Anna Melissa Nava's company 1Export is giving Filipino businesses access to the global market by streamlining the logistics of exporting their products
In the What Matters To Me series, a Generation T honouree describes what they do, why they do it, and why it matters.
For small and medium-sized companies, the process of exporting products can be daunting and often confusing. From costs to mountains of paperwork, it is difficult to know where to start. Enter 1Export. Co-founded by Anna Melissa Nava, the company provides a one-stop, end-to-end solution for SMEs to be export-ready. The company currently works with over 450 companies exporting to 36 markets, and has grown at least 40 folds since its inception.
Nava shares more about her business and vision in her own words here.
I was in the export industry before I left to take my master's. I was working in a company that helped fast-moving consumer goods to export to markets in Asia, Europe and the US. On the side, I consulted for small and medium businesses and realised that their challenges were slightly different from that of an established brand.
They would spend so much time and money upfront for certifications, product development, packaging and branding, which don't normally translate into sales immediately. In 2017, when we first started approaching SMEs, their mindset was particularly focused on serving the local market because they thought exporting was expensive and difficult, and would rather put their energies on what would give them an immediate return.
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When we first started, our company didn't have money, so we raised funds from our customers. We told them that we would do anything they wanted that was export-related for a fixed fee—whether it's crafting a business plan, running to government agencies to acquire specific documents, or standing in for them at trade shows and meetings. This excruciatingly manual process enabled us to understand the complexities of exporting and the compliances involved. We started solving each problem of compliance, sales and logistics, in that order, one by one, per market until we developed expertise and gained traction.
The pandemic has been the largest enabler for digital innovations. Before, we had to convince people to go online or upload their products. Now, it's pretty much the standard. Everyone wants to go digital and go global; they're no longer relying solely on traditional channels to keep their businesses going.
As a female CEO in the Philippines, you are subjected to higher expectations than your male counterparts. Aside from the work that I do, I've been asked questions such as, "When do you plan to get married?", "When do you plan to have kids?", or "What are you doing in this space?" These questions would probably not have been asked if I were a man. I've been underestimated and it's common for people to expect that I'll fail. Credentials alone are not enough. We have to be beyond "good". We've had to work harder to show that we can deliver the results in order for people to look past our gender and see what we can do.
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If I wasn't doing this, I would probably be teaching in a public school or in a remote province. I'd like to contribute to shaping the future of underprivileged youth and be able to provide them with a level playing field to compete with others in work and life.
The best piece of advice I have ever gotten is to focus on the things I can control. I remind myself about this especially when things get stressful or out of control, and when I'm thinking of new ideas. It helps to me stay calm and focused, and able to make the most out of the opportunities in front of me.
See other honourees from the Retail & E-Commerce category of the Gen.T List 2021.