John Mankarios is a Vice President of Information Technology at QInvest, a leading private investment bank based in Qatar. He has over 17 years of solid experience in information technology, with expertise in cloud and digital transformation strategy and technology innovation. He is responsible for designing and implementing innovative solutions and best practices to enhance the efficiency, quality, and security of the company’s processes and systems. Before joining QInvest, John served as Senior System Engineer at Link Datacenter for seven years, where he focused on designing and implementing cloud solutions.
In 2023, John was honored with the prestigious “The World CIO 200 – Master” award by Global CIO Forum. The following year, he received the same award for the second consecutive year and was also recognized with Qatar CSO 30 award presented by IDC and Foundry, recognizing his excellence and innovation in IT leadership.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with Digital First Magazine, John shared his professional trajectory, insights on the three major trends in the BFSI industry to keep an eye on, significant career milestones, his favorite quotes, future plans, words of wisdom, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
Hi John. Please tell us about your background and areas of expertise.
My name is John Mankarios, I have a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering from Cairo University and completed my MBA from Swiss Business School year 2020.
I am the Vice President of IT at QInvest LLC, a leading Islamic investment bank. I have over 17 years of experience in Technology field, with a strong background in Microsoft infrastructure, enterprise systems, and IT governance and sourcing.
My expertise includes digital transformation, cloud adoption, Cloud-Native Architecture, Cyber Secuerity, AI and Microsoft products. I am also a recipient of the World CIO – Master Award years 2023 and 2024 from Global CIO Forum, and Qatar CSO 30 award presented by IDC and Foundry, recognizing my excellence and innovation in IT leadership.
I am passionate about leveraging technology to create value and enhance performance for businesses and customers.
What do you love the most about your current role?
I enjoy several aspects of my current role as Vice President of IT at QInvest LLC. I find great satisfaction in leading digital transformation and cloud adoption initiatives, which are crucial. I appreciate the opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies, such as generative AI, which have significantly enhanced QInvest’s operations.
Additionally, I value the strategic aspect of my job, where I am responsible for planning the future of the company’s information technology and ensuring that current systems are effectively implemented and maintained. This role allows me to leverage my extensive expertise in IT governance, enterprise systems, and Microsoft infrastructure to create value for the business.
Overall, I enjoy the dynamic and impactful nature of my work, which aligns with my passion for leveraging technology to drive Operational performance.
What are the three major trends do you foresee in your industry in the next 12 months?
In the next 12 months, BFSI industry is likely to see several significant trends:
- Generative AI and AI-Augmented Development
Generative AI continues to be a transformative force, with applications expanding across the BFSI industry. This includes everything from customer-facing chatbots to advanced data analysis and content creation and Investment decisions. AI-augmented development is also on the rise, enabling faster and more efficient software development processes.
- Cloud Computing and Cloud-Native Architecture
The shift towards cloud computing is accelerating, with more businesses adopting cloud-native architectures to enhance scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency. This trend is driven by the need for robust, scalable solutions that can support digital transformation initiatives.
- Cybersecurity and AI Trust, Risk, and Security Management
As cyber threats become more sophisticated, there is an increasing focus on cybersecurity measures. AI Trust, Risk, and Security Management is emerging as a critical area, ensuring that AI systems are secure, trustworthy, and compliant with regulations. This includes continuous threat exposure management and privacy-enhancing computation.
What has been your most career-defining moment that you are proud of?
I have many moments that I am proud of and considered as a career-defining moments, but I will focus here on 3 moments,
- 1st moment was during my previous job at Link Datacenter, I was technically managing BSolutions product, which was a 1st of a kind in the Middle East, BSolutions is Cloud Platform whereby it offers businesses the opportunity to instantly use business applications and solutions that were usually exclusive to large enterprises.
