Thank you to the 1,400 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 questions!
I hope reading
7 Questions with Srinivasan Mahalingam
helps you in your leadership.
Cheers,
Jonno White
7 Questions with Srinivasan Mahalingam
Name: Srinivasan Mahalingam
Current title: Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)
Current organisation: Fusion group of companies
I am 36 years old Young “Chief Information Security Officer”(CISO) awardee based out of Kumbakonam (Templet City), Tamilnadu. Currently a senior leader with 13+ years’ experience in Information Security, Advisor and Compliance. Proven leader and subject matter expert (SME) in Information Security, Governance, Risk Management and Compliance (GRC) also in Data Security & Privacy. Held Several Leadership roles within the information security space like Capgemini, UnitedHealth Group, UAE Exchange, and Exterro etc. Extensive global exposure, working across cultures such as Middle East, Western Countries also with various industries including Information Technology, Telecommunication, Healthcare, BFSI, Outsourcing and Manufacturing.
.
1. What have you found most challenging as a CEO or executive of a large enterprise?
Most of the large organizations don't align their business objectives, Mission. Vision into the organization functions and the report structures are based on the comfort or their long-term employee flexibilities. It is very difficult to implement innovations and aligning with new trends will not be an immediate effect.
2. How did you become a CEO or executive of a large enterprise? Can you please briefly tell the story?
More than decade of this industry faced lots of ups and downs, to be honest from the middle-class family first generation graduate and holding huge responsibilities without father support it's hard to tell complete story.
Be clear about what you will be next 5 to 10 years, Identify the area interest that you need to be master, check your potential, motivate yourself, take the initiative and find your own opportunities, give respect and attention to the needs of others so that they will follow you, keep big move yourself, Strong work ethics. Deliver on time, Present in confidence will take you to the next level.
3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?
My day is structured, start from workouts, Prayer, spending sometime with family and my kid, prioritized work and complete the scheduled meeting, evening spend time with family friends. This lean towards my typical routine.
4. What's the most recent significant leadership lesson you've learned?
Keep Learning. Motivate yourself. Smart work. Listen to people's opinions. React to success.
5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?
“Speeches that Changed the World” Speeches That Shaped the Modern World includes speeches that spread the message of hope, freedom, equality, justice, peace and humanity. This helps to gain an insight into the contemporary world, through the speeches that formed it.
6. How do you build leadership capacity in a large enterprise?
When you are in a position to be a leader you need clarity on best use of time, make requests and not demands to get the opinions. Empower the employees to get out their own solutions and develop a collaborative reporting and feedback system. Recognize the talents and celebrate their achievements. Be a Role model for your followers.
7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a CEO or executive of a large enterprise so far?
Providing support and pushing somebody for their improvement in the carrier was missed my entire life which I have given to most of the team members and others too. As a mentor I am always pushing my team members, subordinates and colleagues to go to the next level in their career. Happiness of their achievements gives more energy to do for the industry. I had this moment on various occasions.