RBC's Technical Distinction Program: Recognizing and empowering exceptional technologists

As a leading tech organization, RBC empowers technologists with challenging projects, development opportunities and recognition for their achievements. One of the ways we do this is through programs like the Technical Distinction Program (TDP) which is similar to initiatives at large tech companies. This exclusive program recognizes and empowers our top technical talent, bringing them together to drive innovation, deliver strategic business impact, and solve critical challenges through their expertise. The TDP designation is assessed by leaders and awarded based on technical achievements.


These experts are frequently sought for their ability to shape technological progress within the bank and beyond. From research and development to implementation and integration, members of the TDP possess the technical acumen to apply disruptive technologies while delivering reliable solutions. Through collaboration and thought leadership, they actively share knowledge, driving progress across business units and clients. Their collective efforts keep RBC at the forefront of innovation while cultivating a culture of technical excellence.

In 2025, members of the TDP contributed to critical RBC technology and business priorities, including:

  • Filing 34 patents, accounting for 20 per cent of RBC’s total patent filings
  • Enhancing fraud prevention capabilities by detecting over 12,000 compromised cards, helping avoid annual losses
  • Developing AI-powered solutions for digital transformation, significantly improving pricing margins and customer retention

Celebrating RBC's newest TDP appointees

In 2025, RBC appointed three technologists to the TDP:
Riyaad Ali, Senior Director, Site Reliability Operations (SRO), Tech Infrastructure, is a multidisciplinary operations leader with full-stack expertise, currently overseeing the SRO team in both traditional operations and Site Reliability Engineering (SRE) services across our global network, cybersecurity, mainframe, distributed hosting and cloud platforms.

"While I frequently engage with technical leaders during crisis calls, these interactions – though valuable – do not provide an opportunity for meaningful idea exchange. The TDP offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with RBC's top talent in a structured setting. This will help enhance my understanding of tech stack resiliency and strengthen collaboration between applications and infrastructure teams, ultimately creating a more robust technology environment." 

- Riyaad Ali
Endri Mani, Managing Director, Head of AI & Digital Engineering, Strategy & Innovation, leads large-scale AI initiatives in Capital Markets, leveraging expertise in AI, blockchain and distributed systems to design high-performance machine learning platforms and production-ready AI solutions for trading environments. His leadership in RBC’s AI ecosystem has driven governance frameworks, responsible innovation and the future of digital innovation across trading, research and client services.

“This recognition validates what matters most: building platforms that deliver measurable business and client value. At RBC, we've proven that AI systems can drive real outcomes while meeting regulatory standards. This is about turning innovation into production.”

- Endri Mani
Igor Music, Senior Director, Software Development, Commercial, Core Banking and Payments Technology, is a financial technology expert with over 32 years of experience, who has driven RBC’s digital transformation since 2013 through modernizations like configurable product systems and Application Programming Interface (API) platforms. He spearheaded critical initiatives – including RBC Express migration and CEBA program automation – while advancing cloud adoption and simplifying legacy processes to deliver scalable, resilient digital banking solutions.

“I have enormous respect for all the TDP members, and I am proud to join the community. I have a passion for banking software, and I believe that our ability to create great banking applications has a direct impact on our clients and sets us apart from competitors. As a TDP member, I aspire to shape the way we respond to challenges and opportunities as someone who specializes in the design and development of core banking applications.”

- Igor Music
We deeply appreciate the valuable contributions Riyaad, Endri and Igor have made to RBC, along with their unwavering commitment and dedication to delivering technical excellence. We're excited to see them continue sharing their expertise and leadership as valued members of the TDP.

Want to work where your imagination makes an impact?
Apply now at Tech@RBC