In today’s world, Filipino security experts are up against a new wave of challenges. Offenders are getting smarter and more creative, using methods and technology that are often years ahead of everyone else. Threats are also not just limited to one space these days, often, they now cross over from the physical world into cyberspace. This makes it incredibly important for the Aboitiz Group Security Teams to not just keep up but stay ahead, optimizing business continuity and resilience.
This past April, Aboitiz Group security professionals gathered for the Security Futures Thinking Workshop. Part of the wider 14th Security Forum led by the AEV Workplace Asset Management Team, this workshop series was co-hosted in collaboration with the AEV Transformation Team. Together, they designed the sessions to integrate the principles of futures thinking into security plans.
In an ever-evolving landscape of threats and vulnerabilities, it is imperative that we continuously adapt and anticipate the challenges that lie ahead. With these workshops, we continue with our collective journey towards envisioning the future of security within the Aboitiz Group, strategizing proactive measures to stay ahead of the curve.
—Doni Rae Dionisio, AVP for Workplace Asset Management, AEV
This approach aligns with the organization’s broader goals for transformation, ensuring that the Group’s security measures are proactive and forward-thinking.
Here’s an overview of the key learnings the participants uncovered:
1. Be strategic in applying trends and technologies
The workshop series started with a virtual session that explored the necessary external and internal contexts for embarking on the Futures Thinking journey. AEV VP for Transformation Dea Franko Csuba highlighted the importance of adopting a forward-looking approach by addressing how security is evolving due to new, emerging threats.
Dea recounted an interaction with Mark Goodman, former Cybercrime Head at the FBI, who shared in a conference, “At any given moment of time, we are at least three to five years behind criminals… No matter how hard [large organizations] try, they cannot catch up with the advancement of criminals, whose first and foremost business is to leverage vulnerabilities and security gaps.“
She continued, “We want to use this first day of our workshop series to open your minds about those future possibilities,” linking this shift in mindset directly to Aboitiz’s overarching strategy for transformation.
The session then delved into the latest security megatrends, covering advancements in both physical and cybersecurity. Utilizing the Futures Wheel, participants visualized the potential impacts of these trends and disruptive technologies on their operations, highlighting the crucial shift from reactive to proactive security strategies.
2. Have a clear vision of your goals and deep understanding of stakeholders’ needs
The following week, a virtual session was held to refresh the group’s collective vision and redefine stakeholder maps. Regular updates to the vision and stakeholder maps are essential to ensure that strategies remain aligned with shifting priorities and stakeholder needs, and that resources are funneled into the right channels.
3. Ensure we continue to add value by tailoring solutions
On Day 3, the focus turned to utilizing the Value Proposition Canvas to sharpen the teams’ understanding of their customer profiles, aiming to tailor security solutions that effectively meet specific needs and strategic goals of key stakeholders.
4. Create actionable steps for future strategies
The final in-person session on April 25th brought everything together. After refining the teams’ Value Proposition Canvases and discussing their collective GT Vision, they developed actionable steps for future performance metrics and refined their ways of working, setting a practical blueprint for how security teams can bolster their strategies in alignment with their goals.
A significant insight from the final session was the different Security teams’ focus on cultivating a proactive security mindset within the Group. They emphasized the need for all employees to be vigilant, informed, and engaged in security practices. The team aims to create a culture where everyone understands the importance of security and actively participates in safeguarding the organization.
5. Commit to continuous improvement
The forum wrapped up with a commitment exercise, wherein participants pledged to continue their journey of innovation and improvement.
Each workshop not only equipped the teams with critical insights but also reinvigorated their commitment to lead in the security field, armed with a forward-looking approach and strategic foresight.
UnionBank Physical Security Head Norrie Dy noted how the program served as an opportunity for her team to identify capability gaps and discover tools to address those gaps, ensuring they stay adaptable and agile amid the fast-changing world. She said “The core function of the Physical Security Division of UnionBank has shifted from purely reactive measures like the deployment of guards to a more preventative approach that is heavily reliant on technology like access control systems, surveillance cameras, and alarms.”
“Considering that technology is constantly changing, the workshop provided the PSD team with new ideas, tools, and frameworks that can help the team navigate the constantly changing security and business environment in which we operate. Moreover, events like this allow the team to network with their counterparts from other Aboitiz business units,” she added.
Meanwhile, AIC Senior Manager – Risk, Transformation and Strategy Abegail Silva emphasized how the Workshop Series inspired their team. She said, “Attending the 14th Aboitiz Security Forum’s Future Thinking Workshop was an enlightening experience. The journey through Discover, Dream, Design, and Dedicate to Deliver taught me valuable lessons about adaptability and innovation in security practices. Our team’s transformational journey has already begun, with new strategies and approaches emerging from this workshop.”
“We’re excited to integrate these learnings into our future plans, ensuring we stay ahead of evolving security threats. The workshop’s emphasis on A+10 behaviors like openness and innovation has inspired us to adopt a more collaborative and forward-thinking mindset, propelling us towards success. The workshop was not just educational but also enjoyable, fostering a culture of purpose-driven collaboration within our team,” she added.
For his part, AIC Physical Security Manager Marvin Ancanan highlighted significant benefits of the workshop in terms of practical learning, strategic preparedness, and behavioral engagement, all of which are essential for the ongoing transformation and future readiness of the team at Aboitiz.
He shared, “The key thing that I liked from the workshop is that we got to dream up the most simple yet critical solutions to various problems, especially in terms of security matters. It definitely contributes to preparing not just our team but the whole Aboitiz Group.”
During his closing remarks, AP VP for Safety, Health, Environment and Security Richard Cruz shared how the Security Futures Thinking Workshop spiced up this year’s Security Forum.
“The way we did the forum this year is an evolution on the way we have done the forums in the past. I like that we not only got together for a day or two, but really worked together in the different virtual workshops to try and determine what we need to do in order to identify opportunities to transform the security teams to add further value to the organization,” Richard said.
“We cannot remain stagnant. Our roles can only be relevant if we are willing to evolve. What we have done this past month are important stepping stones in this evolution. While we have differences in technologies and business models across SBUs, the fundamentals of physical asset security are the same. It is how we will leverage the possibilities offered by advancements in technology and agile ways of working can we truly make a difference,” he concluded.
The Security Forum is an annual event organized by the AEV Workplace Asset Management Team that aims to facilitate knowledge sharing and collaboration, training and education, as well as networking opportunities amongst the different Security Teams across the Group. This year’s focus is to ensure Security’s alignment towards the organization’s wider Great Transformation goals and leveraged on Futures Thinking.
The Transformation Team is thrilled to collaborate as partners in empowering A-People across the Group with a future-ready mindset and equipping them with essential tools for effective strategic planning and capability building. Together, we are charting a course towards a more innovative and impactful future, where each member of our team plays a pivotal role in achieving our Techglomerate aspirations.
