Head – Marketing and Sales, Bareen Cluster – NMC Healthcare

What do you do for a living?

I work for NMC Healthcare, the largest private healthcare company in the UAE and third largest healthcare provider all over the world.  It is the first company from Abu Dhabi to list on the London Stock Exchange and is now part of the premium FTSE 100 Index, an elite club of top 100 blue-chip companies by market cap. I am currently posted as the Head of Marketing and Sales for the whole Bareen cluster.

Please describe your job:

I look after everything that is related to Marketing and Business Development of all the medical facilities under Bareen cluster – from brand positioning to increasing brand awareness and growing brand loyalty to the facility, from increasing footfall to generating revenue and raising profitability for each medical facility.  From strategic planning to overseeing execution, I spearhead all offline, thematic, and tactical communications such as print ads, radio ads, car ads, electronic ads, and SMS promotions. I manage all media-related activities including press releases, press conferences, media and public interviews, film shootings community research among others. I oversee business relationships with all external agencies including advertising creative, advertising placement, public relations, transit media, electronic media, mobile media, website, digital marketing; and with all printing vendors for below-the-line communication materials to ensure seamless delivery of functional requirements.  I plan and develop the brand’s digital presence which includes campaigns on website, social media, search engine optimization, online advertising, and mobile application.  I lead and guide the team in executing all community events including wellness camps, screening campaigns, health lectures, health-related world celebrations, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, and customer retention events.  I conceptualize and oversee corporate events including contract signing with new partners, unveiling/opening of new facilities, recognition gatherings for physicians, annual day celebrations for staff members.  I spearhead all medical events including medical conferences and Continuing Medical Education (CME) lectures for Bareen physicians and community-based doctors.  I strategize and oversee the business development functions of the company as well, which generate business from community-based doctors and corporate segments.  I guide the team which generates referral business from leading corporates and captive medical centers; identify and review doctors in the community for empanelment for admission rights, complete the contract and onboarding formalities for selected community-based doctors; generate and manage the referral business from community-based doctors.

Describe your typical working day:

I start my day meeting my team members individually in order to make sure we’re aligned in our work.  Then, I touch base with lateral leadership – heads of departments, center heads, etc. to discuss strategic requirements and collaborate to achieve project goals. This also opens the door for them to raise specific requirements where they need Marketing support. Then, I meet with my direct superiors – the Chief Executive Officer and Director of Operations, to discuss strategic plans and tackle operational issues.  The day becomes busier as I oversee the team implement campaigns – alongside communication with internal stakeholders, business partners, and vendors.  What’s more, in between a busy running schedule, there are “fire-fighting” sessions along the way.

Please share with us an interesting story/anecdote or anything remarkable or uplifting that has happened to you on-the-job.

Bareen International Hospital began its operations in 2015 under the management of its original owners.  For the last 3 years, the hospital has not been gaining any profit and has been on the red.  In January 2018, NMC Healthcare acquired Bareen International Hospital.

I received a call from NMC Healthcare in January 2018 and was offered to join Bareen International Hospital as Marketing and Sales Manager. I was able to join Bareen International Hospital in April.  As soon as I got onboard, the Senior Management Team gave a tall order to turn-around the company in September 2018.  On my first week at work, I intensively studied the facility and its market, conceptualized and drafted a Marketing and Business Development strategy, presented and discussed the plan to Bareen Management.

I pushed internal units to work faster in order to implement the campaigns.  Come September 2018: Bareen International Hospital finally hit break-even.  And on the same month, Bareen hit the highest profitability since it started its operations in 2015.

The fact that we were able to turn-around in less than a year is a record-breaker and an outstanding feather on the hat of NMC Healthcare. Shortly after Bareen’s breakthrough, NMC healthcare has stepped up business expansion plans and acquired more medical centers in Abu Dhabi and winged each of the medical facilities under Bareen team – which is now known as Bareen Cluster. In less than two years, we have grown from managing 1 medical facility to 8 medical facilities and counting.  As the only Filipino in the leadership team, I am proud to play a significant role in this milestone.