BSolutions is SaaS (Software as a Service), which offers Hosted Dynamics CRM, Hosted SharePoint, Hosted Exchange, Hosted Unified Communications, and Hosted ERP. - 2nd moment was I took over my position as AVP in QInvest and became the 1st investment bank in Gulf to adopt Cloud Solutions by adopting Office 365 in year 2014.
- Year 2019, when I first promoted to Vice President at QInvest, it was a very challenging year and my 1st year participating in decision making.
If you could have a one-hour meeting with someone famous who is alive, who would it be and why?
That a very interesting question, and I would like really to meet Satya Nadella, the Chairman and CEO of Microsoft. Satya Nadella is known for his empathetic leadership style and his focus on innovation and growth.
But I would like to meet him to know more about his specific contributions to Microsoft, his leadership philosophy, and his several transformative changes at Microsoft since becoming CEO in 2014.
Since Nadella took over, Microsoft’s market capitalization has grown from around $314 billion to over $3 trillion1. This growth reflects the company’s successful pivot to cloud computing and AI, as well as its strategic acquisitions and cultural transformation.
Is there a particular person you are grateful for who helped get you to where you are?
Beside my family (who are my main supporter and believers), I owe a lot to 4 people in my career life,
- Maged Michel, Head of Managed Services at LINK Datacenter, gave me the opportunity to start my career in System engineering.
- Amr Reda, Platform Team Leader at Link Datacenter, supported me and guided me during my 1st job.
- Sathyan Tharayil, Group Head of IT at InvestBank P.S.C, gave me the opportunity to start my 1st step in managerial and cloud journey.
- Mohammed Taher, Head of Operation & IT at QInvest LLC, believed in me and my decisions and gave me the opportunity to grow.
How do you keep your mind healthy and stay resilient? And how do you motivate your team?
That’s not easy, but I like to stay physically active (I go for a walk 45 minutes daily) , maintain a healthy diet, set a realistic goals, read a lot, and try to stay positive ( look at all situations positively, and try to find the good impact in all situations)
For my team, the most important thing is to set clear goals, promote an open communication strategy, encourage and recognize the achievements, and as much as possible create a positive work environment,
What are your favorite quotes?
“Be passionate and bold. Always keep learning. You stop doing useful things if you don’t learn.” – Satya Nadella
“When I think about my career, my successes are built on learning from failures.” – Satya Nadella
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, I envision myself growing within this organization, taking on more strategic leadership responsibilities and generating substantial technological advances. I want to manage big digital transformation initiatives that are aligned with our company’s aims, notably in cloud computing and AI integration.
I also intend to hone my abilities in AI, IT governance and cybersecurity, ensuring that our solutions are not only creative but also safe and compatible with industry regulations. In addition, I am dedicated to mentoring and training the next generation of IT leaders, encouraging a culture of constant learning and cooperation.
Ultimately, my objective is to contribute to the company’s success by utilizing technology to generate value and strengthen our market competitiveness. I am enthused about the chances that lie ahead, and I am eager to take on new challenges that will help both the firm and me grow.
What advice would you give to anyone starting out on their career in your industry?
Starting an IT career in the BFSI industry can be both exciting and challenging. Here are some pieces of advice to help navigating the journey:
- Keep learning, as Satya Nadella said “Be passionate and bold. Always keep learning. You stop doing useful things if you don’t learn”
- Stay updated with new technologies, The IT career is constantly evolving. Stay informed about the latest technologies and trends by reading industry blogs, attending webinars, and taking continuous education courses.
- Be familiar with the BFSI sector and its regulations.
- Know your sector, definitions, terminologies, and its different type of applications.
- Developing soft skills and technical skills are crucial, but soft skills like communication, teamwork, and problem-solving are equally important.
- Network within the industry, join professional groups, attend industry conferences, and connect with other IT professionals on platforms like LinkedIn.
- Be Patient and wait for the opportunity, building a successful career in IT requires time and effort. Be patient, persistent, and continue to learn from your experiences and disappointments.
Creating your own path in the BFSI industry is an exciting journey that allows you to tailor your career to your passions and strengths.