Extraordinary Stories for Aspiring LeadersExtraordinary: Stories for Aspiring Leaders

Edited by Victor L. Magdaraog and Nikki Katherine M. Dy-Liacco
 
 
This book provides a wealth of stories that can inspire and instill hope for our country and to all of us who are searching for present-day role models. [It features] 51 extraordinary Filipino leaders whose work has uplifted the status of our country in more ways than one; 51 leaders we can be proud of; 51 leaders who can inspire all of us to put Country Above Self.

From the Foreword of Evelyn R. Singson, MAP President for 2006
 
 
The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP), together with the Philippine office of Development Dimensions International (DDI), interviewed and collected responses from 51 Filipino leaders across various industries. Written for aspiring leaders, the book features their extraordinary stories around seven leadership beliefs, which have shown to correlate highly with long-term leadership effectiveness. In DDI’s work with leaders around the world for nearly 40 years, these are the seven leadership beliefs, with chapter excerpts and a quote from some of the featured leaders in the book:
 
Leaders inspire confidence and belief in the future. “My role as an effective leader isn’t just to force people to see my vision, but to entice them enough to want to make my vision their own as well,” says Dr. George Ty, chairman of Metrobank. “If I can do that, then I would consider myself a successful leader.”
 
Leaders have a passion for results. “My previous bosses told me that what they liked in me is that I’m prepared to work very hard and go the extra mile—and I don’t do that grudgingly,” shares Ed Chua, Chair and President of Pilipinas Shell Petroleum Corporation. “The differentiating factors would be things like your willingness to put in the extra hours and your attitude in life.”
 
Leaders are masters at managing ambiguity. “The job of the leader is to look at where he can set the path that he’s leading his organization into,” says Carlos Ejercito, President and CEO of the Unilab Group of Companies. “Because standing still is never a solution.”
 
Leaders are marked by unwavering integrity. “My parents taught me that some things are more important than profit. My father would always say that a good name lasts forever,” says Ambassador Alfonso Yuchengco, Chair of the Yuchengco Group. “Success cannot be had at any cost. In seeking it, we must always be guided by the highest standards of integrity.”
 
Leaders have strong rather than big egos. “Success, many times, is not achieved by going for it directly. Oftentimes, it comes as a by-product—a gift,” shares Polly Nazareno, President and CEO of SMART Communications. “And if you take that gift and make it a noble mission, then you are now with a purpose. And if you are able to influence others to have the same purpose, that is true leadership. That is success.”
 
Leaders make courageous decisions. “I always try to take the long-term view,” shares Oscar Lopez, Chair and CEO of the Lopez Group. “I will readily accept a short-term burden or problem as long as I can be sure that in the long run, the Lopez Group will be stronger and more durable.”
 
Leaders set others up for success. “Making yourself expendable is the test of an effective leader,” says Lance Gokongwei, President and COO of Universal Robina Corporation. “You do that by finding and developing managers who do your job better than you do. Leaders have to prepare for that eventuality when he’s not going to be there.”
 
 
Extraordinary: Stories for Aspiring Leaders is available at Powerbooks and National Bookstore in the Philippines, or via the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) at map@globelines.com.ph or (632) 751-1149 to 52.