It’s What I Do – Pinoy Talent On-the-Job

MARY JANE ALVERO AL MAHDI

CEO – Geoscience Testing Laboratory, UAE

As the CEO of Geoscience Testing Laboratory, I am responsible for the success or failure of the company. Operations, marketing, strategy, financing, creation of company culture, human resources, hiring, firing, compliance with safety regulations, sales, PR, etc. — it all falls on my shoulders.

My contribution as a CEO is in building a superb business with the money raised. Setting strategy and vision is my main duty. The senior management team helps me develop strategy. I ultimately set the direction – which markets the company will enter, against which competitors, update of technology, training and innovation. Making the organization different from its competitor is one of the big challenges I am facing. Decision making, setting budgets, and building a team to steer the company accordingly, are all important functions and responsibilities I exercise.

My other duties include building a healthy corporate culture – a great place to work that can attract and retain the very best, as well as to facilitate team-building ensuring that my team works together in a common direction.  Every activity in my job is challenging.

I rose up from a Junior Chemist to CEO in the same line of business in a span of 19 years. My achievements were all appreciated and eventually, this inspired me more to give my best. With my success, I have made my country proud of me and my failures helped me to conquer the fear of being a loser. As I’ve learned in the past, my failures guided me in continuing my journey. They were not easy to accept but the pain made me a better and stronger person.

A typical working day for me

I start early. I wake up at 4:30 am to take bath. Then I pray, spend an hour on emails, read the news online, exercise, have breakfast with my family and then get my children ready for school and drop them off.  I do all that and still get to work by 8am to 8:30am.

At the office, I hold a meeting with my key staff to discuss major issues and make assignments accordingly. Here, my executive assistant would detail my agenda for the day including any meetings or upcoming travel.  I then spend part of the morning on emails and phone calls that must be returned. With the help of my assistant, I sift through all of the correspondences and reply to those items I consider most pressing.  Technology has helped me stay connected no matter where I am in the world. Even when I am not in the country, I still answer emails and return phone calls.  At lunchtime, some important meetings will likely take place. I meet with potential clients and other important people. My job will include being able to make people feel comfortable as much as anything else.

After work, I pick up my kids from school; check the homework of my son, look after my baby, plan for the dinner and bond with my husband by watching TV – our way of relaxation.  In the weekends, I go to the spa, visit relatives and friends, shop and watch a movie with my husband on Friday night.  I also do charity and organizational work for the community.

Career Advice

Let us give praises and glory to God above all. We Filipinos should be proud of our roots. Let us show the world our professional excellence. Never stop educating ourselves, continue learning, share what we can, be humble and not to forget the good values that our parents have instilled in us.

MARK ALVARO

Operations Manager, Retail Sector –  Transguard Group

 My job

I’m currently working as an Operations Manager (Retail Sector) for the Transguard Group. I am managing and overseeing over 300 security personnel at various high profile locations, so there’s never a dull moment! So far in my two years in this role, I’ve travelled to India for a recruitment campaign and trained new recruits to a high standard, sharing my 15 years or so experience in the security field. As an Operations Manager, I am expected to do site visit at various locations, hold daily briefings for the staff, as well as have weekly meetings with the client. When I’m not in operations, I address administration issues at the office. So many issues may arise; anything from staff welfare or staff discipline is always on the agenda.  Then of course, we’re always on the lookout for new businesses, promoting and selling Transguard as a company.

Side story

Last year, I had the opportunity to participate in White Collar Boxing, an event organized by Transguard where executives turn fighters in the ring. It’s an experience that will always stay with me. Never won the fight, but once you’re in that ring and you’ve experienced the whole thing then you have nothing but admirations for the pros that do it for a living! The eight week training was gruelling but well worth it in the end. I’ve never been so fit in my whole life! The best way to describe how you feel afterwards, well…it’s like being in a car crash, your whole body is aching!!! But, I would definitely recommend it to anybody.

A typical working day for me

First thing in the morning, I’m usually at one of the sites holding a morning briefing before the start of the shift of my staff – addressing any issues they may have in regards to security matters, or their own personal issues. Then, I have a walk-through with the senior supervisor or supervisor of the site. After that, I meet with the client and make sure that their happy with the service we are providing. At times, we also do sites audits – checking that the high standard is kept by our onsite staff. If time permits, I would head back to the office, to deal with administration issues, if any.

Career Advice

In general we’re a very proud nation, but I feel at times that we’re too polite and nice in the working environment. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with that, but we should be more assertive and confident in our own abilities because we are a nation filled with enormous potential and talent – we are at a par, if not better in some things compared to others.