Union Bank of the Philippines (UnionBank) has expanded its graduate program, L.E.A.D. (Leader Executive Accelerated Development) by introducing TechLEAD, a program focused on developing technical talent to become leaders of tomorrow. 

UnionBank’s initial LEAD Program, established in 2009, is a fast-track and accelerated curriculum designed to provide its management trainees or LEADs with 6-7-year training and job experiences. The aim is to prepare and enable the individuals to contribute to UnionBank. The course also equips the LEADs for the next significant step-up in the organization.

“We are developing future data scientists, information security managers, digital delivery leads and future flow masters, software developers, cloud engineers, and architects who will eventually become DevSecOps engineers, as well as UX and CX designers,” said Catherine Ann Santiago, UnionBank’s Technology Capability lead for the Human Resource Group. “They will be going through fast-tracked learning pathways and taking industry certifications in preparation for expanded and enhanced jobs, as mentioned — all of which are essential to the Bank’s sustained efforts of truly being digital.”

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The LEADs undergo a 24-month rotation within a specialization area to immerse them in end-to-end processes (front, middle, and back-office) to hone the trainees’ people-leading and people-managing skills.

Tech LEADs will go through a 12-month development curriculum, exploring UnionBank’s ways of working, its technical landscape, and other IT processes. They will also have exposures to establish business skills and leadership foundation; required to pass industry certifications to set the framework for a successful career in technology. Currently, UnionBank is training 79 LEADs.

UnionBank hopes that the students will develop a life-long learning habit and explore beyond the 12-month program. The bank is also on a quest to educate more people about transforming their own organizations and cultures; so it is confident that sharing, teaching, and learning are all aspects of leadership.