My journey in the organization was, and is not, a walk in the park.  The struggles are real and are most of the time, daunting. Breaking stereotypes of nationality and gender in the workplace is still an existing challenge, but with Filipino core values of faith, hard work, dedication, passion, and resilience, the Pinoy talent will always rise to break glass ceilings and wave the flag in the international arena.

Your message to Filipinos out there:

 Life is never easy. That is why I urge all Filipinos – whether in our home country or overseas, to champion life with grit and resilience.  No matter how big or small our failures are, it is how we deal with these failures and choose to move forward that defines our character. More than winning, we must not be afraid of failing, because failures make us wiser, bolder, and stronger. The challenges make our breakthroughs more meaningful and make our achievements more rewarding. And if we do make mistakes, we should push with tenacity, learn from experience, bounce back, and move forward knowing that we are one step closer to our victory.

Rosalle Macaspac

Marketing and Communications Manager

Customer Experience Group

Dubai, UAE

What do you do for a living? Please describe your job briefly:

 I’m the Global Marketing and Communications Manager of Customer Experience Group (CXG), a strategic alliance of five leading agencies, offering together a platform that elevates the customer experience of the luxury industry. CXG caters to 200 of the world’s most iconic premium and luxury brands and we help them transition from a transactional model towards a personalized relationship and emotional model. I have a global role, and this allows me to serve our teams spread out in our 14 offices worldwide.

I oversee the development and implementation of long-term plans for CXG and its agencies, aligning the communications and marketing activities of Customer Experience Group across Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa. I have over a decade of experience in the field of public relations, marketing and events, where I spent nearly 12 years in Dubai.

I have led the rebranding of one of CXG’s agencies, Albatross CX, when it reorganized and refocused its strategy towards ‘customer experience’. I was also responsible for the brand creation and launch of the Customer Experience Group, as well as two of its agencies: Wisely Insights and SmartCX.

My job requires me to be fully informed and updated in digital marketing, and I’ve been fortunate to have attended a two-day marketing event in London this year, where I got the chance to meet with fellow marketers and learned to navigate the modern marketing landscape.

Part of my communications role is to drive our internal social media ‘Yammer’, and this enables me to think of exciting campaigns to enhance our employee engagements. One of the most memorable campaigns I’ve led is “#GoodDayCXG” – this allowed our teams to post a photo/video for one month about their business unit (i.e. team brainstorming session, amazing office view, client meetings etc.) or just about anything that’s good during their day. The campaign generated 127 posts accumulating 1,457 likes and 206 comments, involving 220 team members based in 10 cities including Paris, Dubai, London, Taipei, Shanghai, Tokyo, Moscow, Hong Kong, Singapore, and New York.

Earlier this year, I have been appointed as a member of the Executive Committee, enabling me to share ideas, raise issues and support our Group CEO in decision making to implement the Board’s strategy, aligned with the company’s vision, mission and guiding principles.

Please describe your typical working day:

I wake up every day at around 6:30 in the morning, and the first thing that I do is grab my phone to read the daily pick of my ‘Blinkist’ app – usually about management, leadership, and marketing topics. After which, I meditate for about 15 minutes. I arrive at the office, usually 20-30 minutes early, and proceed to read the news, typically Gulf News, CNN, BBC and New York Times, and industry publications including Luxury Daily and Business of Fashion. Before I start working, I look at my project calendar, and organize my priorities. I usually pick six essential deliverables and aim to accomplish these within the day.

One of the best parts of my job is that I get to work with a global team. A day won’t go by without a conference call with our teams (except on Sundays when the Dubai office is the only one working). I get to exchange ideas with team members, and I am always challenged to keep thinking of new and engaging initiatives that are important for the growth of our organization.

Please share with us an interesting story/anecdote or anything remarkable or uplifting that has happened to you on-the-job.

I was once called the ‘Best Lighthouse Ever’ in CXG. Let me share the story with you. Every January, our company holds our annual management seminar in the UAE – where every agency CEO, department head, country manager and managing director from different countries, spend a week together to strengthen work collaboration, discuss strategies and opportunities ahead. My innate love for events allowed me to organize this project year after year, from sourcing the venue, booking the flights and transfers of the attendees, preparing the itinerary and ensuring that everything has been arranged to make sure that each team member’s stay is as memorable and convenient as possible.

