By Jaclyn Chong and Kiara Rioferio
Cybersecurity often goes unnoticed—its success measured by the absence of incidents. Yet, behind this seamless facade is the incredible dedication of a team who work tirelessly behind the scenes. For the CyberInfo Security (CIS) team, this year was anything but routine. Balancing their day-to-day responsibilities, they embarked on an ambitious and uncharted Opportunity Exploration Program that required them to challenge their own boundaries.
The CyberInfo Security Opportunity Exploration Program was not only a strategic initiative designed and facilitated by the Transformation Team. It was a people-centered transformation designed to explore the potential of CIS as a revenue-generating unit, expanding beyond traditional business support. Over a 10–13 week journey, the team balanced the demands of the intense program with their usual duties, dedicating countless hours to collaborative discovery and learning. At its core, the program aims to maximize and productize CIS’ services, laying the groundwork for external offerings while fostering a more customer-centric approach within the team.
The journey was no small feat. Launched in July and culminating in October 2024, the CIS Opportunity Exploration Program guided the CIS Team through a structured journey marked by discovery, analysis, and transformation. Beginning with onboarding in Week 0, the teams conducted a diagnostic gap analysis in Week 1, assessing limitations in People, Processes, and Technology. From Weeks 2-7, the team was tasked to explore customer segments—SMEs, tech startups, and internal Aboitiz customers—and competitor insights. The following weeks (8–11) focused on developing tailored service offerings and pricing models, leading to final presentations in Week 13. Every milestone demanded grit and adaptability, and the team grew in both professional capacities and their innovative abilities.
Throughout the program, CIS stakeholders and key team leaders joined forces, guiding and challenging the team at every step. This collaborative approach underscores the collective commitment and team effort driving our transformation, with leaders across Aboitiz sharing insights and pushing for innovative-thinking that aligns with our Techglomerate capabilities.
Embracing Openness and Entrepreneurial Mindset
Throughout this journey, the team exemplified a shift toward openness and an entrepreneurial mindset—key Techglomerate Capabilities. They embraced a learning-focused attitude, remaining open to new insights and actively seeking feedback to refine their strategy and approach. One participant observed, “Knowing and acknowledging our gaps keeps us grounded.” Meanwhile, another emphasized the importance of partnerships as a pathway for growth.
The program also inspired a proactive approach to identifying core strengths and improving team dynamics. They shared that the experience led to “internal team assessment,” aligning individual development plans with strategic goals. Throughout the program, the team exemplified A+10 behaviors, notably Entrepreneurial, Open, and Fast. As described, “We were open to feedback, fast in response, and adopted an entrepreneurial approach.”
Looking Ahead
As CIS moves forward, key takeaways include further identifying service opportunities, refining the business case through market validation, and enhancing solution design. The team is now poised to tackle next steps, focusing on addressing capability gaps and collaborating with Core Transformation to secure needed support.
The CIS Opportunity Exploration Program has garnered a valuable mindset shift among the CIS team, who valued the mentorship and structure, rating the experience highly and noting its potential as a model for future initiatives. This journey has not only equipped the CIS team with a strong foundation for growth but has also instilled a collaborative, innovative mindset ready to lead in an evolving market
The goal is to continue toward being “CISaaS” for internal and eventual external clients. Cybersecurity as a Service is the great equalizer for small and medium businesses, enabling them to defend against sophisticated threats with the same agility, intelligence, and resilience as large enterprises—without breaking the bank.
For her part as Executive Team Lead and Sponsor, Charmaine Valmonte shared, “Our new vision is to empower small and medium enterprises with cybersecurity that is no longer a barrier but a strategic advantage—affordable, adaptable, and scalable. Our mission is to simplify and strengthen security, providing solutions that not only protect what matters today but evolve to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Together, we make cybersecurity a foundation for growth, resilience, and confidence in a constantly changing world.”
This is the story of the people behind CIS – how their dedication, resilience, and openness to change are shaping the future of cybersecurity for Aboitiz. Their continuing journey is proof that transformation begins with people, and it is through their efforts that CIS is poised to grow, innovate, and lead the way as the Philippines’ first techglomerate.
