Why all business leaders must now be tech leaders
As we commemorate National ICT Month, it is timely to reflect not just on the rapid advances in technology, but also on the pressing call for every business in the Philippines to place technology at the core of its strategy.
Gone are the days when digital transformation was a choice or a department’s concern. Today, all companies are tech companies, whether they sell coffee or cars, manage logistics or media, or deliver health care or hospitality.
The most successful organizations have already recognized this shift. Technology is no longer just an enabler; it is a primary business imperative—the engine of innovation, competitiveness and growth. And this means one thing for leaders: all business leaders must now become tech leaders.
Traditionally, technology was relegated to the IT department. Decisions about tech tools, systems and infrastructure were left to CIOs (chief investment officers) or CTOs (chief technology officers). But the landscape has shifted. Decisions about artificial intelligence (AI), automation, cybersecurity, data privacy, cloud computing and digital platforms now have boardroom consequences.
In this new era, AI is not just an IT tool—it’s a business strategy. Cybersecurity is not just a compliance issue—it’s a reputation and revenue issue. And the ability to manage and lead with technology is no longer a technical skill—it is a leadership requirement.
AI has rapidly evolved from being an experiment of tech giants to becoming the everyday operating system of modern business. Companies across the Philippines are now exploring AI to enhance customer experiences, optimize operations and even craft marketing narratives. At its best, AI enables data-driven decision-making, smarter forecasting and operational efficiency at scale. But to unlock these benefits, it requires a culture that embraces continuous learning, experimentation and adaptation.
Part of governance fabric
This is where leadership matters most. AI initiatives often fail not because of the technology, but because of leadership paralysis—leaders who don’t understand how to lead AI projects, or how to treat AI as a novelty rather than a necessity.
Equally urgent is the matter of cybersecurity, a topic that I consistently write about. In an age where digital assets are the most valuable currency—whether data, intellectual property, or customer trust—cyberthreats have become existential. Cyberattacks can cripple operations, destroy customer confidence and invite regulatory sanctions. Yet, many Philippine businesses still underinvest in cybersecurity or fail to treat it as a strategic concern.
The truth is stark: if your business is connected, it’s vulnerable. No matter the size or sector, your organization can be a target. It’s no longer a question of if whether you will be attacked, but when—and if you will be prepared. Cybersecurity must therefore be discussed at the top level, with boards and CEOs fully engaged in risk management strategies, breach simulations and cyber resilience planning. It must become part of your governance fabric, not just an afterthought.
National ICT Month is more than a ceremonial observance—it is a wake-up call. A call for Philippine businesses to upgrade their mindsets, skillsets and tool sets.
This year’s theme reinforces the mission of the Department of Information and Communications Technology to build a digitally empowered society. But for that to happen, the private sector must lead by example.
We need to train and retrain our workforce for a digital economy. We need to make cybersecurity awareness as basic as safety drills. We need to champion AI not just for novelty, but for national competitiveness. And we need to push business leaders to go beyond delegation—to personally understand and lead technology conversations.
Tech literacy
The Filipino business leader of tomorrow must understand how algorithms affect customer decisions, how blockchain can enable trust, how machine learning models can predict churn and how cyber risks can be managed in real time.
You don’t have to become a coder or engineer. But you do need to become tech-literate. Tech-literate leaders ask smarter questions, make bolder investments and foster stronger cultures of innovation.
This isn’t optional. Markets are moving too fast, and customers are becoming too digital. The leaders who fail to evolve will find their companies overtaken not by their traditional competitors, but by more agile, tech-savvy upstarts who understand how to build value using technology.
If you’re a CEO, ask yourself: What AI tools does my company use, and what impact do they have on my margins and growth? If you’re a board member: What is our cybersecurity posture and can we withstand a major breach or ransomware attack? If you’re a founder or entrepreneur: Are you building your company on top of digital infrastructure, or just layering tech on top of legacy systems?
These are not IT questions. These are leadership questions. And they require the same strategic thinking, courage and vision we expect in every other dimension of business.
In this National ICT Month, let’s move beyond lip service. Let’s invest in building tech-first, security-aware and AI-empowered companies. Let’s encourage digital fluency in our boardrooms, not just in our backrooms. Because in the end, the future doesn’t belong to those who use tech. It belongs to those who lead with it.
The author is co-vice chair of the Technology Committee of the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and chair of the MAP Trade, Investments and Tourism Committee. He is president of DITO CME Holdings Inc. Feedback at map@map.org.ph and donaldpatricklim@gmail.com.
