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In the ever-evolving world of technology, where innovation is the heartbeat of progress, certain individuals rise to the forefront, setting benchmarks and inspiring others to reach new heights. One such luminary is Ankur Harendrasinh Mahida, Site Reliability Engineer at Barclays, and the proud recipient of the Gold Award for Digital Leader of the Year at the Industry Eagles Awards 2024. We had the privilege of sitting down with Ankur to delve into his journey, insights, and the vision that fuels his relentless pursuit of excellence.

Winning the Award

Q: Ankur, congratulations on winning the Gold Award for Digital Leader of the Year! Can you tell me how it feels to win this award?

Ankur: Thank you so much! Winning the Gold Award for Digital Leader of the Year is incredibly rewarding and humbling. It’s a testament to the hard work, dedication, and innovation that my team and I have put into our projects. This recognition motivates me to continue pushing the boundaries of digital transformation and excellence. I’m deeply grateful for the support of my colleagues, mentors, and family, who have all played a crucial role in this achievement. It’s an honour to be acknowledged among such talented individuals in the industry, and I’m excited for the future as we continue to innovate and make a positive impact.

Q: How do you think winning the award will help people build their personal brand and achieve success in the future?

Ankur: Winning the award is a significant milestone in building a personal brand and achieving future success. For me, it was more than just a recognition—it was a moment of validation for all the late nights, hard work, and persistence. It highlighted my journey, showcasing not just the successes but also the challenges and growth along the way.

Beyond the professional benefits, the award has been incredibly inspiring for those around me. Colleagues, friends, and even people I had never met reached out to share how my achievement motivated them. It’s fulfilling to know that my success can encourage others to pursue their own dreams and work hard toward their goals.

Key Innovations and Achievements

Q: Your award highlights your innovative solutions. Can you elaborate on the key enhancements you proposed and their impact on the organisation?

Ankur: Certainly! Here are some key enhancements:

 Advanced Observability Techniques: Implemented real-time system performance monitoring, reducing downtime and improving reliability.

Automated Monitoring and Incident Response: Developed tools that cut detection and resolution times, enhancing operational stability.

Enhanced Cybersecurity Measures: Integrated machine learning for threat detection and automated compliance checks, improving security and compliance.

Cost Efficiency through Resource Optimisation: Optimised database interactions and server utilization, resulting in significant cost savings.

Migration to Cloud Infrastructures: Led the shift to cloud platforms like AWS and Azure, enhancing scalability and operational efficiency.

Proactive Detection and Prevention of Financial Crimes: Improved AML monitoring systems with advanced analytics and machine learning, reducing financial misconduct.

Collaboration and Team Integration: Fostered cross-functional collaboration, ensuring seamless project execution and improved outcomes.

Overcoming Challenges

Q: Overcoming challenges is a big part of your role. What were some of the biggest obstacles you faced during the automation initiatives, and how did you overcome them?

Ankur: One major challenge was resistance to change. To overcome this, I conducted thorough communication sessions, provided extensive training, and started with small pilot projects to build trust. Integrating new tools with legacy systems was another obstacle, which we tackled through careful planning, custom solutions, and phased implementation. Ensuring data accuracy and security was also critical, so we implemented rigorous testing and strict security protocols.

Q: How do you approach problem-solving when faced with complex technical challenges?

Ankur: I approach problem-solving systematically and collaboratively. This involves thorough analysis, gathering diverse input, leveraging data, evaluating various approaches, and maintaining open communication with the team. This adaptive approach ensures effective and scalable solutions.

Continuous Improvement and Learning

Q: What drives you to continually seek improvements and innovations in your field?

Ankur: Several factors drive me:

1. Passion for Technology: I’m fascinated by how technology can solve complex problems and create new opportunities.

2. Commitment to Excellence: I strive for continuous improvement and never settle for the status quo.

3. Solving Complex Challenges: Each problem is an opportunity to learn and innovate.

4. Impact and Value Creation: Knowing that my work can create tangible value and make a positive impact is highly motivating.

5. Continuous Learning: The dynamic nature of the tech industry keeps me eager to learn and adapt.

Q: How do you stay current with the latest developments and advancements in your field?

I stay current through a mix of continuous learning, professional networking, and community engagement. This includes online courses, reading technical blogs, attending conferences, participating in forums, and contributing to open-source projects.

Leadership and Team Culture

Q: What qualities do you believe are essential for someone to succeed in a leadership role in digital technology?

Ankur: Key qualities include technical expertise, strategic vision, and strong interpersonal skills. Adaptability and resilience are crucial, as is a commitment to lifelong learning and a passion for technology. Effective communication, collaboration, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement are also vital.

Q: How do you foster a culture of innovation and collaboration within your team?

Ankur: I create an environment that encourages creativity and open communication. Recognizing and rewarding innovative ideas, encouraging brainstorming sessions, and promoting transparency are key. Providing resources for skill development and leading by example also help cultivate a dynamic and supportive team culture.

Q: Can you discuss any mentors or role models who have influenced your career and leadership style?

Ankur: Mentors and role models, including senior colleagues at Barclays and industry leaders like Satya Nadella, have significantly influenced my career. They taught me the importance of empathy, continuous learning, and having a clear vision and strategic approach in leadership.

Personal Insights and Advice

Q: Beyond your technical achievements, how do you maintain a work-life balance in such a demanding role?

Ankur: Maintaining work-life balance requires clear boundaries, regular exercise, and spending quality time with family and friends. Mindfulness and stress management techniques also help, along with delegating tasks and trusting my team.

Q: What advice would you give to aspiring Site Reliability Engineers who look up to your career path?

Ankur: Cultivate a deep understanding of both software development and systems engineering. Emphasise automation, observability, and proactive problem-solving. Stay curious and continuously learn about new technologies. Build strong collaboration and communication skills and embrace challenges as opportunities to innovate.

Q: Can you share a particularly memorable moment or project in your career that significantly shaped your professional journey?

Ankur: Leading the integration of advanced observability techniques at Barclays was a defining project. Implementing real-time monitoring and automated incident response systems across our financial trading platforms significantly reduced downtime and enhanced performance. This project deepened my expertise and solidified my leadership skills.

Measuring Success and Future Vision

Q: What are some of the key metrics you focus on to measure the success of your initiatives?

Ankur: I focus on system uptime and availability, mean time to detect and resolve incidents, and overall system performance improvements. Cost savings, reduction in manual intervention, user satisfaction, and security metrics are also critical in measuring success.

Q: What are your long-term goals and visions for the future of site reliability engineering?

Ankur: My long-term goals include advancing automation, enhancing security, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration. I aim to develop AI-driven automation tools, integrate advanced security measures, and promote proactive observability techniques. Cultivating a strong SRE culture, designing scalable systems, and leading innovative initiatives are also key aspects of my vision for the future.

In the realm of digital technology, Ankur Harendrasinh Mahida’s journey is a beacon of inspiration. His relentless pursuit of excellence, innovative spirit, and unwavering dedication have not only earned him the prestigious Gold Award for Digital Leader of the Year but also set a benchmark for future leaders in the industry.