AIM Transforms Master’s Programs to Address Critical AI and Cybersecurity Leadership Gaps

MAKATI CITY, Philippines – As artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity rapidly transform how
organizations operate, the need for leaders who can integrate these advances into business
strategy has never been more urgent.

In response, the Asian Institute of Management (AIM), one of Asia’s leading business schools, has
redesigned two of its master’s programs to close the growing leadership gap in these fields.
The Master in Data Analytics (MDA) and Master in Cybersecurity (MCS) have evolved into the Master
in AI and Data Analytics (MAIDA) and the Executive Master in Cybersecurity Management (EMCSM),
respectively. Both programs are designed to prepare leaders to confidently navigate an economy
where data, innovation, and digital security power business growth and competitiveness.

Across industries, organizations are grappling with a critical shortage of leaders who can bridge
technical capability and strategic insight. While technical specialists understand the tools, few
business executives possess the fluency to turn AI and cybersecurity into engines of growth and
resilience.

“This transformation reflects the Institute’s recognition that AI and cybersecurity are no longer
emerging trends but essential business imperatives,” said Professor Christopher Monterola, Head
of the Aboitiz School of Innovation, Technology, & Entrepreneurship at AIM. “Companies need
leaders who can address these challenges now, not in some distant future.”

Master in AI and Data Analytics (MAIDA): Developing Drivers for the AI Age
“AI and data analytics are the new racecar. MAIDA is designed to train exceptional racers,” explains
Professor Kenneth Co, Academic Program Director of MAIDA. Prof. Co likens today’s AI and data
tools to a high-performance machine, capable of incredible speed and power, but only as effective
as the person operating it. “Having access to AI technologies isn’t enough,” he says. “Leaders need
to know when to accelerate, when to pivot, and how to keep control in complex business
environments.”

MAIDA equips them with that capability – to utilize data strategically, make informed decisions, and
drive measurable business results. Participants gain mastery in descriptive, diagnostic, predictive,
and prescriptive analytics, leveraging advanced AI techniques to generate tangible business
impact. Key additions to the curriculum are Fundamentals of Programming and Vibe Coding with AI,
Business Statistics for Decision-Making, Data Visualization and Storytelling in Business Intelligence,
AI for Data Analytics and other related electives.

The program also emphasizes ethical leadership and governance. Graduates learn to harness AI
responsibly, communicate insights effectively, and lead cross-functional, AI-driven
transformation.

Executive Master in Cybersecurity Management (EMCSM): Leadership for a Secure Digital Age
The Executive Master in Cybersecurity Management (EMCSM) is designed for senior leaders who
manage cybersecurity as a high-impact business priority. Building on the Institute’s established
Master in Cybersecurity program, the redesigned EMCSM sharpens its focus on developing
executives and decision-makers who can lead at the intersection of business strategy, governance,
and cyber resilience.

“Cybersecurity is a boardroom issue, not just an IT concern,” said Professor Philip Kwa, Academic
Program Director of EMCSM. “Executives need to understand governance, risk, and resilience to
safeguard business continuity, customer trust, and competitiveness. The demand for cybersecurity
leaders – here in the Philippines and around the world – continues to accelerate as organizations
face increasingly complex digital threats.”

While the program’s curriculum remains comprehensive, its refined positioning ensures that
professionals gain not only technical awareness but also leadership and management perspectives
on cybersecurity. Courses such as Strategy and IT Security Governance, Cybersecurity Policy,
Ethics, and Law, and Security Management and Digital Forensics equip participants to
contextualize technical risks within organizational strategy and enterprise-wide decision-making.

EMCSM develops leaders capable of making informed cybersecurity investments, assessing
organizational vulnerabilities, and embedding resilience and governance at every entry level of the
organization.

Bridging the Leadership Gap
Through MAIDA and EMCSM, AIM reasserts its position at the critical intersection of business and
technology. These programs embody the Institute’s conviction: technology creates real impact only
when leaders strategically align technological advancements with purpose and organizational
goals.

They are founded on the understanding that data, innovation, and cybersecurity are not separate
from business – they define it.

“The market isn’t waiting for leaders to catch up,” said Professor Jose Gerardo Santamaria, Head of
the Washington SyCip Graduate School of Business at AIM. “Organizations need decision-makers
who can lead initiatives, evaluate cybersecurity postures, and make sound technology investments
today. That’s who these programs develop.”

As organizations face implementation challenges, talent shortages, and the realities of operating in
an AI-augmented world, the Asian Institute of Management’s redesigned master’s programs equip
leaders with the skills and insight that businesses urgently need – preparing them not just to keep
pace with a digitally driven world, but to lead it.