Digital technology governance: Deal with IT

Yes, deal with IT. To clarify, this title pertains to dealing with I.T. — Information Technology. Deal with I.T. or dig your corporate grave.

In today’s rapidly evolving digital environment, the importance of Board-level digital technology governance has become undeniable. It is no longer enough for boards to focus on the expected finance, operations, and compliance functions exclusively — they must also grasp how digital technology shapes strategic direction and risk management in operations.

Simply put, digital-savvy boards are better positioned to steer organizations through the complex and interconnected risks of the modern business landscape. Beyond risk oversight, they help drive sustainable growth by championing innovative and future-proof strategies.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the digital transformation journeys of GCash and Globe Telecom — two of the Philippines’ most prominent technology-driven organizations.

GCash: Empowering millions through digitization

Originally designed as a simple mobile money service, GCash has evolved into the Philippines’ leading financial technology platform, now serving over 80 million users. This transformation was not accidental — it was the result of a well-orchestrated digital strategy executed across good governance, operations and innovation.

Post-pandemic, GCash became an essential service for many Filipinos, particularly during lockdowns when access to financial institutions was limited. Leveraging mobile-first strategies, GCash accelerated the development and rollout of the following trailblazing services:

Scan-to-Pay (QR Payments); GSave (in-app savings account in partnership with CIMB Bank); GCredit and GGives, which offer credit scoring and buy-now-pay-later options; GInsure, which provides micro-insurance products; GCrypto, enabling users to explore digital assets securely; GLife, a lifestyle mini-app ecosystem for shopping, food, bills, and much more. It has even become a traveler’s new best friend, a travel buddy which solves just about all your financial concerns, including security, attractive foreign currency exchange rate, practicality and usage around the world.

The impact is deep, profound and impactful to society, continuously transforming our country by providing Filipinos with higher quality lifestyles through all these features.

Globe Telecom: A telco’s digital reinvention

Globe Telecom’s journey from a traditional telecommunications provider to a fully digital platform company is a textbook example of successful digital transformation at scale.

Over the last two decades, Globe restructured its core business around digital infrastructure, customer experience and agile innovation. Far more than voice calls and SMS, Globe has entrenched itself into fiber and 5G networks, increasing speed and accessibility; cloud-based services, for enterprise customers; and sustainability-linked innovations, aligning operations with ESG goals — an answer to the call of the younger generations.

Bolstered with cybersecurity, data privacy, and innovation governance, the board’s strategic decisions enabled Globe to future-proof its business, scale digital ventures rapidly, and continuously manage evolving operational and technological risks.

Why the board’s digital competence matters

A digitally competent board played the MOST crucial role in ensuring that digital initiatives were not merely buzzwords but were fully integrated into corporate strategy, overall performance and risk management to boot.

Digital transformation is no longer a department-specific endeavor — it is every board’s responsibility. The success of companies like GCash and Globe Telecom is not just about technology adoption but about the governance frameworks that empower innovation, mitigate risk, and create long-term value. Boards that embrace this digital imperative will guide their organizations toward resilience, relevance, and responsible growth in the years ahead — Strategic Governance in action!

Your kind participation, please: The Ateneo Graduate School of Business through the Department of Marketing and Strategic Management and Marketing would like to invite you to participate in the following research project: Enhancing Investor Confidence in the AI Era: The Role of Digital Governance and Board Competency. The study explores the digital readiness of corporate boards — particularly those composed of Baby Boomers — and its implications on investor confidence in publicly listed companies, preferably but not limited to the banking and insurance sectors.

If you are a board director — or know someone who is — we’d greatly appreciate your insights through a brief, confidential 3- to 5-minute survey. Scan the QR code below or visit: https://forms.gle/g262QEAqPVrgnajT8.