Makati Philippines — The Asian Institute of Management (AIM) recently hosted a very timely event, “Securing the Financial Future: Building a Strong Synergy Between Cybersecurity and Fintech,” bringing together AIM students and alumni, cybersecurity experts, fintech pioneers, and government leaders, to catalyze a paradigm shift in how we approach digital finance and security.
Jeffrey Ian Dy, Undersecretary for Infrastructure Management, Cybersecurity, and Upskilling at the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), set the tone with a powerful keynote address. “We are not just defending data anymore,” Dy asserted, “we are safeguarding the very foundations of our digital economy.” His urgent call for real-time threat intelligence sharing resonated throughout the event, underlining the critical need for collaboration in an era where cyberattacks are increasing and can potentially cripple the whole nation.
Undersecretary Dy’s unifying call to move beyond mere compliance reports to a proactive, synergistic defense strategy set the stage for a day of innovative thinking. His vision of making the cost of attacking financial systems extremely expensive through collective action became a recurring theme, echoing through subsequent discussions.
Brandon Gelo Wong, the young and inspiring startup founder and core member of the Blockchain Council of the Philippines, shared valuable lessons and left the participants with an eye-opener, “Tech is a one-way street. Innovate or die,” encapsulating the urgency of continuous innovation in the fast-paced world of fintech. Wong’s insights, drawn from his high-speed rise in the industry, provided a fresh perspective on the challenges and opportunities facing young entrepreneurs in digital finance. 
The event featured two panel discussions that brought together diverse expertise across the cybersecurity and fintech industries. Atty. Laurice Esteban-Tuason, Senior Vice President & Corporate Compliance Officer and Data Protection Officer of Converge ICT Solutions Inc. shared, “Companies should adopt a strategic mindset when it comes to cybersecurity. They should have a combination of technical skills, business skills, and communication skills.”
Albert Tinio, CEO of GoTyme Bank, unveiled an underlying fact, “The more digital we become, the more human we must be.” This philosophy is reshaping customer interactions in digital banking, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a human touch even as financial services become increasingly automated. Ann Cuisia, Founder and CEO of Traction Tech Inc. added, “We are not just digitizing, we are empowering access to financial services,” highlighting the transformative potential of fintech to bring financial services to underserved populations.
The Master in Cybersecurity and Master of Science in Financial Technology programs at the Asian Institute of Management are at the forefront of preparing the next generation of leaders in these critical fields. By providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to address the challenges of the digital age, AIM is contributing to a more secure and innovative financial future.
For those ready to be at the forefront of this financial revolution, AIM stands as the nexus where innovation meets security. To learn more about pioneering programs related to cybersecurity and financial technology, visit aim.edu.