Views from the top

Bosses, to borrow a line from Forrest Gump, are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get. There are the great and the good, the mediocre and the bad, and the downright terrible.

Some seem like the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, inflicting mostly toxicity on their teams. Their celestial egos are inversely proportional to the size of their brains.

Fortunately, there are leaders who are competent, inspiring and capable of bringing out the best in people.

In my early years as a journalist, fresh out of college, I had the privilege of learning from some of the newsroom’s finest.

In Philippine business, too, I have covered leaders whose sense of purpose has inspired generations of Filipino executives.

Some of them shared their stories in a book published by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), with project management handled by Eggshell Worldwide Communications Inc.

The result is Views from the Top, a book that compiles insights from former MAP presidents, offering a glimpse into their leadership philosophies, professional journeys and shared love of country.

I had the privilege of serving as the book’s editor and the experience was pleasantly surprising.

Reading their narratives, written by some of the industry’s most prolific writers or told in their own words, felt like sitting across from them and taking a crash course in leadership.

Rene Almendras, MAP president, 2024

For Rene Almendras, for instance, leadership is less about grand declarations than getting things done.

Leadership, in this sense, is not about building monuments to greatness, but leaving behind a method – and shade, planted for people he’ll never meet, to benefit them long after one’s tenure ends.

Joey Bermudez, MAP president, 2009

If Almendras demonstrates the value of execution, Joey Bermudez underscores the importance of taking responsibility.

I used to cover Joey before. I’m not sure if he remembers me but I enjoyed reading his story.

Leadership, he says, is not about being the most powerful person in the room. It is about building confidence amid uncertainty and using business as a force for national progress.

Corazon de la Paz-Bernardo, MAP president, 1994

Responsibility also means knowing when to draw the line. For Corazon de la Paz-Bernardo, professional integrity is worth more than any client or fee.

During her years at Price Waterhouse, members of her audit team raised concerns about discrepancies in a client’s reported inventory. She personally verified the assets and walked away because she had to.

Ed Chua, MAP president, 2008

Ed Chua says that authority may secure compliance but trust inspires people to give their best.

In retirement, Chua turned his attention to childhood stunting, a problem he believes is solvable through better coordination and delivery. Working with institutions and advocacy groups, he has emphasized that resources often exist; what is needed is follow-through.

Ramon del Rosario, MAP president, 1989

PHINMA chairman and chief executive Ramon del Rosario sees leadership as a tool for nation building.

“We believe CEOs should be involved in education in our country. Think about it – the output of our education system becomes our employees, and they are the people we ultimately serve,” he said.

For him, business cannot be separated from the society that sustains it.

Benedicta Du-Baladad, MAP president, 2023

For Benedicta Du-Baladad, leadership is about laying a strong foundation and creating a path that others can carry forward.

Mon Fernandez, MAP president, 2018

Mon Fernandez, the no-nonsense president of Maynilad, shares that leadership begins with knowing one’s strengths, limitations and boundaries.

Only then can leaders establish a clear direction – a north star that tells an organization where it is going and why.

Ed Francisco, MAP president, 2012

Knowing the destination, however, does not mean the journey will be easy. Ed Francisco believes leadership requires grit and the willingness to make difficult and unpopular decisions.

Francis Lim, MAP president, 2020

I also like Securities and Exchange Commission chairman Francis Lim’s view on leadership. For him, it is about stewardship: you hold the institution for a time, and you return it stronger to the people it serves.

Al Panlilio, MAP president, 2025

It’s a similar view shared by former PLDT president and CEO Al Panlilio, who believes that a leader makes decisions and plans for things beyond his term.

Perry Pe, MAP president, 2016

For lawyer Perry Pe, modesty is a discipline, not a weakness. What executives most often get wrong is mistaking the practical for compromise; listening is not surrender, and pragmatism is not softness.

There are many more stories from other MAP presidents. I just chose some of the executives I was able to cover.

Perhaps the most valuable lesson is that the best bosses are not necessarily the most powerful in the room.

They are the ones who recognize teamwork and leave their institutions better than they found them.

I also noticed that some of the best ones are the most humble and low-key. They also have empathy and most importantly, love for country.

Incumbent MAP president Donald Lim, who conceived the project, says that Views from the Top was conceived to preserve enduring lessons from the different leaders who contributed to business and national development over the past several decades.

I share some of these stories here to inspire succeeding generations.

In government and business, incompetent bosses wreak havoc. Hopefully, the next leaders will do better.

Inquiries may be sent to [email protected]

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Email: [email protected]. Follow her on X @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.