A Ka-Globe’s Quiet Courage Behind Our Firewalls

Sharon Mallorca-Torreverde, Delivery Lead for Cybersecurity Enablement,  protects systems, empowers teams, and mentors the next generation of tech talent—while raising two daughters and pursuing her master’s in cybersecurity. She has chosen courage everyday: showing up while pregnant and exhausted, “doing it scared” in new roles, and treating education as protection for every Filipino online. See what courage looks like behind the firewall.

One of the best decisions I’ve made in my professional journey was to be part of Globe Telecom.

When I look back, my journey at Globe has really been a journey in courage: choosing to step into a field that’s always changing, daring to take on roles I’d never done before, and continuing to show up even when the path felt doubly hard.

My Globe journey in tech started in 2016, and I’ve held several roles in Cybersecurity since then. I spent over six years in Identity and Access Management, then moved into Cloud Security, Security Risk Assessment, and Compliance Strategy, and currently serve as Delivery Lead for Cybersecurity Enablement.

This was when I spoke about cybersecurity to students of PUP Manila.

Cybersecurity is a field with many pillars, offering opportunities for anyone who’s curious and committed. Emerging technologies and constant change are part of the landscape, and how you adapt and stay ahead becomes your differentiator.

My kids are growing up in an increasingly digital world... I’m passionate about my work because it helps create a safer cyberspace for them and their generation. That’s the impact I want to leave.

Working in cybersecurity in a telco—spaces that have traditionally been male-dominated—has pushed me to build a different kind of strength. For me, courage started as a mindset I had to choose every day.

It's always a joy for me to be invited in panel discussions where I can share my knowledge to many individuals.

Courage has been about having a fortified mindset. In cybersecurity, people may question your perspective until you prove your capability and reliability. I focus on delivering results, accepting constructive feedback, and prioritizing what has the greatest impact… whether it’s leading a security project or enabling teams to adopt safer practices.

I act with purpose, knowing that my work not only delivers outcomes but also sets a standard for others to follow.

That same mindset has carried me through some of the most demanding seasons of my life as a woman, a mom, and a professional in tech.

I've always been proactive in speaking at the Senior Digizen program to enable our senior citizens about cybersecurity, especially during these times where fraud is evident.

For me, courage is choosing to move forward even when the journey is doubly hard. 

During my almost 10 years at Globe, I went through two pregnancies while continuing to work and grow in my career. Anyone who has experienced pregnancy knows how physically and emotionally demanding it can be… managing the symptoms, the recovery, and everything in between… while still striving to show up as your best self at work.

At my graduation ceremony when I achieved my Masters in Cybersecurity

In 2022, I decided to pursue a master’s degree in cybersecurity. Shortly after starting the program, I learned I was pregnant during the medical screening required for enrollment. Backing out was not an option for me, I could only move forward. Like many women, I was balancing career responsibilities, personal challenges, and academic commitments.

Yet every day, I still showed up… sometimes with nothing more than “a little lip gloss and blush” (hahaha) and the determination to keep going.

I am at my best self when I speak to students. I believe it's imperative for me to equip the next generation about the importance of cybersecurity.

There were moments when I was studying or taking exams while feeling physically unwell, but I kept pushing forward because I had a goal: to make my mom proud, and tell my children that their mom didn’t give up even when things became difficult.

In a field like cybersecurity, daring to do it differently isn’t always about a big, dramatic move. Sometimes it’s about how you choose to serve, and who you decide to bring along with you.

Together with other Ka-Globe volunteers during one of the Senior Digizen runs

My belief is that one doesn’t need to be the most expert nor most experienced to start giving back… you just need to be equipped and willing to serve. Beyond my cybersecurity role, I embrace a cybersecurity educator persona.

Whether through Globe CSR initiatives, engagements with academic institutions, or professional training, I make it a point to be ready to serve.

One of the talks I attended where I discussed about the evolving threats such as data breach and AI-powered attacks

Educating people about cybersecurity and raising awareness is just as important as building secure services… After all, they are our human firewall. Releasing secure applications for the Filipino people is critical, but equally important is teaching secure online practices to our kids, our elderly, our friends, and families. Taking this approach ensures security becomes a shared responsibility, not just a technical requirement.

Senior citizens hold a special place in my heart. I am happy to be able to use my voice to share my knowledge.

Over time, this desire to serve naturally grew into mentoring and supporting young talent. I don’t see myself as someone who has “arrived.” I see myself as someone who stays one chapter ahead, so I can pull others forward, too.

I stay one chapter ahead—still learning, still applying. There’s no “finish line” in learning, and that means anyone can start sharing and influencing at any time. I intentionally share lessons, mindsets, and experiences, and I lead by example in how I learn and grow.

This was at the National University. I try my best to make my segments fun and engaging.

My hope is that this inspires women and young talent to grow continuously and be even better than they were yesterday.

Cybersecurity and innovation move fast, and the unknowns can be intimidating—even for someone who’s been in the field for years. I don’t always feel like the “most expert” person in the room, but I’ve learned that courage is less about having all the answers and more about how you choose to respond when you don’t.

I may not always be the most experienced in a specific field, but I stay equipped, ready to serve, and focused on my purpose. I don’t make excuses—I take initiative, seek mentorship when needed, and continuously work on improving myself. That mindset allows me to approach challenges differently and deliver results, even in unfamiliar territory.

To any woman looking at tech and cybersecurity from the outside, wondering if there is really a place for her here, I understand that hesitation. The industry can look intimidating. But I also know how powerful it can be when you decide to take that first step anyway.

Take that step. If you feel scared or intimidated, do it anyway—do it scared, but do it. Stay focused on your growth and your purpose. Let your actions align with that purpose, and invest your energy only in what truly matters.

And through it all, remember to celebrate your beautiful self.

Another cybersecurity talk I did for students. What an honor!

Underpinning all of this is the culture I’ve found at Globe—one that makes it possible for women like me to keep choosing courage and to keep daring to do things differently without losing ourselves in the process.

I am always grateful for the #AlagangGlobe culture! The consistent care for people, encouragement to grow, and shared sense of purpose are what make Globe truly deserving of being called the Best Employer!

At the Best Buddies Pre-Employment Program where I was a keynote speaker

My story is just one of many. But if there’s anything I hope other women see in it, it’s this: you don’t have to wait to be the most experienced, or to have the perfect timing or perfect plan, before you begin.

You can choose courage in the middle of the chaos. You can dare to do it differently—in how you lead, how you learn, how you raise your family, and how you protect others in a digital world.

And when we do that together, we don’t just move our careers forward—we help shape a safer, braver future for everyone who comes after us.

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Sharon’s journey is a reminder that you don’t have to wait to feel ready before you choose courage—you can start where you are, with what you have. How will you dare to do it differently in your own tech journey?

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