Cynthia Mamon: Spiritreneur

Over a simple but delicious wantonsoup lunch at the Mandarin Hotel, I expected to be regaled by my subject because of her impressive career in information technology (IT). But this woman of substance is more excited to talk about her recent golden birthday celebration as a make-believe princess amid the Fairy—tale setting at the Enchanted Kingdom in Sta. Rosa. From her attache case, she whips out a photo of herself as Princess Cynthia-rella in an off-shoulder pink chiffon gown and a diamond-studded tiara on her perfectly coiffed hair.

Sun Microsystems Philippines president & managing director Cynthia Mamon giggles as she confesses that her childhood dream was to be a princess. It came true on her 50th birthday, never mind if it was many decades delayed, or that was only for a night.

Such is Cynthia Mamon (nee Romero). She is a dreamer whose every wish has come true. Who would have thought that this graduate of agribusiness would be the first and only woman named to the top post of a multinational information and communication technology (ICT) venture? Who would have guessed that this ’60s band singer and UP Filipiniana dancer would be a much-awarded IT specialist and much-sought-after speaker and lecturer on corporate leadership and business as a privilege and a high calling?

Cynthia’s involvement in the world of computers began auspiciously. In 1973, after graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Technology Major in Food and Nutrition Research from UP Los Baños, Cynthia took on a job as student assistant in the Philippine Council for Agricultural Resources and Research Development (PCARRD). "I did the best at what I was assigned to do. Like if I was asked to make coffee, I made the best coffee in the office," she recalls of her career beginnings. Because of her positive attitude towards work and her commitment toward excellence, many opportunities within the company opened to her. One of them was a chance to take her Masters in Agribusiness Management at UP Diliman as a PCARRD scholar in 1976. The other was an opportunity to learn about computerization. "The company needed new technology and volunteers were sought out who would study computerization," she recalls. True to form, she took on the challenge and volunteered.

Her foresight paid off. Over the next few years, Cynthia trained, studied and honed her skills in computerization, and became the company’s computer expert. Soon, she was even traveling extensively to deliver papers abroad. In 1984, a PCARRD-USAID grant was given to her to pursue a certificate program in an Information Systems Specialist Program from the George Washington University.

In 1992, after 20 fruitful years of government service involving research, management information system and planning and development, Cynthia retired. Her last post was as director of the management information service division.

She looks back and proudly says, "We made the first UNIX database for the Department of Science and Technology which is being used to this day."

Cynthia heeded the call of the corporate world in 1992 when she became marketing manager of Philippine Systems Products (PSPI), the authorized Philippine business partner of Silicon Valley-based Sun Microsystems, widely acknowledged as a "thought leader in IT." PSPI was then one of the leading total solution providers in the local IT industry. Without skipping a beat, she proceeded to aggressively market and promote Sun products. After only a month, she was promoted to executive vice president. After still another month, the company’s all-male board unanimously voted her to be president and managing director. "The men said they wanted to play more golf, so they gave me the job," she teases, proving to one and all that truly the best man for the job is a woman.

Under her watchful eye, Cynthia not only turned around the floundering company in 1993, but also won the bronze award for Sales Achievement from their mother-company Sun Microsystems, Inc. Year after year, with Cynthia at the helm, the company continued to meet regional sales targets while setting new records and garnering awards as Best Asian Distributor, Best Marketing Plan, Best Marketing Team, Best Demo Center, Best in Sales, etc. There was no stopping PSPI.

On July 25,1999, Sun Microsystems, Inc. and IT Holdings Company formed Sun Microsystems Philippines (SunPhil). This joint venture between a US-based multinational ICT vendor and a Philippine company was the first of its kind in the country. Through the 11 years of its existence, Cynthia has led the SunPhil team to fulfill its mission: to continuously enhance customer competitive advantage by providing at the highest professional level, expertise on leading edge integrated IT solutions and services through organizational team work and strategic partnerships. Today SunPhil is the acknowledged IT leader in the country, offering a suite of solutions that answer the most compelling requirements of businesses. A Philippine-made off-the-shelf knowledge management application for both domestic and offshore markets is one such solution. And a software that enables new businesses to register their new company names online was recently completed for the Securities and Exchange Commission, a SunPhil project that has made doing business in this country less stressful.

