Marife
Zamora
shares how she became Chairman
of the country’s top private employer.
How To Climb
The Promotional
Ladder
7 Female
Top Executives
to Inspire You
Dress
Like a Leader
Every Day
Special Message
from Gerry Soler
Hello, wonderful women at work! I’m Gerry Soler, Marketing Head
of Globe Enterprise and firm believer that how you love yourself
translates to how wonderful you feel. And that is exactly the kind of
empowerment we hope to share with you, our dear readers.
In this second issue of WWW, we hope to continue to inspire and
champion women in the workplace. And I want to stress my excitement
in bringing you relevant, up-to-date, even revolutionary content
to help you on your journey to the top while maintaining a healthy
dose of self-love and affirmation.
In my own corporate journey, I’ve worked with strong, inspiring leaders
– both women and men. I’ve learned leadership is not based on gender,
but character. And to all working women out there who’ve poked
their fingers at the idea of one day sitting at the corner office,
I only have one question, WHY NOT?
Maraming dahilan, maraming paraan. In this issue, you’ll find
prime examples of women who have broken barriers, raised families,
overcame male-dominated industries and made it to the top.
We begin with our country’s very own, Marife Zamora, Chairman of
Convergys Philippines Service Corporation. You’ll also get to meet 7
other top executives from around the world, each with their own
success story. These are the women who found ways, made time and
just made it possible.
At the end of this issue, we hope to get more women answering positively
to that question I posted above. Why not go for that CEO seat?
Gerry Soler
Marketing Head
Globe Entreprise
Wonderful Woman at Work
Marife
Zamora
Managing Director,
Convergys Asia Pacific,
Europe, Middle East, and Africa
T
he woman in our spotlight, for the first in a series of features on the
country’s top female executives, is Marife Zamora. Hired in 2003 as
Convergys’ second employee, she’s credited for the BPO’s rise as the
country’s top private employer, now with over 58,000 strong workforce.
Today she is Chairman of Convergys Philippines Services Corporation
after leading the corporation in the whole of Asia Pacific, Europe,
Middle East and Africa. Convergys Philippines today is the largest
geography of Convergys across the globe. No wonder she was awarded
as one of the 100 Most Influential Filipinas in the World in 2013 by
the Filipina Women’s Network, a recognition she considers both
a privilege and responsibility. Which is why Ms. Zamora has been
a vocal and active supporter of Filipina women in the workplace.
She says, “I want women to not stop at being managers, AVPs, SVPs.
I want you to go for the top seat”. Looking at her own journey to the
top, it’s easy to be inspired by her and to believe that if she can do it,
then so can you.
On Her Corporate Climb
On Her Tips for Other Wonderful Women at Work
Ms. Zamora is a staunch believer of hard work, but she does give
To every speaking engagement she goes to, she shares
luck a little bit of credit, too. She allows that having worked
these tips:
mostly in multinational companies, she experienced more
openness and acceptance of her being a female rising in the
ranks. She also recounts how having an extended family, an
advantage we Filipinas have and should exploit, has helped
make day-to-day choices at work and at home easier.
1. Toot your horn.
Women should not be afraid or ashamed to advertise themselves. Just like the way our male counterparts are always talking
about their successes, we too should do the same. There’s
nothing wrong with it. There are only good things to gain from it.
On Work-Life Integration
2. Deal with office politics.
There is no such thing as work-life balance, she says empathically.
She says co-workers say the craziest things. Understand that this
Ms. Zamora believes work and life are one whole. And how we
stems from ambition, not malice. Don’t take things personally.
find time for each is a choice that we make.
Your daughter’s Parent Teacher Conference or a make-or-break
meeting with a CEO who is only in the country for a day. Two
Be diplomatic in dealing with co-worker politics. Choose to build
bridges by finding humor in what they say.
3. Stick to your gut.
As women, people expect us to be strong and soft at the same
equally pressing commitments can really try one’s ability to
time. But when it comes to making decisions, big or small, good
make decisions. Ms. Zamora explains what she would have done.
or bad, easy or hard, do not waffle about. Own the decision.
She’d check and try all viable alternatives. Can her mom attend
her daughter’s school function in her stead? Is it possible for a
telecon meeting with the CEO? And from there make the most
life-gaining decision.
I want women to not stop at being
Managers, AVPs, SVPs.
I want you to go for the top seat.
Another advice from her, make time for your family. There’s no
4. Focus on tomorrow.
other way around it. Ms. Zamora means for us to use our
Your successes today and yesterday should be acknowledged
resourcefulness and be committed to spending quality time
with our loved ones. After her grandson was born, she would
brave 2 hours of traffic everyday just to see him.
and put aside. She says to remain focused only on what you can
accomplish in the future. Always talk about your plans and what
you’re going to do for your company. Take advantage of Personal
Development Plans and really think of the goals you set in. This is
a great time to get coaching from a superior, she advises.
