MBA Footprints (Published on June 06, 2012, Business World)

Source: http://www.bworldonline.com/content.php?section=Opinion&title=MBA-footprints&id=53030

In a couple of days, De La Salle University will declare me a master of business administration (MBA) at the Philippine International Convention Center -- yes, on my graduation day!

Studying for an MBA degree is no walk in the park. One has to invest a great deal of time and resources to complete the program, which equips students with knowledge and understanding of management concepts and their applications that are critical for effective management in the real business environment.

The legendary Wash Sycip, who referred to himself as only a bookkeeper, wrote, "Basic credentials are not enough to ensure success in any profession. This means that learning will be, as it should be, a lifelong activity. We must be open to continuously retooling or retraining ourselves to remain competitive."

God created us with a desire to learn. In May 2009, my thirst for learning led me to enroll in the MBA program as a part-time student when I was still working for the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Many students take the program to advance their careers, to shift to more lucrative ones, or to increase their salaries, and having an MBA degree is a requirement or an advantage for them. I have classmates and friends with limited business background who are about to inherit or take over their family businesses; thus, courses such as finance, human resources, operations, marketing, and information management equip them for the exigent post.

Surprisingly, a handful of students go to school to release work-related stress; thus, taking classes enables them to learn, think, and conceptualize new ideas. And of course, there are the "outliers": people who crave mental stimulation and thirst for knowledge; consequently, learning is fun for them.

All my eight terms in business school teemed with challenges. As most MBA students know, it’s not easy to balance studies with a day job and/or business and to manage family and personal time. Moreover, some professors (and the subjects they teach) can be really tough. Because I took accountancy in college, I found my accounting and finance subjects easy. However, I had to burn my eyebrows for the other subjects such as management science, operations management, organizational behavior, and strategic management. Most of my classmates and I enjoyed ethics and corporate social responsibility as these subjects stimulated discussions and interactions that are relevant to day-to-day business situations.

Besides understanding frameworks and core concepts of management, I learned two important lessons during my MBA journey.

First, having mentors is one of life’s greatest gifts. Professors are there to mentor students. I had teachers who are known for their distinguishing teaching styles and classroom management. They taught with great erudition and passion. Just a tip: the best way to get hold of them is to invite them over coffee for "consultation."

While some of them may seem tough, they all aspire to help students develop their skills and realize their potential. Being in the Strategic Management class of Dr. Elfren S. Cruz was the most challenging time for me. Meeting with him was like going into battle. He passionately taught us how to use frameworks for decision-making. We had to go to class prepared. And, as class president, I was given a tall order: "Nobody left behind!" I had to ensure everyone would pass the class. I remember his telling me, "Ms. Ore, I’m preparing you to be CEO." In hindsight, I value every encounter with him. And for the record, everyone in our class passed the course.

Second, having an MBA degree is a huge responsibility. While going to school and acquiring higher education give us a chance to better our lives, we must not forget our greater calling -- to serve and better the lives of others. An MBA degree is more than just possessing solid business skills or carrying a powerful brand. It is more than finding business partners, or being class president, or getting a perfect GPA, or having the privilege to write for this column.

Finally, having an MBA degree does not guarantee success. It is our sovereign God (not our parents, bosses, mentors, or professors) who promised this: "For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." One thing I am assured of: When we commit everything to the Lord and trust Him, He shall bring it to pass, and our plans will succeed.

The author, a trustee and CFO of GreenEarth Heritage Foundation, Inc., is graduating with a perfect cumulative GPA of 4.0. The views expressed above are the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official position of De La Salle University.

National Holiday: When A Leader Is Celebrated

Today, June 30, 2010, my country is on a national holiday for the inauguration of the 15th President of the Philippines, Benigno Simeon “Noynoy” Cojuangco Aquino III.

So, in lieu of the time that I'm going to spend for my Organizational Behavior subject—a subject that made me want to just read the textbook rather than attend the class—I'm going to write down my thoughts about our newly elected president, the new beacon of hope.