Part of the management seminar is to also hand out awards to exceptional managers, and in one event, I was surprisingly called at the very end of the awarding ceremony and was given the ‘Best Lighthouse Ever’ award. Our Group CEO has compared me to a ‘lighthouse’ – one that shines and guides everyone. It was a great honor and a humbling moment for me, a memory that will last for a lifetime.

 Your message to Filipinos out there:

Reports suggest that 85% of jobs are filled via networking, hence it’s very important to build genuine relationships. Always strive to have meaningful relationships as it is an important foundation of success.

We need personal connections not only to succeed in our workplace, but also for support, friendship or just plain happiness.

Maya Angelou once said: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

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Digital Marketing Executive

Mediaquest Group

Dubai, UAE

What do you do for a living? Please describe your job briefly.

I work as a Digital Marketing Manager for a media publishing company in Dubai. I’m in charge of managing digital campaigns for various clients; from concept creation to content mapping and data mining. My day usually consists of managing activities on digital platforms. Some of my duties involve managing campaign analytics, optimization and results reporting.

My job allows me to translate data into creative ideas. It entails me to speak and gather feedback from various teams and clients in order to deliver seamless results that tie in with business objectives.

Please share with us an interesting story/anecdote or anything remarkable or uplifting that has happened to you on-the-job.

My team always reminds me of the value we bring to our jobs. Filipinos will always be preferred when it comes to working on details as it is in our innate nature to be well organized, brave and adventurous. We are also conduits for positivity, bringing happiness to other people around us.

Your message to Filipinos out there:

Work hard, but don’t forget to be kind to yourself too. It isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, but we are resilient people that always push through at the end of the day.

Noel Yap Labrador

Fleet Sales Advisor – Ford

Abu Dhabi, UAE

What do you do for a living? Please describe your job briefly.

I currently work with Ford Premier Motors under the umbrella of Al Tayer Group as a Fleet Sales Advisor. My main role involves planning, initiating and conducting the sales process with our corporate clients – working towards achieving our sales targets and other KPI’s. I identify and qualify customer needs, perform vehicle demonstrations and propose various solutions to them based on their many requirements. I admire my employer and its facilities! The values of Integrity, Quality, Reliability and Diversity are apparent everywhere in Al Tayer Group. 

Please describe your typical working day.

My day won’t start without coffee and bread. I’m a person who always sets up plans prior to the workday. Daily, I explore market opportunities and identify corporate customers who can bring in potential business. I typically set appointments in advance, and I gather customer feedback and market data from external sources in order to keep an eye on market trends and stay ahead. During my time off, I work on my master’s degree modules, play football (with my club, Philippine Football Club) on Thursdays and go running on weekends.

Please share with us an interesting story/anecdote or anything remarkable or uplifting that has happened to you on-the-job.

Aside from meeting my wife in the workplace, I’ve received countless of blessings and personal development achievements. I was also able to pursue learning Arabic reading and start my master’s degree in Development Communication in the UP Open University. I believe that we have to strive, invest and save as much as we can – developing ourselves to the fullest while still young.

 Your message to Filipinos out there?

Never doubt your abilities as a Filipino. We are known to be skilled, adaptive and resilient. The only limitations we have in life are the ones we place upon ourselves. Self-belief is the cornerstone to success. The sooner you start believing, the better.

“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t, you’re probably right.” 

-Henry Ford 

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Product Marketing Specialist at Clarins Dubai

I am the Product Marketing Specialist for Clarins Dubai and have been a Makeup Artist for more than 10 years. I handle the Clarins shop in Sephora, Dubai Marina Mall, where I do sales and makeup demos. My job also involves moving from one shop to another especially if there are new products.