On Her Advocacy
On top of all her work as Chairman of Convergys Philippines
5. Go after the jobs others don’t like.
Services Corporation, Ms. Zamora is often called on to speak at
This is the sure fire way to get your superiors’ attention and show
conferences and seminars to share her insights as a top female
them your mettle. It sends a message to your whole company
executive and to inspire Filipinas in the workplace. She takes her
activism even further as she shares that she and other Filipina
top execs are right now forming a group that wishes to advocate
for Filipinas in the corporate world to strive for the C+ positions.
that you are a woman with a goal.
On Her Future Goals
Though Ms. Zamora has achieved a lot in Convergys, her job is far
from done. She says the biggest challenge is still sustainability in
Their ultimate goal is to see a Filipina CEO in all the major
the years to come and that is what she’s focused on right now.
industries in the country. To this, she is very passionate and
Her advocacy on Filipinas in the workplace is something she
cannot belabor the fact enough that women, particularly
intends to further, too. And that is something we all can
Filipinas, can do it.
look forward to.
SOURCES: WWW's Interview with Marife Zamora; http://www.interaksyon.com/infotech/power-women-of-it-convergys-marife-zamora;
http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/333587/cbb/convergys-managing-director-hailed-among-100-most-influential-filipinas-in-the-world
Women
Rising
For women, the corporate landscape has gotten greener. Women are
seen to be just as qualified, if not more, than their male counterparts.
But why is it so that there are almost equal number of women and
men working in entry level positions, but the women’s numbers fall off
dramatically in the higher ranks of organizations?
Here are some facts:
ON AVERAGE
WOMEN MADE UP
53%
40%
35%
27%
OF VICE PRESIDENTS
OF DIRECTORS
OF MANAGERS
OF ENTRY-LEVEL
EMPLOYEES
Women are less likely than men to ask for raises or aspire to top
management jobs.
Far more women than men say being a working parent has made it
more difficult to advance their career.
Among parents, women are much more likely than men to experience
family-related career interruptions.
So for women who strive for success both at home and at work,
what does all this mean? It means one simple thing.
We’ll just have to work harder to get higher.
Challenge accepted? Then read on for some real-life tips on how you can
tip the scale for women in the higher ranks of the corporate world.
24%
OF SENIOR
VICE PRESIDENTS
19%
OF EXECUTIVES
IN THE C-SUITE
Decide you want it.
The first step to getting something is wanting it. Truly desiring it in the deep recesses of
your heart. And when you’ve come to the realization that getting that CEO position is
something you want to and can do, then you’re on your way up already.
Toot your horn.
Just like what Ms. Marife Zamora shared, women have to have the balls to pat
themselves on the back and let others do the same. Learn to accept, enjoy and
celebrate your successes. Don’t wait for others to do it for you. Be your own
cheerleader at work.
Dress the part everyday.
There will be mornings when everything may seem to be going against your schedule. Do not
ever make this an excuse to dress any less impressively. Always have a ‘uniform’, a go-to outfit
that will make you look professional, put together with very little thought or effort.
Let go of the guilt.
If you’re a working mom, guilt is like a bag you carry around with you everyday. In that bag
are all the moments you felt you missed at home. A change in perspective can lessen that
burden, if not diminish it all together. The next time you have to choose between work or
family, you can make the choice easier. Ask yourself, which decision is more of a life gain in
the big-picture? Your child’s Moving Up ceremony or a scheduled weekly meeting? Can a
colleague attend on your behalf?
Be a CEO at home and at work.
Own the role in the dining room and the boardroom. Treat every decision the way a CEO would.
Maintain a big-picture perspective and implement a process that achieves efficient time and
resource management in the most cost-effective way. This can mean delegating tasks and ensuring
your ‘workforce’ (at home that includes your husband, kids, house help, and extended family
members) understands your process and goals. Integrate your home and work schedules so
the people at home and at work are aligned with where you have to be on a daily basis.
We know that the real challenge at work is in
the day-to-day. But believe in the power of
want. Keep your eye on that corner office at
the top floor and treat everyday as a step
towards your goal. As you’ll see in the next
article, women have done it despite
mountains of obstacles. That only means
one thing. You can do it, too.
Female Top Executives
to Inspire You
It cannot be denied, women face more challenges when climbing the corporate
world. Yet women continue to rise through the ranks to sit on boards, head
companies and launch businesses. Some while raising families at home and others
while pursuing passion projects. Now there are more female CEOs, more industries
led by women, more power given to the female workforce, more challenges as they
face more responsibilities. These 7 names here are just some of the women who are
championing career growth and proving women can be successful at
whatever they put their hearts and minds to.
