Thursday, February 18, 2016

Leadership lessons from Shell’s top man

Image lifted from "Thought Leaders"
In an interview on “Thought Leaders”, a weekly show featuring influential management and business leaders by Bloomberg TV Philippines, Shell companies in the Philippines Country Chair Edgar Chua gives some insights on his leadership and management style as he tackled various aspects of growing the business of oil and gas exploration, extraction, refining and delivery to consumers under various companies under the Shell brand.

Not everything happens by choice so make the most of chance.  When asked how he rose from being a sales representative in 1979 to his present position as country chair of Shell companies in the Philippines, Chua says some of his personnel movements were by choice and others, by chance.  “The important point is that one has to be open to opportunities, and to doing things that take you out of your comfort zone.” From sales rep, Chua did the rounds in Finance, Audit, Trading, Operations and other areas of the business.  He adds that a person who takes whatever is thrown him and takes it well proves to senior managers that he is flexible, adaptable and capable of doing different things. 

Saturday, October 17, 2015

When drivers can't (don't) read

It’s happening again. I flash my headlights at the car in front of me to get the driver’s attention. We’re on the STAR tollway where the speed limit is 60 kph minimum and 100 kph maximum for private cars. The car ahead of me is hogging the passing/overtaking lane or the leftmost lane of a highway at a steady 80 kph.


There is no response. We go steady and slow until I follow other drivers and just overtake on the inside or on the right lane, which is considered dangerous and designated as a driving offense in some countries. Here, it’s just considered passing.

Monday, September 7, 2015

A little help goes a long way

Librada De Castro Acuzar is not one to take things for granted.

A teacher at the Ambulong Elementary School (ES) in Batangas City, Teacher “Ada”, as she is more popularly known, has worked hard for every break that has come her way.

Life was not easy growing up for the second of 11 siblings. “My father was a farmer, and my mother did not have a job,” she said. They ate off the land and from the proceeds of whatever produce he was able to sell, she added.

Followers