People, from different walks of life and different lands, have written a lot about P-Noy—he prefers to be addressed that way—even days before he publicly announced (in 2009) his decision to ran for President. Whether it’s for a newspaper or a magazine or a blog, people published their gathered facts, thoughts, and opinions about him and his family. Every day, since the start of his last-minute campaign, we have heard and have read people talking about him. We can be most certain that people will continue to talk and write about him after today, especially after today. 

Confession: Yes, I did vote for Noynoy Aquino. Like many other bystanders, I, too, admit that Noy has not proven anything yet when it comes to leadership accomplishments. Nevertheless, over fifteen million Filipino—that's 42% of the voting population—voted for him, and that made him the new President of the Republic of the Philippines! 

I realized that despite the fact that P-Noy has not done much as he should have had as a former congressman and later as a senator, the people gave P-Noy another chance to prove his worth. Despite his detractors' judgment and criticisms about his ineptitude and his inability to run a nation (not to mention their highlighting of his vices and mental disorder), he fought a good fight and gave hope to many Filipinos—a hope of a New Philippines. 

P-Noy never desired to be President; moreso, he never dreamed of inheriting our nation's problems on corruption and poverty. But he has to. Not only because he is the son of his parents who were defenders of Philippine democracy, but greatly because he is destined to lead this nation, for such a time as this. It is his calling to be the country's CEO, and he courageously responded to the call. That, for me, is a mark of a transformational leader. 


When the Filipino people saw his determination and will to fight against corruption to stamp out poverty, they rallied behind him believing that with the people's power, P-Noy could trample those who financially gained from our country's wealth and liberate our country from moribund state. 

Now, my attempt to write about him is not to match those who have written (can write) better or have given (can give) better information and opinion than I. My writing about him is not even to pledge my allegiance to the heir of the yellow fever or to defend my voting for him as President. If any of the above were my reasons, I should have blogged about him few months back. My reason for writing is triggered by overwhelming support of the people who came to Quirino Grandstand this morning to witness personally his inauguration. There were about 500,000 supporters, including politicians and celebrities, who came to see P-Noy take his oath and to listen to his inaugural speech.  Not only that, about 200,000 people went to the street party at Quezon Memorial Circle this evening to celebrate the victory of our new leader. 

As I was reflecting on what I've seen—yes, on television!—I realized that it makes a big difference when a leader is loved…and is, more importantly, celebrated. It feels better to see people on the streets celebrating what is good and admirable rather than to see them going on strike or rallying against the government, or somebody in the government. It feels better to see a nation rejoicing because of a new hope rather than to see it crying out for help because of oppression and injustice. It feels better to see our leaders dying for our country's glory rather than to see them living for their own glories.

Confession: I believe that this new government can change the course of our nation. I have to. We all have to. Otherwise, there is no chance for us to reach our destiny as a nation. Our new leader needs all the help he can get to continue fighting for what is right, for what the people deserve, for what the Philippines ought to become. He needs you and me. 


My friends, especially my fellow MBA students, let us all do our share to help P-Noy lead our country by giving our best to our business organizations that will translate to economic stability and social welfare or by establishing business enterprises that will give more jobs and opportunities to the Filipinos. 

I sincerely hope that, at the end of his term, not only can President Noynoy Aquino repeat what his father, the late Senator Ninoy, once declared, "The Filipino is worth dying for," but he can further affirm, "The Filipino is worth both living and dying for."




Photo courtesy of www.spot.ph

Brighter

Had it not for Dr. Teehankee’s reminder last Friday, I would not have started – or finished – my blogs for Term 3.

My ManSci plight has finally come to an end; except that as of this writing, I have not yet seen my grade posted online. To those who know my unfortunate situation, I thank you for listening to my endless quibbles not about the rigidness of the subject but about the snag of having a thoughtless groupmate!

