By Victoria “NIKE” De Dios
It is undeniable that the much-needed digital transformation and innovation that the world needs in order to remain resilient, relevant and “future-proof” even post-COVID-19 scenario will continue as lifestyle and way businesses are conducted have evolved.
Ensuring to be properly equipped, Asia Pacific’s Digital Trailblazer Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) recently launched the first-ever Asian Institute of Digital Transformation (AIDT) through a virtual signing of the Memorandum of Agreement last February 19, 2021, between UnionBank, led by its President and CEO Edwin R. Bautista, and Global Learning Solutions Singapore, led by its founder and CEO Roger Collantes.
The AIDT Academic Advisory Board is headed by the former president of the University of the Philippines and Board of Regents co-chairman Alfredo E. Pascual, together with leading Asian EduTech entrepreneur Rina Neoh, and other well-known technology experts.
UnionBank is a staunch advocate of digital transformation and technology innovations since it embarked on its digital transformation four years ago. An award-winning digital banking leader, UnionBank is IDC’s Asia Pacific Digital Trailblazer in 2020, three-time Digital Bank of the Year Philippines by The Asset, and three-time Best Digital Bank Philippines by Asiamoney. Bautista himself was recognized as The Asset’s Digital Banker of Year in Asia Pacific for 2020.
Founded in Singapore more than ten years ago, Global Learning Solutions is an immersive virtual learning portal for executive education that offers highly curated masterclass programs for companies in the Asian region.
An MIT Sloan and Capgemini Study reports that 90% of CEOs believe the digital economy will impact their industry but only 15% are executing on a digital strategy.
The institute was founded by UnionBank to specifically address the urgent need of many senior leaders and corporate board members to implement their own digital transformation initiatives but do not have the internal capacities and core competencies to make it happen.
Former Cisco Executive Chairman John Chambers predicted that “at least 40% of all businesses will die in the next 10 years if they don’t figure out how to change their entire company to accommodate new technologies”.
“The leadership choice today is quite simple: to digitize or perish. The question is no longer whether or not to transform, but how soon and how fast. We at UnionBank remain steadfast in our commitment to ‘Tech Up Pilipinas’ and enable inclusive prosperity to fuel sustainable growth, making sure that no one gets left behind,” said Bautista, chief architect of UnionBank’s digital transformation.
Part of AIDT’s flagship programs is an intensive 8-week Live Virtual Executive MasterClass on Digital Transformation offered to companies and organizations, to be conducted by global faculty mentors from around the world, including UnionBank senior FinTech experts. The institute offers short courses and masterclass programs that have three unique pillars: especially curated curriculum content, practice-oriented faculty mentors and immersive virtual learning delivery platform.
The first Executive MasterClass on Digital Transformation will be conducted in May to June of 2021.
For program inquiries, you may contact AIDT Admissions Manager Tammie Chua @+65 9842 3200 (Singapore) or UnionBank CHRO Michelle Rubio @+63 917 825 5602 (Philippines).
