From video game modding to revolutionizing financial technology, join John Ballone, Global CIO of SSNC Technologies, as he shares his fascinating journey through the evolution of modern computing. Discover how a childhood passion for BASIC programming led to pioneering work in cloud infrastructure, DevOps, and AI implementation in the financial sector. John offers unique insights into building private clouds, managing regulatory compliance, and the future of AI in enterprise technology.
Transcript
Skyward Data Guest:
John Bellone
Global CIO
SS&C
With over 20 years of experience in software architecture, systems design, and application development, John Bellone leads SS&C’s Global Technology Infrastructure, overseeing their private cloud, platform services, AI/ML infrastructure, and developer productivity.
Previously, he served as CIO and Head of Engineering for SS&C’s Health Division. At Bloomberg, he spent 9 years in the CTO Office as the cloud infrastructure product owner, building cloud platform services, leading web operations, and developing solutions for pricing derivatives.
- 15+ years of leadership in software engineering and cloud automation.
- Expert in infrastructure scaling and managed cloud services.
- Extensive experience across Finance, Media, and Healthcare sectors.
- Mentored senior staff and led organizational transformations.
- Built and scaled public and private cloud platforms at Bloomberg and SS&C.
John is a proven leader in cloud infrastructure and AI/ML technologies, driving innovation across industries.
Skyward Data Host:
Reg Harbeck
Chief Strategist
Mainframe Analytics Ltd.
Dr. Reg Harbeck is the Chief Strategist at Mainframe Analytics Ltd. He has over 35 years of experience working with mainframes across roles like systems programming, consulting, product management, and strategy.
Reg got his start with mainframes while pursuing his computer science degree at the University of Calgary in the 1980s. After graduating, he spent time as a CICS systems programmer for the government before joining Computer Associates (now Broadcom) in the late 1990s.
At CA, Reg held leadership roles driving the company’s global mainframe strategy, solutions, and services over his nearly 14-year tenure. This included founding zNextGen, an initiative to attract new generations to the mainframe workforce.
Since 2011, Reg has run his own firm — Mainframe Analytics Ltd. — where he provides industry influence, communications, and strategic consulting. He recently completed a master’s degree focused on the humanity and philosophy underlying mainframe computing.
Reg is deeply passionate about mainframes and embracing their human element. He is a frequent speaker, writer, and advocate for advancing the mainframe’s role in business.