Confession: I can say that, having gone through a lot in my two previous terms, my ManSci gave me an enormous amount of stress. Frankly speaking, I was traumatized. Contrary to what I had expected at the start of the term, I was never happy in the class. Contrary to my other subjects like BusWri, ManStat, CSR, and BusCom, I was never excited to be in my Mansci class.

And why am I telling you this? Or why am I writing about this knowing that any of my classmates or an MBA student might stumble upon this blog?

Situations like this do happen in grad school. And I want to encourage you (and in the process, encourage myself!) that we all have the choice to do something about our situation, a choice to do better, to be better. At the end of the day or at the end of term, there is always a lesson or two that we can learn.

Despite my struggles this 3rd term, I showed tenacity and grim persistence. Meaning, I doggedly worked on every assignment and case study, even if I had to stay up late and sleep at three in the morning just to finish my group assignment. Admittedly, I lack natural talent in numbers, which by the way, people don’t believe me since I’m an accountant. But I labored so hard to understand what Dr. Berino was trying to teach us in class (Yes, the rumor is indeed true: he is like a bullet train). I tried so hard because I knew I was never going to top his class. I tried so hard because I knew my groupmates would never exert as much effort as I. I tried so hard because I didn’t want to get any grade lower than 3.5! For the record, I was never absent from my ManSci class.

I don't want to elaborate so much on what really transpired during those fourteen weeks, but believe me, it was not easy. Nonetheless, I was able to gather some lessons in life.

In ManSci, I learned to rely on God’s grace and wisdom. I learned to be humble. I learned to be persistent with my academic goals, and at the same time, be patient with people. I learned to express my classroom concerns to my professor. I learned to look for inspiration in spite of my frustrations. I learned to pray for my groupmates.

Confession: I realized that graduate school is about relationships. It’s about those professors who tirelessly share their knowledge and skills with us, those who unselfishly help us discover our gifts and remind us of our roles as change agents of this world, and those who, in return, deserve high respect and deep appreciation for shaping our minds and characters. It’s about those classmates who understand…and those who don’t. It’s about those groupmates who help you answer case studies…and those who don’t! It’s about those schoolmates who tip us off about the best professors…and especially the worst! It’s about having a little community of friends coming from different family backgrounds, having different professions, and representing different nations.

For me, it is not just about carrying the burden of answering our ManSci assignments or making a report on behalf and in behalf (the prepositional phrases have different meanings, by the way) of my group, which I will never tolerate again next time—ever!

In a more meaningful perspective, graduate school is about sharing one’s light to make someone else’s life a little brighter.

Oh, well. I never thought I’d learn something worthwhile from the experience, but I did, just when I least expected it.

P.S.

I had the heart to confront "the groupmate" about his poor academic discipline. I told him point-blank how I felt about his lackadaisical attitude. I just thought that if I'd tell him that, he'd change. Oh, well…Good luck to his future classmates in the succeeding terms!

Published

I never thought that my graduate school confessions entry – or any of my blogs – would someday get published in a national newspaper. My only intention in setting up a blog was for me to have an outlet from my complicated work-school-ministry-family life.

My blog, or blogging itself, has become a venue to fuel my interest in writing. Thus, in my Graduate School Confessions blogs, I try to record all my reflections, the lessons I’ve learned, even my mishaps, and the characters (professors and classmates) I encounter every term, so when I look back one day, I will be able to vividly remember my MBA days.

Confession: I’ve greatly admired those who can skillfully write, those who have the gift of literature. In my few years of immersing myself in the world of writers by buying and reading books, I have wished to have even just an ounce of a great writer’s ability to scribble his or her thoughts and a fraction of his or her imagination. I find it fascinating how people can write books, capture others' hearts by their articles (or blogs), and unknowingly inspire others to do the same: write!

Timing is everything. At the beginning of my first term at grad school, I decided to start blogging. It was a good take-off for me because I was enrolled in Business Writing at that time, and my professor was indescribably exceptional. My course helped me minimize my grammatical blunders. In fact, starting a blog compelled me to write, and write.