Upon arriving at the shop in the morning, I check the displayed products, make changes (if necessary) and entertain customers. Coffee breaks are spent for meals, coffee and a quick browse of my phone for messages. The mid-afternoon is usually the busiest time as many customers arrive then. After driving home, I deliberate on the day’s occurrences after a few minutes of rest, and I ask myself if I did things right, and how I can improve what I do.

My job may seem glamorous, but it is also rigorous. I frequently shuttle from one Clarins shop to another to do demos for new products; fashion shows, photo shoots for popular fashion magazines. The job requires flexibility as I regularly have to adjust my timings in a day’s routine. 

As the current Product Marketing Specialist, my functions also extend to Skincare Consultation and Product Responsiveness. I get to express myself and educate an audience on new products being released. As a typically shy person, this became an opportunity to improve my public speaking skills. Being in different situations, I learned how to think fast and think out of the box (especially when doing avant garde makeup). One of the perks of my job is that I always meet different people from different nations, even celebrities. The typical fan in me always gets starstruck, and I end up taking photographs with them if given the chance.

One of the most remarkable experiences I had was when a photograph I did the make-up for won several international including the: Egypt International Biennale for Photographic Art, 2013; Photograph of the Year-Silver Award (Emotive Portrait Category); The Al-Thani Award for photography, Doha Qatar-2013(Gold medal); 2013 Trierenberg Super Circuit-Austria 2013 (Gold medal – Portrait category). The photographer was Mario Cardenas, with Rocky Gathercole as the concept artist. 

In addition to that, one of my collaborations with Chris Calumberan, ‘Code Blue World Oceans’, won in the Tokyo International Foto Awards 2017 in Tokyo, Japan (Bronze winner). Photographs of  the make-up I did on models were also featured in the severals magazines: Pose, Mondanite and Audi here in Middle East, Extravagant Magazine in United Kingdom and in the Fashion Look-book for Jahaanara Collection and Nona Hekmat Creation. I also participated in various fashion show collaborations held by the Association of Designers in Dubai (2008), Galleries La Fayette Fashion 2011 for Autumn/Winter Collection (featuring the designs of Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera and Marc Jacob to name a few) and Dubai Fashion Biggest Cosmetic Make-over 2012.

While the awards gave me many reasons to improve my craft, the words of appreciation I receive from clients are equally uplifting. After looking back at my career and achievement, I realize that I shouldn’t rest on my laurels. I believe that there are many things to learn from and many more opportunities to seize ahead of me. My years here in Dubai are ruled with patience, seeded with hard work and sacrifice, and sealed with faith to keep me going. Without these, I will not be where I am today. As cliche as it sounds, life goes on, hence we should never cease to be.

“Patience is necessary, and one cannot reap immediately where one has sown.”

-Soren Kierkegaard

Ruby Cabrera

Sponsorship and Sales Manager at Bride Dubai

As an Exhibitions Sales Manager for Informa Exhibitions handing the BRIDE shows Dubai and Abu Dhabi, I deal mostly with fashion companies both Arabic and Bridal. My job also takes me around the world to see other shows of the same profile and find opportunities to partner with the shows and of course, do prospecting. With BRIDE it’s pretty exciting dealing with different profiles from Arabic fashions, Jewellery, Beauty and Wellness, and Bridal where I deal a lot with Filipino designers. On my part I make sure I give them extra love and open up opportunities for them such as fashion shows and participate in competitions as well.

My typical day varies depending on the season. Closer to the show dates it’s very hectic and stressful, trying to get close to targets while dealing with 1001 exhibitor requests and qualms. When the show is over I work on rebooking them for the next year’s editions. It’s more relaxed but I want to get things done early and get achieve my goals early on so there will only be a small portion to work on closer to the show. It’s a never ending challenge and continuous learning process. Even after handing the show for 8 years there will always be new things to learn in the industry as well as the people.  

BRIDE show deal a lot with home based businesses, and our clients are mostly locals who have Abaya businesses. I am proud to say that my account retention is at 75% and that I have clients who have been with me since I started handling BRIDE shows. I have overseas clients too who would call me and tell me they met someone in Paris fashion week or Milan Fashion week who equates BRIDE to Ruby (that’s me). That is really humbling. I also got a new name “Ruba” as my local clients call me this instead of Ruby.