Wang Fengying
CEO and Executive Director,
Great Wall Motor, China
In an industry that is nearly exclusively male only, Wang Fengying is CEO of Great Wall,
one of the largest privately owned vehicle manufacturers in China, and China’s first female
automotive executive. Her success and boldness have cleared a path for women in a field
that’s been known to resemble an exclusive gentleman’s club. Today, Great Wall is China’s
largest maker of SUVs and is greatly in expansion mode, adding 9,000 employees and
investing in a manufacturing plant in Russia, all helmed by Fengying.
http://fortune.com/2014/09/18/most-powerful-women-asia-pacific/
Teresita Sy-Coson
Vice Chairperson
SMIC
She may have had a head start as Henry Sy’s daughter, but that also meant Sy-Coson had to
work harder to prove that smarts and skills, not genes, determined her rise in the Sy conglomerate.
Not only that, as a daughter, she was not the obvious choice among her siblings to follow in her father’s
footsteps. Yet today, Sy-Coson is Vice Chairman of SM Investments Corp. She is advisor to the board of
directors of SM Prime Holdings and Chairman of BDO Unibank, the country’s largest bank in terms of
resources, loans and deposits.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesasia/2012/02/29/ the-skys-the-limit-for-teresita-sy-coson/2/
Maria Ressa
Founder & CEO,
Rappler
In a world where women are still questioned for choosing to not start a family, tiny-framed Maria
Ressa has stuck by her tall belief that it is a woman’s choice alone to either follow her career or her
biological clock. After two decades working at CNN, part of which were spent serving as the bureau
chief in Manila and then Jakarta, and 6 years as current affairs chief at ABS-CBN, Maria Ressa felt it
was time for a new adventure. Rappler reimagines journalism and makes use of today’s social media
and the Internet to empower every individual to seek out the truth and share it. Today, Rappler is
one of the top news source in the country.
http://www.rappler.com/authorprofile/maria-ressa
http://www.rappler.com/authorprofile/maria-ressa
Indra Nooyi
CEO,
PepsiCo.
Known for her candor, Indra Nooyi has been vocal about women’s challenges
in the workplace. One of her insights, a woman’s biological clock is in complete
conflict with her career clock has only proven that she has overcome this challenge
by succeeding as PepsiCo’s CEO. In a globally declining industry, Nooyi has exceeded
expectations and bleak forecasts by increasing PepsiCo’s shares by 3.1%.
http://www.forbes.com/profile/indra-nooyi/
Sheri McCoy
CEO,
Avon
Sheri McCoy joined Avon as its CEO in February 2012. In 6 months, she would be named
one of Forbes magazine’s most powerful women in the world. As Avon’s CEO, she helms
a beauty company that makes $11 billion a year and has more than 6 million active
sales reps in 100 countries.
http://www.forbes.com/profile/sheri-mccoy/
Susan Wojcicki
CEO,
YouTube
Wojcicki was Google’s first employee to go on maternity leave as she was 4 months
pregnant the time she joined the start-up in 1999. Through 3 more pregnancies,
Wojcicki led Google’s new product developments including AdWords and AdSense
– Google’s two main advertising vehicles, responsible for 96% of Google’s revenues.
During this time, she also proposed the acquisition of YouTube which she now heads
as CEO. This year, Wojcicki will be going on maternity leave once again as she is
pregnant with her 5th child.
http://www.makers.com/susan-wojcicki
Marissa Mayer
CEO,
Yahoo!
In July 2012, Marissa Mayer was hired to lead Yahoo! at a time when the world was
expecting its gradual demise. In 2013, Mayer proved the world wrong when Yahoo!’s
stock price doubled. She did all this while carrying her first son and giving birth to him
in September 2012. Something to note, too: Mayer also changed Yahoo!’s maternity
leave policy, lengthening its coverage period and even adding a cash bonus to parents.
https://www.crunchbase.com/person/marissa-mayer
Dress
Like a Leader
Every Day
When you dress confidently, with power and professionalism, you are projecting
how you want others to see you. You reinforce what is in your mind and heart
and you are giving life to your future goals. And this is something you must do
everyday. There’s no rest day for wanting your goals or from dressing the part.
But as women with families and bad hair days and PMS, there might be days
when we don’t feel our best and we feel that our best option is an old shapeless
and uninspired dress. Here’s our answer to days just like those.
The day you feel time is against your side.
Your alarm didn’t go off. The kids didn’t catch the school bus. Or you burned an ironing hole through the dress you
were supposed to wear. Many things can happen in the morning to make you run out of dressing time. For days like
these, it’s best to be prepared with these 3 classic pieces that you can always fall back on in case of emergencies.
These classic pieces can save you on days you don’t have time to think of what to wear. They’re easy to mix and
match with items you already own – to help you create as many work-appropriate looks possible.