What’s my point? Today is the launching of my writing career. Well, that’s how Dr. Emil Hudtohan, my Ethics professor, described it. What started out as a blog about my BusCom subject became an article that was published in BusinessWorld under La Salle’s column, The View from Taft. Of course, due credit must be given (I know, I know, passive voice) to Ms. Marissa – a professor who is renowned for her writing and editorial expertise! – for her great persuasion. And yes, she did edit my work, cut it to a little over 800 words, and sent it as an entry for The View from Taft.

Starting this morning, I’ve been receiving feedback from family, friends, and classmates who had read it. They gave their overwhelming congratulations through email messages, text messages, Facebook wall posts, and phone calls. I felt as if I had won a Pulitzer!  At first, everything was just passing. But I realized that those God-inspired words had really made their way to the hearts of many. I had never realized how good (or in spiritual term, anointed) the article was until a classmate emailed me and said, “Congratulations, and thank you because the messages has truly touched my life.” He added, “I hope and pray that God will always use you as an instrument to spread His Word.”

Wow! I was at a loss for words. The impact of those words on me was indescribable in words. I was profoundly grateful and deeply humbled by God’s ways of using me, an ordinary, average student, to write in a newspaper column reserved for graduate school professors.

Confession: I started reading again the messages I had received earlier. This time, I was trying to read through their words and discern the impact the article had on them. What caught my attention and touched my heart the most was that a number of readers had said that the article had inspired them.

Out of curiosity, I researched the etymology of the word inspiration and what I received was a revelation. Are you ready for this?

The word inspiration comes from the French word, inspire, whose origin can be traced back to the Latin words in and spirare, which together mean “to breathe into.” The Latin root word spirare forms the base of other English words, such as aspire, conspire, transpire, and spirit. Note that last word, spirit, which means breath of life.

The ancient Greek was more specific as to the source of breath: God (Theopneustos, literally, God-breathed).  When God formed man and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, Adam became a living being.

When we write, we can inspire others and breathe hope into them. God works in us, so we can extend His love, bring life to them, and, just maybe, remind them of their purpose and calling in life.

Getting published has taught me new lessons. And it did not just give me momentary bliss. It has inspired me to write some more.

What Noel Told Me About Grad School

Confession: I have not been doing much reflections these days. My school-life has been such a challenge and my work-life is not far behind.

The perpetual demands - and stress - are so draining that one has to pray for daily wisdom, grace, and strength. And for the past couple of weeks, I have felt the pressures from all sides: work, school, family, and ministry. I have to admit that if Jesus were my "significant other," - in reality, he is more than that - he would have broken up with me because of my schedule. But now, more than ever, I am grateful that his grace is sufficient for me, and I find his strength always perfect in the midsts of my failures and weaknesses. He is really the best person one could ever have in his or her life.

This term's set of challenges far outweighed the two previous terms of my first year in grad school. For one, I've been struggling to find my place in my Ethics class. I have to confess honestly that I was a little frustrated with the subject. I told a friend that it's either I have had great expectations from both my professors and my classmates or I have not been really paying attention to the lectures. Quite trivial. But if you know me well enough, you can probably answer that. As I am writing this, there is a slide presentation that I still need to review for our group report next week.

However, after my term paper on trees and personality test including MBTI, cosmology, generation classification, and Johari's window, I have felt a little appreciation of the subject. To give justice to professors who teach ardently, I acknowledge that I have come to understand myself better today because of the discussions we have had during the past ten weeks. Kudos to the Hudtohans for trying to educate us.

Another difficulty I am presently facing is my Management Science class. As of this blog, I have four assignments due on March 25, and my groupmates are either out of town or out of reach! Well, that's just a minor concern. Despite having Sir Dennis as my professor - as you know he's also my favorite professor - and being an accountant, I am scuffling every time I go to class.

