will also see us, here at edge, host the second edition of the Technology Leadership Awards on October 17 at the Address Dubai Mall. These awards celebrate the visionaries and innovators shaping the future of tech, which will surely be a night you won’t want to miss. If you’d like to take a peek at this year’s impressive shortlist, head to our website! Our October cover story features Fionnuala Morris, the Vice President and Managing Director of Kyndryl in the Middle East. During the interview, Fionnuala shares Kyndryl’s distinctive growth strategy since its spinning off from IBM two years ago and emphasises the importance of championing diversity and inclusion in tech. She spotlights the importance of having the right intentions when promoting diversity in the workplace and why ‘it’s not just about quotas’. Read the full interview on p.20. In this issue, we also provide highlights from the recently held CloudWorld 2023, which saw major announcements and keynotes from Oracle’s top leaders including CEO Safra Catz, and chairman and CTO Larry Ellison. We also feature a sneak preview of participants at GITEX Global and what they aim to showcase at the global tech event. Additionally, we bring you exclusive insights from Juniper Networks on the rising importance of green network infrastructure and from Chainalysis on the evolution of crypto. This month will surely be filled with exciting updates and announcements from the tech space, and I, for one, can’t wait. We look forward to meeting all of you at GITEX Global. You can visit the edge team at Hall 18-2. See you there! All set for GITEX Global! Adelle Geronimo editor Published by and © 2023 ITP MEDIA GROUP FZ-LLC The publishers regret that they cannot accept liability for error or omissions contained in this publication, however caused. The opinions and views contained in this publication are not necessarily those of the publishers. Readers are advised to seek specialist advice before acting on information contained in this publication, which is provided for general use and may not be appropriate for the readers’ particular circumstances. The ownership of trademarks is acknowledged. No part of this publication or any part of the contents thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form without the permission of the publishers in writing. An exemption is hereby granted for extracts used for the purpose of fair review.6 edge_ october 2023 news Sultan Al Neyadi returns to the UAE from space UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi has returned to the UAE after a historic six-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS). His homecoming at the new Abu Dhabi International Airport was graced by the presence of the UAE’s top leaders, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai. During his mission, Al Neyadi achieved several significant milestones, becoming the first Arab astronaut to undertake a spacewalk and completing the longest-ever space flight by an Arab. The two leaders praised his remarkable achievements, hailing him as an inspiration not only to the people of the UAE but to aspiring space explorers worldwide. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid also emphasised the UAE’s commitment to space exploration, referencing previous missions like Hazza Al Mansouri’s journey to the ISS, the Emirates Lunar Mission, and the successful Mars Mission ‘Hope Probe.’ They expressed gratitude for the visionary leadership that continues to drive the UAE’s advancements in space exploration, embodying the determination instilled by the late Sheikh Zayed to overcome obstacles and propel the nation’s capabilities to new heights. SPACE news bytes Stay in the loop with the latest news and trends from the tech scene Earlier this year, the UAE Space Agency announced the Emirates Mission to the Asteroid Belt (EMA), which will be launched in March 2028 The Emirati astronaut became the first Arab to perform a spacewalk edge_october 2023 7 news Located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Kaspersky’s Transparency Centre will provide visitors with an overview of the company’s transparency practices Kaspersky opens first Transparency Centre in the Middle East SECURITY Kaspersky has inaugurated its inaugural Transparency Centre in the Middle East, situated in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This significant milestone is part of Kaspersky’s Global Transparency Initiative, which aims to foster trust and provide assurance regarding the integrity of Kaspersky’s solutions and processes. The Centre will offer a range of services, including insights into the company’s transparency practices and a review of its source code. Riyadh was chosen as the location for the first Transparency Centre in the Middle East to align with the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030. The Centre was officially inaugurated by Haytham AlOhali, Vice Minister of Communications and Information Technology, in the presence of ministry officials. Eugene Kaspersky, founder and CEO of Kaspersky, said, “As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia works toward building its name as a leading tech-hub in the region, we look forward to supporting it in its digital journey - along the way turning transparency into a universal standard.” The company is given three months to rectify all non-compliant data processing practices TikTok is facing a hefty fine of EUR 345 million (equivalent to $370 million) for violating European Union privacy laws concerning the handling of children’s personal data. This penalty was imposed by the main regulatory authority in the European Union. During the period spanning from July 31, 2020, to December 31, 2020, TikTok was found to have breached several EU privacy regulations, according to the statement issued by Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner (DPC). TikTok responded to this by stating its intention to revise its privacy materials to provide clearer distinctions between public and private accounts. Furthermore, the platform plans to automatically set up private accounts for new users aged 16 to 17. The DPC has granted TikTok a three-month window to rectify all non-compliant data processing practices that were identified. Additionally, the DPC is conducting a separate investigation into TikTok’s transfer of personal data to China and whether this aligns with EU data protection laws when data is sent to countries outside the EU. TikTok fined $370 million for violating children’s data privacy DATA PRIVACY8 edge_ october 2023 news BayutGPT empowers property seekers with an innovative tool that simplifies the intricate landscape of the UAE real estate market BayutGPT: Region’s first AI property search assistant gives you curated options AI Bayut has elevated its property search offerings by introducing BayutGPT, an AI-driven property search assistant. This integration of AI builds upon the success of products like TruCheck and Search 2.0. The primary objective of BayutGPT is to engage property seekers on the Bayut platform in a conversational manner while providing data- rich recommendations. BayutGPT empowers property seekers with an innovative tool that simplifies the intricate landscape of the UAE real estate market. By harnessing AI, Bayut continues to demonstrate its commitment to staying competitive in the ever-evolving real estate industry. Users can ask questions to learn about rental yields in various communities, discover popular Dubai locations, check bed type availability in specific areas, and request personalised property suggestions. Eddie Wu takes on the role of CEO for the company’s cloud computing unit, a position previously occupied by Daniel Zhang Alibaba Group’s newly appointed CEO, Eddie Wu, has outlined a strategic vision for the e-commerce and technology behemoth. Wu’s vision centres on two core principles: “user first” and “AI-driven.” This vision arrives at a pivotal moment as Alibaba undergoes its most extensive organisational restructuring in its 24-year history. The “user first” approach underscores Alibaba’s unwavering commitment to enhancing the customer experience across its diverse platforms and services. With its massive user base, the company aims to prioritise customer needs and preferences to maintain a competitive edge in the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Furthermore, Wu’s emphasis on “AI- driven” reflects Alibaba’s acknowledgment of AI’s transformative potential across industries. In addition, Wu underscored the firm’s focus on fostering innovation and maintaining a dynamic corporate culture. He highlighted plans to cultivate young talent, particularly those born after 1985, who will form the core of Alibaba’s business management teams within the next four years. This strategy aims to preserve a “start-up mindset” and prevent the organisation from becoming complacent. New Alibaba Group CEO Eddie Wu reveals ‘AI-driven’ strategy amid company-wide shakeup BUSINESSNext >