Flor G. Tarriela l 30 August 2024 l Banking & Finance, BusinessWorld
With the strong desire to help other young women, Filipina CEO Circle (FCC), a network of career women organized in 2015, recently launched the “CEO Next” an exclusive program designed to “empower, inspire and equip women leaders with skills, confidence and network to reach the top.”
Thanks to the “CEO Next” Executive Development Team led by Accenture’s Ambe Tierro,16 senior executives were selected as mentees after an involved nomination and screening process. The 16 mentees are: Banking and Finance – Alma Aldip (BPI), Dianne De Mesa and Doris Pastoriza (KPMG), Yvette De Peralta (BPI Wealth), Jane Gocuan (PBCOm), Geng Paulino (BPI); Ms. Karen Roscom from the Bureau of the Agriculture and Fisheries; Jenny Hans (Accenture) and Cielo Narvaez (Telstra Intl) from Business Process Outsourcing; Energy sector – Dimples Lopez (Schneider Electric); Infrastructure and Real Estate – Carissa Feria (Ayala Land), Anna Lu and Maita Villanueva (Aboitiz InfraCapital); Insurance – Weng Empalmado (EastWest Ageas) and Queens Ornedo (Sunlife); and from the Transportation sector – Rizza Latorre (Metro Pacific).
Some of the mentors are Shell’s Lorelie Osial, Aboitiz’ Cosette Canilao, ING’s Zondy Garcia, PBComs’ May Siy, Sunlife’s Riena Pama, SC Johnson’s’ Marissa de Ungria, BPI’s Ginbee Go, Karen de Venecia, Marivic Anonuevo etc.
To demonstrate the seriousness of mentoring and to ensure all mentors are on the same page, Pia Nazareno Acevedo, leading Life Coach in the Philippines, gave a two-hour mentoring class sharing her own experiences and wisdom. Four Masterclasses have also been scheduled with graduation in November.
The first Masterclass kick off with mentors and mentees was held on August 7 at the Shangri-La Fort with Robina Gokonwei-Pe, President and CEO of Robinsons Retail Holdings Inc. Her presentation was enjoyable-storytelling and anecdotes of their personal and corporate history. And her dad, Mr. John Gokongwei’s journey demonstrating “hard work, frugality, integrity, and boldness to dream. A reminder of the values that continue to guide the Gokongwei Group today: entrepreneurial spirit, stewardship, and integrity.”
In the all-women audience Ms. Robina reminded that gender is not a barrier in the workplace. And that being a woman is an asset as employers actually prefer women due to their attention to detail and hardworking nature. She also acknowledged the importance of having a supportive partner or husband.
Ms. Robina summarized her talk with “Eight Lessons from a something Daughter of Boss (DOB):
1. You have to work doubly hard to prove you deserve the position
2. You have to follow company rules, no exception
3. It is recommended that if you will eventually be a DOB, work outside first for a few years so you know how it is to be yelled at and punished
4. In retail when visiting sores or bodegas, don’t ask for a chair
5. Even if your family is the largest shareholder of the company, you pay for the things you buy and the flights that you book
6. Don’t just run a business, have an advocacy
7. Don’t pretend you know everything, ask for help!
8. Don’t forget your childhood friends.”
We learned a lot during the open forum especially when FCC founder Marife Zamora asked how she felt being the eldest child yet in traditional Chinese families, boys are favored. Lance, her younger brother is the only son and heads the Gokongwei group. She responded that “it’s okay as Lance is competent and he deserves it,” and happily added, “I have more time to go to the parlor!” This revealed she looks at the glass half full, she counts her blessings, and she has a grateful heart. No wonder she looks young!
Lance is definitely qualified, with a double summa cum laude, Engineering from University of Pennsylvania and Finance from Wharton. Reminds me of Kapitan Lucio Tan’s grandson, Lucio Tan lll, president of LTG Group and PAL Holdings, who also has double summa cum laude in Electrical Engineering and Computer from Stanford. Impressive indeed.
Ms. Robina’s Masterclass was refreshing and insightful. She showed that the journey to the top is challenging but with a positive attitude, with humor along the way, it can and should be FUN!
Now the mentoring and the transformative journey begins!
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Ms. Tarriela is PNB Board Adviser, Independent Director of LTG and Nickel Asia. The first Filipina Vice President of Citibank N.A, she was former Undersecretary of Finance. An environmentalist, she founded Flor’s Garden in Antipolo, an events destination. The views and opinions expressed above are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of FINEX. (Photo from Pinterest).