CBN Young Dragon Awards: Meet the candidates in the Technology category

Votes are still flooding in for the public’s choice for the young entrepreneurs and professionals under the age of 40 who will be awarded as part of the newly established CBN Young Dragon Awards.

The Awards Ceremony will be taking place in Nicosia on 2 December and attendance is by invitation only.

With three finalists in each award category have selected and announced by the Awards Committee, the public can, until 26 November, still continue to cast their vote and shape the final result, contributing to and decisively determining the selection of each category's awardee. The public's vote will count on a 50%-50% scale with the Award Committee's vote.

The three finalists in the Technology (technology companies, software, hardware, telcos, etc.) award category, as selected by the Awards Committee, are:

• Daniil Petin | Vice President Mobility | inDrive
• Ahmad Fayad | IT Compliance Manager, DPO | eToro Europe
• Theodoros Mantis | Head of Payroll & Migration | BrainRocket

Daniil Petin

Company: inDrive

Position: Vice President Mobility

Petin is an exceptional technology leader with a remarkable blend of talent, accomplishments, and potential. As Vice President of Mobility at inDrive, Petin has driven innovation and growth across Delivery and Transportation units, contributing significantly to the international and Cyprus tech landscapes. Petin's bold vision enabled rapid product development, advanced processes, and innovative acquisition channels. Beyond his corporate role, Petin shares knowledge with the broader tech community, speaking at prestigious events like the Reflect Tech Conference in Limassol. His innovative thinking and problem-solving abilities have earned him respect and recognition in business arena. At inDrive, Petin fosters a collaborative and high-performing work environment, emphasizing teamwork and effective communication. His ability to lead cross-functional projects and manage diverse teams has been key to achieving operational excellence and market expansion. Petin 's dedication to revolutionizing urban mobility and his vision for a more efficient and sustainable future is evident in his contributions: e.g. a $110 million GMV growth in Mobility business year-over-year.

His strategic vision, innovative thinking, and collaborative leadership make Petin a standout nominee for the Dragon Awards in the Technology category. His impact on the Cyprus tech landscape and his commitment to excellence highlight his potential to drive further advancements in the field. Petin also completed an executive program at Stanford and a Sustainability Leadership program at Cambridge.

Years with the company: 2.5

Years in current position: 2.5

Ahmad Fayad

Company: eToro Europe

Position: IT Compliance Manager, DPO, ITCO

As Group ITCO, Fayad has implemented and maintaining the Cyber Security program. A Board member and Data Protection Officer (DPO), he provides advice and oversight to ensure compliance information security policies are kept. With over 5 years of IT experience, a background in security and compliance, and deep knowledge of industry regulations, Fayad is well-qualified for this role. His strong communication, relationship-building, and problem-solving skills are crucial for success in this position. He demonstrates strong talent and achievements in his work. Fayad exhibits strong leadership qualities by efficiently managing his team, providing support and guidance, and creating a positive environment. He delegates tasks, encourages decision-making, and conducts regular meetings to ensure alignment and assess his team's needs. A commitment to developing others by providing opportunities for learning and giving both positive and negative feedback when necessary.

Innovative thinking and problem-solving, demonstrating his ability to learn new technologies which have allowed him to create his own queries and dashboards. Has Clear objectives for his work and life developments, always growing, enhancing his knowledge in the fields of technology and compliance. Fayad has demonstrated talent and achievements in his work, leadership qualities, innovative thinking and problem-solving, effective collaboration, clear articulation of ideas and concepts, potential for a successful career path. Ethical conduct, commitment to making a positive impact beyond the workplace."

Years with the company: 3

Years in current position: 3

Theodoros Mantis

Company: Brainrocket Ltd, Cyprus Payroll Management Association (CPMA)

Position: For Brainrocket - Head of Payroll & Migration , For CPMA - Founder and President of the Board

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better." Mantis’ career path and direction have both evolved over time and will continue to do so. From being an associate within one of the Big4 firms in Cyprus, to now leading the payroll management industry his journey has been nothing short but interesting. Adding a new dimension to his journey was the establishment of Cyprus Payroll Management Association, 4 years ago. The CPMA at this stage is serving over 50,000 members directly and indirectly across the Republic making it one of the biggest Associations in the island. Additionally, a step in Mantis’ career was taking on the challenge of being the Head of Payroll and Migration in Brainrocket one of the fastest growing IT companies in Cyprus which has been pivotal for his development. Overall, his multi-faceted role within the industry has granted Mantis the opportunity to collaborate with a great number of stakeholders, companies as well as governmental parties and assist in making decisions for bettering the future of Payroll Management. Currently he holds the below positions: Brainrocket Ltd - Head of Payroll & Migration / CPMA - Founder/President of the Board of Directors / Global Payroll Association - Representative of Global Payroll Association in Cyprus/ Cyprus Organisation for Standardisation - Member of Mirror Committee 13.06 Human Resource Management / Civil Registry and Migration Department - Participation to the International Business Companies Discussion Party/Group.

Years with the company: 4

Years in current position: 4

Through the CBN Young Dragon Awards, Cyprus Business News will reward and celebrate new talents, potential and their early achievements in the business sector.

The CBN Young Dragon Awards will honour professionals/executives under the age of 40 who have demonstrated outstanding achievement, leadership and commitment to making a positive impact on their companies.

One person will receive the Dragon Award for each category, starting a new or renewed business and career path.

This year's awards ceremony is presented by Cyta Business and also supported by Punin Group and ECOMMBX, proudly highlighting the value and importance of the institution.

Those members of the public who wish to participate in the voting can only vote for one candidate per category, while you do not have to choose a candidate in all categories for your vote to be valid. You can vote via the same IP address only once.

To take part in the vote click HERE