Hard work pays off although I know we Filipinos by nature are hard workers. Sometimes, we just need to find the right opportunity and when we find it excel in it and show them what we can do. At the end of the day we have to be honest with ourselves that we are here to make money and in the process of doing that we have the opportunity to hone our skills and come back to Philippines better and wiser with a wealth of knowledge and experience.  

We are a force of nature and we are strong and that strength helps us cope and endure all the challenges of being away from our family. 

Proud to be Filipino!

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Entrepreneur

I’m a full time entrepreneur who started my own boutique marketing agency since 2015. Like any filipino expats who want to make it big abroad, I have a dream and a passion to build a media company that aims to inspire, educate and make an impact on other people’s lives, especially for those who are stuck in their career, lost and don’t know where to start, and for aspiring entrepreneurs who are still on the fence deciding if they should start their own business or quit their own job right away.

Through my platform, “The Drive to Succeed Podcast“, I interview some of the most inspiring entrepreneurs, thought leaders, life coaches to public figures in the middle east. And soon, I will turn it into a live event format where my audience can directly interact with and ask questions to my amazing guests.

My typical working day isn’t glamorous as most people think, although some people think that my life is easy because I own my time and have a set of clients that helps pays the bills. But it’s actually the opposite. Most of the time, I’m just in-front of my computer and mobile reaching out to and meeting companies or brands for sponsorships and any other media & marketing related work.

One of the interesting things that happened to me was in early 2014 and also probably my turning point. I got laid off from my previous employer and I didn’t know where to go. All I knew is that I wanted to start my own business. And for this to happen I needed to work for a great boss and enter an industry where I could learn new skills and extract as much value as I could. It was a Thursday morning, almost a week before Ramadan when I was sending my CV’s to potential leads,  surprisingly after an hour I got a call saying “Danielle can you come for an interview in 2hours? I’m travelling for a month and I want to meet you before I leave.” I didn’t know what the position was or what the work is. Just by judging the sound of his voice on the other end, I knew this was an opportunity I didn’t want to miss. And I said Yes. Two interviews later after meeting both founders of the company. I got accepted and that’s how I got started in publishing and content marketing. I was like a sponge absorbing skills, feedback and criticism. Also, I was harnessing my skills and developing courage to pitch C-levels to go in our publication.

Philip Vasquez

Operations Head of Kasmar Holdings

I am the Operations Head of Kasamar Holdings with a diverse investment portfolio. Specifically, I handle the F&B Division which currently holds franchise rights for Teriyaki Boy, Sizzlin’ Steak, Dencio’s and Henlin. The job entails the dynamic process of site identification, acquisition, execution and operation. I travel across the GCC apart from being active in the UAE market because we also hold the right for Saudi Arabia and some GCC countries. While growth is the prime priority, I also take care of existing business through potent marketing strategy, product development and new product offering.

My typical day starts at 4AM checking emails and responding to some. Business analytics of each restaurant are also available at this time. I read online news and proceeds to my prepared work schedule. Typically, the day revolves around visiting stores, meeting stakeholders to present business expansion plans, meeting suppliers to manage costs, coach managers for better performance. It usually ends at around 8PM.

Since childhood, I always felt that going abroad was my destiny. Having  two aunts working in the US and KSA, I was always encouraged that indeed an overseas job was a greener pasture. After working for three years in the Philippines after graduation, I decided to pursue a job in Qatar just to suffice that personal yearning to work abroad. I left Qatar after 10 months – heartbroken. I went back to Philippines and started my career building again. Having been able to acquire properties in the Philippines, I thought I have left  also my dream of overseas job. Until I felt I have reached a peak of my career and the only way to go was to be promoted to the next position. I was afraid that at age 37 leaving my job would be career suicide. Year after year, I have been assessed and failed in getting the promotion. John Maxwell was right when he said Fail young. Fail often. Fail forward”, except that I was not young anymore. That feeling of career fatigue with age insecurity gave me poor vision of overseas job. Until I stumbled upon a quote which says: “The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide that you are not going to stay where you are.” At age 37 with secured job and status, I finally decided to leave my job and work abroad. After 2 years with my job I was promoted to a higher position where I handled all 21 restaurants of our company across UAE and Oman. Two years ago, I decided to leave this company again to join Kasamar Holdings. Indeed, with good timing and firm spirit, coupled with strength of character and hardwork, one will not fail – and if so, must fail forward.

