Based in Mississauga, Alok Daga has served as the chief information officer at a Toronto financial institution since 2002. Alok Daga draws on extensive experience as a C-level business partner, allowing him to align technology objectives and strategy with long-term business priorities.
As a senior technology executive, Alok Daga consistently demonstrates his ability to build advanced data capabilities to support revenue-generating opportunities and risk mitigation efforts. His dedication to strong fiscal governance emphasizes return-on-investment objectives and the monetization of technology investments.
Alok Daga oversees all digital transformation efforts and the application of emerging technologies. His other responsibilities at the financial institution include developing and integrating more than 500 individuals across offshore, near-shore, and in-house locations and driving business growth through highly scalable, modular, and resilient technology platforms. His team accounts for approximately 40 percent of the company’s net income after taxes.
His professional interests range from artificial intelligence in wholesale banking and software development to the digitization of organizational processes. Alok Daga earned a degree in economics from St. Xavier’s College.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical workday is about 10 hours long. It is equally split between helping others succeed, delivering values and doing strategic reviews. Time is also spent in deepening relationships and understanding how to jointly succeed.
How do you bring ideas to life?
By thinking through what is possible and then taking small steps to execute and validate along the way. A big part of my focus is to align ideas with opportunity.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The advent of AI will significantly transform how humans work and interact with technology.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Reading and listening to leaders. It helps me better understand the landscape and how challenges are similar across domains.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Take bigger career risks and spend more time with family.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
The cycle of change is reducing and will have a profound impact on the new generation.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
Reading and listening to industry leaders from all spheres of life.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
Normally, take a walk or take a nap to let things pass.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Investing in relationships has always worked in the long term. It means short-term sacrifice or investing more than others … but it always works out in the long term.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I was not out there selling my team’s contribution. It let others take the spotlight, whereas my team suffered.
Since then, I have made a firm commitment to myself to allocate time to communicate wins and showcase talent in the group.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
AI will transform all businesses. Successful leaders should embrace this technology to drive their teams forward
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
Excel. It allows me to run multiple computations and scenarios while reviewing options.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?/
Nice pair of walking shoes.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
I like listening to the “All-In” and “Naval” podcasts. They both provide a good perspective and a short-term and long-term-view. They both provide a framework to view changes through them.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I thoroughly enjoyed watching The Night Manager. It showcased how one can be a perceiver in light of challenges all around them.
Key learnings
- Embrace technology.
- Investing in relationships leads to personal growth and fosters professional success.
- Listening to leaders and industry experts from all walks of life widens perspective and understanding.