In Search Of Leaders

CEBU, Philippines - We’re all too familiar with stories about the downside of blinking. Whether it’s the cola wars, the see-saw among telecom giants, or the travails of celebrities today but has-beens tomorrow, a truism burns: At no point can they say we’re successful now, so we might as well take a nap.

Besides, what better way is there to permanently succeed than to heed the highest calling of leadership — to grow and develop young and future leaders — for the organization, community or country?

With such goal the Corporate HR of the Aboitiz Group designed the Aboitiz Future Leaders Business Summit (AFLBS) five years ago. Anchored on the Group’s brand position “Passion for Better Ways,” the annual activity challenges promising young students to step out of their collegiate mindset, look into their future, and recognize their role in nation-building. Thus, they can also identify their career options, and have a preview of real work and business situations.

Student delegates’ benefits can be immediate or forthcoming. For one, they get first-hand sharing of experiences from real home-grown but internationally renowned heroes. They’ve had lawyer-author Alexander Lacson, he of the best-selling book on nation-building 12 Little Things Every Filipino Can Do To Help Our Country.

And Dr. Josette Biyo as well, the first Filipino to have a planet named after her. A public school teacher from Iloilo, she also bested 4,000 candidates worldwide to win the prestigious Intel International Excellence in Teaching Award.

This year, the motivational speaker was Efren Peñaflorida, the “CNN Hero of the Year” for 2009. For pioneering Kariton Klassrums (pushcart classrooms) since 1997, he brought his Dynamic Teen Company, all volunteers, to bring the classroom to the young pupils wherever they were in Cavite, to teach basic literacy skills, values formation and personal hygiene.

For previews of the real world of work and business situations, the student delegates had an array of topics and activities akin to a full-blown leadership program — business strategy, leadership, customer service, people development, corporate social responsibility, brand building, and personal financial management. The program culminates in a group challenge through case studies, and members present their output before a panel of Aboitiz executives.

Their speakers? The Aboitiz Group’s powerhouse in full force; no subalterns, mind you. How’s that for putting your time where your values are? So, there they were — Aboitiz Equity Ventures’ (AEV) President & CEO Erramon Aboitiz, AEV Chairman Jon Ramon Aboitiz, Aboitiz Construction Group CEO & Chair Roberto Aboitiz, Pilmico President Sabin Aboitiz, and AEV’s Chief Human Resource Officer Txabi Aboitiz, Chief Finance Officer Stephen Paradies, and Chief Reputation Officer Sebastian Lacson, and Aboitiz Foundation’s Trustee Romy Ronquillo, and EVP & Managing Trustee Sonny Carpio.

Just who are the student delegates, where do they come from, and how do they make it to the cut-off each year? Of the aggregate 436 since 2006, two-thirds are from the Visayas, while the rest are from Luzon and Mindanao. The applicants have been increasing as well; this year, only 90 out of 300 made it to the magic circle.

In keeping with the Group’s mandate to lead and excel, the screening process is stringent. Applicants, either college juniors or seniors, must be 25 years old maximum, active leaders or officers of any student organization (student government, academic, cause-oriented, socio-civic or religious), models of integrity, discipline and excellence (in the Top 20 of their college or department, and no disciplinary case in or outside campus), and excellent communicators.

Track records in at least five instances of leadership, awards received and community involvement require detailed substantiation. Meant to separate the chaff from the grain, applicants must state their significant contributions as leader, reason/s for the awards and identity of the award-giving bodies, and their role in their community involvement activities.

The evaluator (from academe or community) must then state the applicant’s outstanding (underscoring mine) strengths/talents and areas for improvement. The applicant then writes a 500-word essay (handwritten, original and never printed, published or submitted as requirement for any school subject) on an established topic.

The entire process takes about 9 months, including the final interview and selection. For the accepted non-Cebu delegates, the Aboitiz Group shoulders all expenses for transportation fare, terminal fees, hotel accommodations and meals during the business summit.

What else makes the applicants gravitate to the Business Summit year after year? For one, employment where needed. With higher chances are delegates armed with degrees in business management, accounting, communications, political science, computer science/IT, marketing, finance, engineering, psychology and economics. So far, 15 of the alumni have joined the Aboitiz Group.

Dinners with Aboitiz executives allow delegates to follow-through on the formers’ presentations, and discuss ideas with them up close and personal. For alumni with a strong sense of others and genuine service participate in corporate social responsibility projects in Cebu, Davao, Iligan and Makati such as group-wide tree planting, annual Christmas outreach, and medical missions.

It’s said one must wait for the sunset to know how the day has been. So, time to hear it from the delegates. Aimee Lara Bacallan of U.P. Diliman said, “There is nothing more noble than believing in the youth. Glad to have been part of this Summit.” Albert Cruz of the University of Santo Tomas wrote, “I like the passion from your top executives to the employees….The Summit catalyzed my motivation, development and learning not only as a leader, but also as a person full of compassion and service.”

Arkhe Manuel Telen from Mindanao State University – Marawi stated, “The face-to-face conversation with Sir Txabi (Aboitiz) made me realize a lot of things about the corporate world…The best experiences are when you get to know ordinary people who know how to do extraordinary things.”

University of St. La Salle’s Rey Allan de Juan caps it all: “I have gained so much insight…. Thank you, Aboitiz, for renewing our values on servant leadership, trust, honesty and responsibility.”