The Spark Behind FCC
In 2012, I attended Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. A year later, I joined a conference celebrating 50 years of women at HBS, where Sheryl Sandberg delivered a powerful keynote. Her message deeply resonated, and on my flight back to Manila, I devoured her book Lean In.
Motivated by her words, I immediately bought every copy I could find and eagerly shared them with my C-level friends. Soon after, one afternoon over coffee with Marife Zamora—who was, at the time, the CEO of Convergys—our conversation took a thoughtful turn. As we reflected on our experiences, we found ourselves grappling with a simple yet powerful question: Why are there so few Filipina CEOs?
That pivotal exchange became the seed for the Filipina CEO Circle (FCC). We envisioned a space where women leaders could support, challenge, and develop one another. Back then in 2015, there were only a handful of Filipina CEOs and board members.
Why the Leadership Gap Matters
Our instincts were soon validated by data. A 2018 Zenger Folkman study revealed that women outperformed men in key leadership competencies like integrity, resilience, and results orientation. Similarly, Warren Buffett noted that women entering the workforce doubled the global talent pool. Furthermore, a 2019 S&P Global report showed companies with female CEOs and CFOs consistently outperformed the market.
Despite these findings, by 2021, women held only 8.2% of CEO roles in the 3,000 largest U.S. firms. In the Philippines, a Deloitte study showed women occupied just 6.7% of CEO roles and 17.7% of board seats. In response, FCC was born to close that gap—by building a strong pipeline of Filipina leaders and fostering a community of growth.
My Boldest Decision: Becoming CEO
After my father passed away, I made the bold decision to return to the Philippines and lead John Clements Consultants. At the time, I was living the la dolce vita as a Citibank VP in New York, London, and Milan. Quite unexpectedly, I found myself at the helm of an HR firm—a domain I had previously brushed off as the weakest during my years in banking.
During the first year, the experience was nothing short of brutal. I felt trapped and resentful. Nevertheless, as the second year progressed, my frustration began to shift outward. I expected excellence from those around me, yet I constantly felt burdened by the belief that I had to handle everything on my own.
Eventually, however, a gradual transformation began to unfold. Bit by bit, I started to adapt—I listened more attentively, embraced the nuances of the local business culture, and, in time, began to build something truly meaningful.
That transformation—from banker to HR leader—became my crucible moment.
Courage in the Face of Adversity
Courage, I’ve learned, is contagious. However, my deepest test came in 1996, when I was diagnosed with cancer in my 30s. Just three months after completing my final chemotherapy session, I was confronted with a new challenge—a metastasis to my lung.
In that moment of fear and uncertainty, my father offered words that would stay with me forever: “You’re the only one who can heal yourself.”
Taking his advice to heart, I researched relentlessly and embraced a holistic healing journey—macrobiotic diet, Iyengar yoga, shiatsu, prayer, and meditation. Remarkably, next year will mark 30 years since that diagnosis. That experience reaffirmed that resilience and faith can transform adversity into life’s greatest teacher.
Shaping Leaders, Starting with Myself
Even with a Kellogg MBA, I felt the need to evolve. That’s precisely why I enrolled in HBS’s AMP—I didn’t want to become irrelevant. To lead others effectively, I had to keep reinventing myself.
At John Clements, we invest heavily in leadership development, even for new hires. Building people builds bandwidth, fosters excellence, and ensures succession. Naturally, I brought this philosophy into FCC, encouraging members to keep learning—through workshops, coaching, and sessions with thought leaders like HBS professors.
FCC is more than a network; it’s a movement of leaders committed to developing leaders.
Finding Focus Amid Chaos
Whenever life feels chaotic, I return to my “why”: uplifting the Philippines.
Back in the mid-90s, while living in Milan, I noticed that all Filipinos there worked as domestic helpers. Even when I introduced myself as a Citibank VP, people still assumed I was a household worker. Fellow Filipinos asked if I was “live-in” or “stay-out.”
That experience left a lasting mark, fueling my mission to help Filipinos gain dignity and success on the global stage.
Today, purpose gives me clarity. It helps me navigate distractions and stay grounded. My daily routine—early mornings, golf, work, yoga, meditation, prayer, and rest—reflects that discipline. Equally important is knowing what to say yes to, and what to decline.
The Machu Picchu Headstand: A Symbol of Leadership
In December 2022, I did a headstand at Machu Picchu—just after the height of the pandemic. For me, that photo captured more than a moment; it embodied several leadership lessons:
- Resilience After Crisis: Like a headstand, leaders must stay grounded yet adaptable.
- Renewal and Fresh Energy: It marked a new beginning and a reclaiming of optimism.
- Courage to Re-Engage: Standing upside down at a cliff’s edge declared: we’re back, and we’re moving forward.
- Reinvention After Disruption: Sometimes, flipping your perspective reveals opportunities you couldn’t see before.
Final Reflections
Through these stories—of courage, challenge, clarity, and reinvention—I’ve come to believe that leadership is never about titles. It’s about resilience, purpose, and lifting others with you.