Ryan Banks

Senior Architect at Action Impact

I work as a Senior Architect in Action Impact, it is one of the leading Brand Experience firm in the UAE and UK. I am part of a diverse and an amazing creative team that caters to massive design projects like Interiors, Chalets, Pavilions, Themed Environments, etc. My job function is basically doing the design stage of designated projects and do constant site supervision. I focus on the entire design phase, from digesting project briefs and providing designs concepts, to making certain of the quality of projects we are delivering.

I was only 21 when an Architecture Firm here in Dubai offered me a job and I was really excited to take the challenge. Twelve years have already gone by, but my passion and dedication to what I do still remains strong. Back then, I never imagined myself to be designing for massive brands as I do now, renowned brands like Google, Mubadala, Meydan, Lexus, European Union, DAFZA, Four Seasons, etc.

I don’t think I have a typical working day at work. Sometimes I just get stuck in my office chair while doing designs the entire day, or at times, I am outside for meetings, presentations, conventions, and site visits. However, I always make sure that I get to attend our team’s daily morning huddle. The entire design department has this catch-up meeting every first hour of the morning to merely update the team about the projects we are handling. Our workplace is cozy and fun, so I don’t really feel like working most of the time, especially when we have fun theme-days at work.

There is a lot to tell but…in general, the most interesting part in my job is whenever we win projects. We get to hit the “gong” in the middle of our office whenever we confirm a project. Another thing is whenever clients commend us for delivering exceptional assignments. I believe life is all about balance, so I also make sure to have fun life outside work as well. That is why I have been in a church choir for 9 years, and have been in Kiwanis organization for 7 years. It has actually been more motivating when I was elected as the Kiwanis President for 2018-2019.

Being Optimistic and Industrious, I think these are the secret of life in achieving your goal. The more you act, the more good things happen. Life is a big reflection on how you look at it. Most of us don’t realize how lucky we are to be Filipinos, when other nationalities are already openly commending us in every industry there is. Use that luck to motivate you to be more optimistic and diligent. With that, you’ll be able to enjoy whatever you do. So how do you know that you are enjoying with your work? I guess you’ll know it once you unintentionally miss your lunch breaks and you’re totally fine with it.

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It’s What I Do: Augusto Cabrera, Ellaine Villena and Jerome Sanchez

The post It’s What I Do: Danielle Francisco, Philip Vasquez and Ryan Banks appeared first on Illustrado Magazine - Filipino Abroad.

I am a Master Sushi Chef who turns Entrepreneur and Corporate Chef of Town hall Restaurant who played a big role in popularizing Sushi in modern way in the Middle East and India. Emphasis on quality, freshness of ingredients and clear and distinct flavors are the Hallmarks of my unique style, with a culinary experience over a decade at some of the World’s leading hotels. I am an expert in Traditional and Modern Japanese cuisine and am currently stretching my knowledge to some other cuisines like Peruvian, Italian, Asian, Mediterranean, Indian etc. My expertise lies in the innovative concoctions of modern Japanese Cuisine specially Sushi, which I believe will be the all time favorite.

On a typical working day, I personally go to the market to check the freshest ingredients available and usually go to work two hours before the operation to make sure all my 4 restaurants are all ready before lunch and Dinner service. And during the operation I am very much hands on, dealing with each plate coming out of my kitchen.

Augusto’s experience within the culinary world has earned him many feats of recognition and opportunities to cater to famous personalities. He had the opportunity to serve my Sushi to Hollywood guests as well like Naomi Watts, Liev Schreiber, famous Celebrity Chef Nobu, various formula 1 racer Champions etc. “During President Duterte’s visit , I was the one who made food for his Team and the Delegation, headed by Under Secretary and Commissioner and Director Mr. Jose ‘Jojie’ Dinsay.