Now, with all my school requirements (and my blog quota), I couldn't help it but recall what my late mentor Noel told me about his graduate school experiences. Surprisingly, I found hope remembering his stories in "the eye of the storm."

Pastor Noel was an industrial engineering graduate from U.P. Diliman and he earned his master's degree from Asia Institute of Management. On several occasions, he would tirelessly recount his grad school adventures - and yes, pains - as we would sit down and listen eagerly to his sharing.

One particular story that stuck into my mind was about a very strict professor who would give them five cases every week to read and study and would expect them to come to class prepared. Yes, five cases every week. Most of the students in that class were professionals and entrepreneurs. And on the top of their work responsibilities and business engagements, they had to do well in class. He said, and I remember well, that their professor would start to single out his students to discuss one case or to answer his perplexing questions. Because of this plight, Noel and his classmates devised a plan. They grouped themselves into fives and divide the assignments, then let each student summarize a case, and at least a couple of days before the class, he or she must give the group a copy, so they can study the case. Sounds like Strategic Management, huh? Fascinating, isn't it?

What Noel emphasized as I was listening to his story was that his five-cases-professor predicament made him realize that work never ends - either at school or at the office. Even if you work overtime and on weekends and exert so much efforts, you will never finish everything, and even if you do, there will still be more piling up on your desk the following day. At a certain point or at a certain hour of the day, you have to choose to stop: go home and enjoy the moment of solitude and rest. You have to know which one to prioritize, which one matters most. Grad school taught him that.

It was a lesson he had never forgotten. It is a lesson I must never forget.

Though he joined our Creator about five years ago, Noel's words live on. His MBA lessons, his passion, his faith, and his stories shared to me will always find their way back into my heart every time I need a little encouragement. :)

(unedited)

Understanding One's Self: Professional Tree

Audit and Corporate Policies

After graduating from University of St. La Salle, Bacolod City, and passing the CPA board exam in 2002, I worked as an associate auditor at KPMG Laya-Mananghaya (now KPMG Manabat-SanAgustin). And after eight months of working as external auditor, I decided that it was not the right job for me – or not a job I truly wanted. I couldn’t imagine myself pencil pushing and number crunching until four in the morning and sacrifice my weekends any longer. My heart was longing to do something meaningful.

In 2003, an opportunity opened for me at the Department of Trade and Industry. The undersecretary for regional operations group Nelly Favis-Villafuerte was looking for an executive staff to handle the finance and operations of her sector. I took my chances and worked there for two years. Since we manage all DTI offices in 16 regions and 79 provinces, I had an invaluable training in MSMEs. I learned to appreciate more of our country’s best products and talents through local and international trade fairs.

When President GMA appointed my boss as Monetary Board member of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas in 2005, my boss offered me a job to handle corporate finance and banking policy research requirements for her office. Now, I am still enjoying my job – and the benefits! – at BSP. Doing policy research and sitting in the corporate audit and I.T. committees give me a better picture of how the central bank operates. My boss once told me that I am helping her help our country through sound monetary policies. For years, I have seen how my seemingly insignificant, unnoticed contributions made an impact to the banking industry.

Spiritual Leadership

As Christians, we are called to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. As what my favorite author always says, “One of the most exciting spiritual adventures in life is helping another human being find God.” This is why I started THY Marketplace. It’s a place for young professionals to know Christ better and to make Him known to others. We conduct inspirational talks and activities for young people in the country and abroad.

Volunteerism

I’ve always had passion for volunteerism, so when Dr. Mylene Matti and her husband James Matti, founders of GreenEarth Heritage, asked me to be a member of the board of trustee of their organic agricultural foundation, I thoughtfully agreed. Being part of GEHF is an opportunity to help improve the lives of the farmers and, of course, promote healthy living. Community development is one of our goals in the next five years.

