Cover Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso is one of the pioneer employees at Megaworld, joining the company in 1990
Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso is one of the pioneer employees at Megaworld, joining the company in 1990
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The leader of one of the Philippines’ largest real-estate companies, Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso shares her journey to the top, highlighting the lessons she learnt and why empowering others is key to success
“The turn of events, honestly, surprised me. I didn’t dream of a new position,” humbly says Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso, president of Megaworld, recalling the moment she learnt she would take over the role once held by the visionary business leader Dr Andrew Tan. At that time, Gutierrez-Alfonso was already happy and content as Megaworld’s chief operating officer, and more so, grateful to have witnessed the company grow, having been a part of it for over three decades. But armed with a strong faith in God and the invaluable lessons she learnt from Tan, her mentor, Gutierrez-Alfonso gladly embraced the new journey.
What was daunting for her were not the functions of being president. “I had big shoes to fill,” she says, for her predecessor’s achievements in the business world were no small feat. From the ground up, Tan established Megaworld in 1989, and while the company grew exponentially through the years, it also overcame many challenges–from natural disasters to financial crises. “Dr Tan was the kind of leader who inspired us to persevere... He knew that better days were ahead for Megaworld. I chose to believe in his vision and work hard to help bring that vision to life,” says Gutierrez-Alfonso.
Read more: Megaworld names Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso as new president
Above Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso with Dr Andrew Tan and Kevin Tan
Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso with Dr Andrew Tan and Kevin Tan
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She Leads
As a woman who has stepped into such a high-profile leadership role, Gutierrez-Alfonso avers that men and women are wired differently and each brings unique strengths to the table. “Women are nurturing individuals,” she tells Tatler. With this in mind, she strongly believes in fostering growth among her team members while encouraging collaboration to achieve the best results. Women’s ability to juggle various responsibilities is also a key asset in leadership. “Balancing multiple priorities promotes increased agility and adaptability in the organisation,” she adds. These views, paired with a culture of meritocracy, paved the way for her success despite potential gender biases in the industry.
“As women climb the corporate ladder, as it becomes more commonplace to find women in the boardroom, our families will embrace this dynamic, and their support will be invaluable to our continued success…I [also] believe that all career women are a credit to the workforce”
Gutierrez-Alfonso also sheds light on the common misconception that women leaders must choose between their careers and their families. “I don’t believe we have to make that choice or that we have to give up one for the other. We love our families, and they are why we work so hard and strive to succeed,” she says. “As women climb the corporate ladder, as it becomes more commonplace to find women in the boardroom, our families will embrace this dynamic, and their support will be invaluable to our continued success…I [also] believe that all career women are a credit to the workforce.”
Teamwork is key
When Gutierrez-Alfonso assumed the presidency at Megaworld last year, she first implemented the thought leadership programme, President’s Conversation, or PresCon, which envisioned improving business through people engagement. The programme enables her to converse with different groups of 40 to 50 employees, share the company’s story with them and how it triumphed over adversity. More importantly, it serves as a platform for her to listen to the employees’ ideas and proposed initiatives. Similarly, the employees can also ask her questions. “I wanted to go back to our people…It’s a fun and laid-back part of the programme, making me feel even closer to them,” she says.
For her, teamwork is essential. As a leader, she has been pushing the practice of engaging with the team to generate new ideas and promote collaboration even before she became president. A township project, for example, is the fruit of a collective effort and ideas from different team members.
Above Megaworld President Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso
Megaworld President Lourdes Gutierrez-Alfonso
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Faith, mentorship and hard work
Gutierrez-Alfonso was quick to answer when asked who her mentors are: Jesus, her parents and Tan. “Our Lord Jesus Christ taught me to lead, love and live like Him. It is through Him that I lead with a HEART,” she says. H stands for humility, E for empowerment, A for accountability, R for relational connections, and T for a thankful heart. “God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. Empowerment is an extension of humility because when you empower others, you also recognise your limitations. Empowerment means you are open to new ideas and are willing to listen to others. It also means you can trust the team,” Gutierrez-Alfonso explains. She also emphasised that the quality of one’s life is heavily impacted by the quality of one’s relationships with others. “We must strive to build harmony because it builds a better team, and our everyday work is elevated.”
In addition, Gutierrez-Alfonso credits her parents for instilling in her the values of gratitude, joy, fulfillment, sacrifice and service, and hard work over self-entitlement. “We celebrated the value of hard work because my parents made it look easy and worthwhile, and we never once compared ourselves to others or wanted what others had. Because of that, I approached my career not with a sense of entitlement, but with gratitude and appreciation for the opportunity to work, be of service, and make a difference.”
“I believe that meritocracy will help clear the path for more women to rise, and it will give these women the opportunities and tools to honour their higher purpose”
Meanwhile, Tan taught her determination and resilience despite what seems impossible. “He is a visionary and can see opportunities in every challenge. Dr Tan is also the consummate example of a hard worker. Even during Megaworld’s early years, he truly walked the talk—he was out on the field as a salesman, a collector and a deal-closer,” she continues.
Five lessons
The lessons Gutierrez-Alfonso learnt the past decades in the industry can be summed up into five: 1) We should be a good steward of the resources entrusted to us; 2) We should recognise that we will be accountable to the owner; 3) Success requires hard work; 4) It is not the work of one, but the work of the team that genuinely moves us forward; and, 5) With a higher purpose, our work becomes more meaningful, and contributes to a larger, more impactful goal.
Equipped with these philosophies, she is committed to training and mentoring others and championing meritocracy. “I believe that meritocracy will help clear the path for more women to rise, and it will give these women the opportunities and tools to honour their higher purpose,” Gutierrez-Alfonso says. “Perhaps my achievements can serve as a humble example to young women in the region that anything is possible through God’s grace and determination and hard work.” Looking into a brighter future, Gutierrez-Alfonso vows to challenge herself, aim to do her best and do better than she did the day before.
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Whether on assignment or not, Maritess is always on the lookout for off-the-beaten-path destinations as well as the yummiest finds in the Philippines and abroad. In 2020, she plunged into the black hole of Korean la la land. Follow her escapades at @matetreyes.
