The World CIO 200 Summit Grand Finale Highlights Egypt hosts the world’s brightest tech minds at the World CIO 200 Grand Finale

The World CIO 200 Grand Finale in Egypt brought together CIOs, industry leaders, and partners for three unforgettable days of inspiration, networking, and celebration. Against the iconic backdrops of Cairo and Alexandria, the event offered a perfect blend of thought leadership, interactive experiences, cultural immersion, and global recognition.

This year’s finale marked a milestone moment with highlights that underscored the scale and spirit of the community:

The culmination of a 50-country tour, uniting CIOs and technology leaders from around the world.
More than 40 hours of networking and innovation showcases, fostering collaboration and fresh ideas.
A historic first: 200 CIOs rowing together in a dragon boat race on the Nile, a remarkable display of camaraderie and teamwork.
A spectacular dinner beneath the Pyramids, offering a once-in-a-lifetime cultural experience.
A powerful performance where 300+ hearts became one with Vandana Hart, celebrating unity through art.
10 thought-provoking speakers delivering compelling insights on technology, leadership, and the future of innovation.
10 technology showcases featuring cutting-edge keynotes from sponsoring partners.
3 major sign-ups with GCF, strengthening the Forum’s global footprint.
Recognition of 50 ambassadors for their exceptional contributions to country-level success.
More than 180 B2B matchmaking sessions, driving tangible business opportunities.
60 speed-dating sessions, sparking new collaborations and partnerships.
2 interactive workshops, equipping leaders with practical skills and strategies.
2 certification courses, adding value to participants’ professional growth and credentials.

Together, these milestones made the World CIO 200 Grand Finale 2025 not just an event, but a defining moment in celebrating the leaders shaping the future of technology and global innovation.

Ronak Samantaray, CEO of Global Enterprise Connect, said: “The World CIO 200 Grand Finale is more than a summit — it is a movement. To see leaders from 50 countries come together, share knowledge, and celebrate each other’s journeys is a powerful reminder of what global collaboration can achieve. Egypt gave us a historic stage, and the CIO community made history upon it.”

Akashdeep Singh, Executive Director of Global CIO Forum, added: “From rowing together on the Nile to learning under the shadows of the Pyramids, this Grand Finale symbolised resilience, unity, and ambition. Our CIOs are not only adapting to change but are leading it, and this gathering was proof of their ability to transform industries and societies alike.”

Richa S, Chief Commercial Officer of Global Enterprise Connect, shared her reflections: ‘At the Global CIO Forum, we believe that true growth comes from long-term partnerships built on trust, value, and shared success. Our focus is not just on partner acquisition but on deep engagement and sustained retention — ensuring that every partner feels invested in our journey and sees tangible returns on their commitment.”

Highlights of the grand finale experience

Day 1:

The journey began in Cairo with the Egypt Country Edition Awards, honoring distinguished leaders under categories including Next-Gen, Leader, Master, and Legend. Guests then embarked on the Dragon Boat Race at Nile (powered by Orbus Software and F9 Infotech), culminating in the presentation ceremony. The evening featured a spectacular networking session at the Giza Pyramids, complemented by performances from Vandana Hart and Evelyn Chang. The day closed with dinner, networking, and the awe-inspiring Pyramids Light & Sound Experience, before guests traveled to Alexandria for the next leg of the journey.

Day 2:

The day opened with the Ribbon Cutting and Official Inauguration, followed by inspiring keynotes from Basil Ayass (Event Maestro), Ronak Samantaray (Global Enterprise Connect), Venkatesh Mahadevan (Global CIO Forum), Charbel Zreiby (Dell Technologies), and Panagiotis Kouris (Office Line SA). Thought leadership sessions featured Marcel Kampman (Happykamping) and John Liu (Commonland Foundation), while Gopan Sivasankaran (Sophos) shared insights on navigating digital compliance challenges.

Interactive workshops included Dr. Rachel Wong Mei Ming (HELP University) leading a session on foundational microlearning. Additional keynote sessions featured Justin Endres (Seclore), Imran Abdulla (Orbus Software), Rajeev Dutt (Swiss GRC), Dr. Ahmed Farouk (QAED), and Ektaa Sibal (NITI Aayog). Participants also engaged in hands-on workshops led by Dr. Mike Smith (Smith Research & Development, LLC) and Sandy Basil (Litt), exploring strategies for building a legacy-inspired CIO culture. The day concluded with a celebratory dinner, a themed clubbing night, and the GCF Global Leaders Meet.

Day 3:

Day 3 began with a Mindful Morning session by Ektaa Sibal, followed by a thought leadership session from Vandana Hart (100 Hearts). Keynotes featured Gopi Krishnan (Stealth AI Start-up), Hameedullah Khan (SUDO Consultants), Dr. Ahmed Farouk (QAED), Samer Semaan (PureStorage), Major General Indrabalan (VDUT), Siva Prakash (ManageEngine), Allen Yeung (Intelli Global Corporation), Mustapha Rafiki (Logitech), Frum van Egmond (Humanifold), Sunny Gambhir (Windmill Ventures), and Dan Povey (Windmill Ventures AG).

The Graduation Day Ceremony (powered by HPE) honored the Class of 2025, celebrating their achievements, leadership journeys, and the milestones that mark their exceptional contributions to the global CIO community

Engaging sessions also included executive workshops by Rachel Cooper (Executive Resilience Certification) and interactive challenges like the Great Kahoot Challenge, offering participants fun and learning simultaneously. Networking breaks and lunches provided opportunities to connect with peers, sponsors, and partners.

The Grand Finale concluded with a Gala Dinner, celebrating the 10th Year Anniversary of the World CIO 200 and the launch of BOTS – The Book of Titans, honoring the journeys of the world’s top 200 CIOs. The evening also featured the IMPACT 2025 awards, recognizing stalwart ambassadors, and a fun CIO vs Partners trivia challenge, wrapping up the event on a festive and high-energy note.

The World CIO 200 Grand Finale – Egypt Edition was a remarkable celebration of leadership, collaboration, and innovation, leaving an indelible mark on all attendees and setting the stage for the next edition.

A special thanks to the sponsors and partners — whose vision, innovation, and support made this event possible and amplified the impact of the 10th anniversary celebrations of the World CIO 200 Summit.

Platinum Sponsors
OfficeLine | Mindware | Dell

Silver Sponsors
Accops | Amiviz | Securenet | Sangfor | SAVIC

Exhibiting Partners

Supporting Partners
Safe4Sure | HTP Global Technologies | PNP

Special Categories