How does she survive in this competitive marketplace? Her answer is short and sweet. " I am a ‘Spiritreneur,’ a person who brings her heart, mind, soul and strength – fully integrated – into the work that I do to honor God."

Cynthia catches a quizzical look on my face and goes on, unabashed to reveal the obvious spiritual dimension in her life. She likens herself to a computer and says, "I am the hardware, the physical, spiritual machine; Jesus, my real CEO, is the software, the model, the embodied set of divine principles, obedience to whom will release the full potential contained within the hardware of our spirits."

I wonder aloud how she developed this deep sense of spirituality. "I learned it from my mom, Dr. Florentina Romero, who was widowed at the young age of 39. Singlehandedly, she brought up seven children with ages ranging from 15 to 1 with her humble earnings as a dentist," she continues. "Never did I once hear her lose hope in God." At the tender age of five when she lost her dad, Cynthia remembers with great clarity hearing her mom’s favorite battlecry, "God will provide." And truly He has, Cynthia affirms, as all of Dr. Florentina’s children are today active professionals.

Cynthia reminds me that she is first wife and mother before she is career woman. It is easy to believe her because her eyes smile when she talks about her husband Mario and four kids, who all enjoy spending time at the popular theme park Enchanted Kingdom that Mario founded and manages. Her eldest son works with his dad. "He is the happy clown in Enchanted," she quips. She hurriedly points out the interesting difference between the males and females in her family. "Mario and my two sons are the "right-brainers" (creative) and my daughters and I, the "left-brainers" (analytical). It is not all play for the Mamon family who is involved in the Family Life Apostolate of the St. James Parish Renewal Movement. Cynthia herself is in the Praise Ministry of her parish and teaches singing and dancing "unto the Lord."

Quite naturally, Cynthia, the toast of the UP Filipiniana dancers in the ’60s, is involved in dance. She is today president of Philippine Professional Teachers Dance Association (ProDance) which trains PE teachers and dance instructors (DIs). The group certifies its graduates and helps launch them into careers that involve educating, training and teaching instructors like themselves. For therapy, this IT specialist loves to ballroom dance and can stay on the dance floor for a solid three hours. Yes, she is fit!

As if this were not enough, Cynthia is involved in several organizations such as the Information Technology Association of the Philippines (ITAP), Philippine Electronics & Telecommunications Foundation (PETEF), Management Association of the Philippine (MAP), Makati Business Club (MBC), American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM) and the Women’s Business Council (WBC). "I am like my Sun computers – multitasking and multiprocessing," she laughs.

What can she advise women entrepreneurs? Cynthia lets out a mouthful, "Don’t be led by bottom-line pressures; let God lead. Expand your definition of success from making money to making a difference. When pressured to do the wrong thing, don’t! Walk with God in courage. Finally, develop patience to run a long-distance race in this 100-meter dash world." Fighting words from a woman who is firm in her commitment never to compromise her integrity at all costs.

The wanton soup grows cold on us because the fellowship with this happy and fulfilled career woman is enough to salve any hunger pangs. I look back at the first time I visited Cynthia at the SunPhil headquarters at the posh Philam Life Tower on Paseo de Roxas. It had ultra modern appointments that befit a multinational office. Large picture windows with a view of the Makati cityscape. Secret codes that operate security devices in order to access her office. Trophies and awards from the UP Los Baños (2001 Most Distinguished Alumna), UP Diliman (2001 Most Outstanding Professional Awardee in the Field of IT) and from various other organizations. The total impression confirms that truly she is at the top. "My one last dream is to see the Philippines become recognized as the global center of well-trained and outstanding IT professionals," she says, her eyes ablaze for having seen the future.

With Sun Microsystems’ special Filipina in the forefront of IT training in the country, we have no doubt that this is one more dream of Princess Cynthia-rella that will become a reality.

* * *

You can e-mail the author at myorosa@ studio5designs.com.ph.