1. Well-fitted Black Blazer – splurge on a cut that fits you right.
Since this item is used often, it’s even wise to buy two of the
same great fitting jacket.
2. Black Tailored Pants – sometimes a girl’s got to wear the
pants. It’s a great power dressing piece, one that makes
you feel tall and slim. Also necessary for days when
you'll be rushing from one meeting to the next.
3. Black Pumps – another item you should not be cutting costs on.
A more expensive shoe will have a smarter shape and will last
you longer.
Help! Wala akong masuot.
You know that moment you open your overflowing closet and you declare, with conviction, wala akong masuot.
We believe you, don’t worry. When you encounter this moment again, examine your closet. Is it wala akong masuot,
because I have too much casual clothes and not too much work clothes? Then it’s time to shop for the three items
listed above. Those 3 pieces can be the backbone of your wardrobe. You can easily pair them with your casual clothes
to create playful ensembles that still look professional.
I don’t know what to wear!
There’s a function at work or you’re asked to entertain a colleague from the regional office. What do you wear?
The not-so-little black dress is your ammunition for days like these. Invest in 2 to 3 black dresses you can style up
or down with a scarf, a jacket or statement accessories that can go easily from day to night. Simple, professional, fabulous.
OFFICE STYLE
DON’Ts!
A quick cheat sheet on what not to wear to work.
NECKLINE DON’T – Necklines should never be lower than 4 inches from your collarbone.
SLEEVELESS DON’T – Spaghetti straps. Don’t even think about it.
TOE NAILS DON’T – No open-toed shoes for un-pedicured feet.
SHEER TOP DON’T – No camisole, no sheer tops.
HEMLINE DON’T – Never go shorter than a few inches above the knee.
PATTERNS DON’T – Temper a bold printed bottom or top with a polished item.
Sources: http://www.whowhatwear.com/office-work-fashion-style-rules-dos-donts-2014/slide19
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/fashion/gallery/stylish_work_wardrobes_andrew_taylor_of_ann_taylor/
Google
Drive
focus@will
For when you need
to get in the zone.
You’re out-of-office access
to your files.
If you’re a Google Drive user, this app is a must. It’s the
best way to access your Drive account, and the easiest
way to move files between your smartphone and your
Drive account. The app also allows you to make new
documents and spreadsheets, create scans (from the
smartphone's camera), and upload files from your device
to your Google Drive account.
With the help of neuroscientists, the app’s developers
have come up with a playlist that will help you get in the
zone and be more productive. Available on iOS and
Android, the first 100 minutes of music is free. And if you
find it works for you, a small monthly fee allows you to
access the service.
iOS, Android, FREE for a limited time.
Google
Docs
Need to edit
files while
you're out of
the office?
Do that with Google Docs and
so much more. With this nifty
little app, you can access, create
and edit docs on the fly! Then,
collaborate with others in real
time as you chat and exchange
comments inside any document.
Done? You can opt to convert
the file to a Word Doc before
you send!
iOS, Android, FREE
iOS, Android, FREE
Hello,
Productivity!
part of your workforce. The same
way you want to hire the best
people, you want the best apps to
help you work as efficiently as
possible. Through these innovative,
easy-to-use and what’s best, free
apps, your smartphone can be your
best team ever!
Keep on top of
project with the
whole team!
iOS, Android, FREE
Make your
smartphone run
like a well-oiled
machine!
Imagine the apps in your phone are
Quip –
Collaborative
Working
A fairly new collaborative working
app that makes working on a
project with a team easy! The app
allows you to add different team
members to different tasks and
team members can all edit and
share the same documents. Plus,
integrated messaging, shared
calendar, to do lists and note
taking ensure everyone is updated
and on the same page. From
long-term projects to something
as simple as a shopping list, this
app will make sure you get things
done efficiently.
IFTTT – If This,
Then That
IFTTT (read like gift) lets you
automate simple actions on
your mobile phone. With its
meaning, If This, Then That,
you can create conditional
statements, called recipes,
that will be an SOP for certain
actions, called triggers, on your
mobile. Example recipes: If
wifi on, mobile data off.
Or: If tagged on Facebook,
save image on phone. Genius!
iOS, Android, FREE
Pocket
Stores the articles
you can’t read now
for later.
Save articles and then read them as you go
when you can. Pocket lets you keep all those
articles you come across on the internet
for reading later. The app can be integrated
with a variety of browsers and apps.
iOS, Android, FREE
Will they work?
That’s entirely up to you. These apps
can only help you be more productive.
The initiative will still start from you.
So if you’ve got your mind to do more,
head on over to iTunes or Google Play
to give these apps a try!
In our next issue: Money Matters!
Practical tips and practices on managing your finances like a CFO.
We'd love to hear from you. Shoot us an email with your thoughts,
comments and suggestions at [email protected].