Business

My family background and work experiences have influenced my business inclinations. The 1415 Group is an accounting and I.T. consultancy business that I am still trying to establish. Hopefully, it can be a good way to help solve unemployment and improve stakeholders’ economic lives. My work experiences at DTI and involvements at BSP have helped me develop my management skills. I have brilliant business ideas, which, I believe, will one day come to pass.

One of which is to have my own chicken inasal outlets in Metro Manila! J

Confession: I have not really thought about the facets of my professional life until my Ethics professors required us to submit a term paper. Honestly, I don't think I have such remarkable acumen in business matters compared to the others. But what I do know is that every time I do something and put my heart into it, I bring results. I'm not saying, I am jack-of-all trades, master of none. I am simply called to do something different, unconventional. What I'm saying is that God has allowed me to have rich experiences at a young age and brought me to different fields for me to see where He is at work and how I can be a part of His plan.

Understanding One's Self: Inspirational Tree

I am a product of many influences and environments. I am a product of my family – and those whom I’ve considered family. My inspirational tree is an inclusive picture of who I am today. The people I specifically mentioned here have significantly influenced my life that their life stories and lessons share to me have shaped my heart and mind. Their wisdom and support are unparalleled.

My parents’ Christian faith ushered me to understand and accept the saving grace of Jesus Christ. They were instrumental to my Christianity. My faith is the very foundation of my values system and principles. Consequently, I try to live my life to honor God and to bless others. I am grateful that I have discovered my purpose and calling in the Lord.

From 1991 to 1996, my Sunday school teacher Betty Sue instilled in my heart many stories in the Bible and the words of Christ. In 2003, I met a remarkable pastor, Noel. He became my spiritual mentor and he imparted to me his life and love for Christ. One of the most unforgettable things Noel gave me was a letter he wrote in 2004. He died of cancer the following year. His letter remains in my office drawer today. He is survived by his wife Sandy who later became a friend and a spiritual counselor. In 2008, Sandy introduced me to a Korean couple, Pastor Ahn and his wife Samonym, who also became me my spiritual mentors and bible teachers.

One important character in my life is Marita. Our paths crossed when I was eighteen years old. She is fourteen years older than I. Marita continues to challenge my faith, my dreams, and especially my heart. Next to my parents, her faith and passion helped me discover my gifts and find my own path to a deeper faith. Having Marita as my guiding light made me realize that the challenge a mentor-friend offers is the challenge to continue to choose God.

Nelly is not only my boss but also an inspiration. Her unwavering, dedicated service to our country is remarkable. For the seven years that I’ve worked with her, I have seen her passion for justice–probably because she is a lawyer–and hope for transformation. To work with one of the most powerful women in the country today is a privilege indeed.

Although none of my family members has master’s degree in business, I chosen to enroll in graduate school because Nelly, as well as Marita and Sandy, did encourage me to pursue higher education.

I also consider my professors as my heroes. My grade school teacher Ma’am Desiree introduced me to the world of girl scouting when I was a twinkler. Community service through girl scouting became bedrock of my passion for volunteerism. In 1998, I was awarded a Presidential Medal for community service at Malacañang. I am still volunteering for non-profit organizations today.

My accounting professor Ms. Stephanie taught me the virtues of humility and diligence. Though we never really spent time together, she demonstrated to me a life of an honorable teacher. She's worth emulating.

At graduate school, I met Ms. Marissa. She was my professor in Business Writing and Business Communication. As her student, I learned to study English with passion. Her zeal for writing inspired me to discover my gift of communication.

Lastly, I was never a voracious reader, but I developed the love of reading about ten years ago. I consider the book authors mentioned in my tree as mentors. For years, I’ve collected their books and shared their fervor to make a transforming difference in the lives of others. In one way or the other, they have given me something noteworthy.

Confession: It's only now that I get to appreciate my Ethics class. I'm sure my professors have a better explanation why we have to do the Trees for our term paper. But from what I've picked up, our paper will help us understand ourselves more, our background, our sphere of influences, and our way of thinking. I guess, it's a way to gauge if we are ethical or not, and if we have a balanced life.