Ellaine Villena

My name is Ellanie, and I am the first and only Filipina working at Pakistan Business Council Dubai UAE. I am the Office Manager of PBC and I am directly reporting to the President and Board of Directors of the organization. I started my journey as a secretary and after 12 years of hard work, I am serving as an Office Manager. I have a team of potential colleagues under my supervision that provides support for all esteemed and prominent PBC members. One of my responsibilities is acting as a liaison between the Dubai Chamber of Commerce Dubai, Consulate office, Dubai Government, Private Sector, media and Pakistan Business Council. My work connects the Pakistan Business Community with other Councils / Business and Government entities. While managing the office, I also serve as Business or Council’s ambassador of the organization to the community.

The most memorable achievement I have achieved as part of the Pakistani Business Council was when I facilitated an International exhibition in Pakistan. Meeting different top Government officials and the Prime minster & President of Pakistan H.E. MAMNOON HUSSAIN AT THE AIAN -E- SADR, ISLAMABAD ON 18-10-16 was an experience I will never forget. I also had the opportunity to organize a University Fundraising campaign, within just two days, of Mr. Imran Khan who is now the Prime Minister of Pakistan.

Being a working mother of two abroad is not easy. Through time management and commitment, I am able to graciously manage my duties as a mom and as an Office Manager. My day starts by waking up at 4:30 am to prepare the food, other stuff of my girls and even washing clothes at the same time.  I send them to school then come back home to clean the house and prepare to go to office. As an Office Manager, my duty is to handle meetings and events. Handling more than 700 PBC members, reporting to the president and 7 directors is a huge responsibility yet very challenging one. We have 2 board meetings and 2 events every month. This includes preparing the presentations to be delivered by the President, coordinating with officials and handling sponsors and social media. I always ensure that I am at my best because this does not only reflect my performance but of the dedication, quality and commitment of the Filipino race. I aspire to be a role model for Filipino working in other communities and managing the operation of business organization. Commitment, dedication and the will to serve the community and people in need.

Working overseas is never easy but what pushes me to work hard for myself and my family is a simple ABCD.

Aspire. Dreaming big is the first step to success. There are no limits in setting goals. No one can stop you to succeed except yourself. I left the Philippines with humble beginnings and all that I am experiencing now were all because of the big dreams I have set.

Believe. Believe in your skills and your vision. There will be people who question you, but stand your ground and lift your head high. If you believe in yourself everything is possible.

Commit. Set goals, words and actions in stone. Integrity is never over rated. You can dream high but without commitment nothing is achieved.

Deliver. Deliver the best that you can offer. Never be afraid to showcase your talents and skills.

These personal guidelines have been my guiding principles in life. I hope that my story could inspire people to dream for a better future for themselves.  

Jerome Sanchez

I am currently the Marketing Manager of Altaaqa Global, Caterpillar Global Power Projects. We are a partner of Caterpillar in providing and managing multi-megawatt power plants in emerging regions around the world. As the company’s Marketing Manager, my principal function is to ensure the continuous exposure of our company within our target markets and territories by planning, developing and implementing innovative and attractive marketing and communications campaigns. I am also the guardian of our company’s brand equity, so I take responsibility in carefully crafting our internal and external messages, selecting our channel partners and evaluating events and programs with which our company would be associated. My role in a global company requires me to extensively travel to various countries. I have had the opportunity to mount events and conferences in popular destinations, including South Africa, Mauritius, Denmark, Turkey and the UK. Moreover, I have also had the chance to visit emerging economies including Bangladesh, Cameroon, Senegal, Burundi, Burkina Faso and Congo-Brazzaville.

While I will always welcome traveling for events and conferences, I particularly appreciate my visiting the developing countries because it is when I truly recognize the significance and the value of the technologies and the services that we offer. When most of us take the ubiquity of electricity for granted, most of the people in these countries still struggle to gain access to reliable energy. It delights me to see that our company kindles hope in them as we propose our solutions, and opens roads to a brighter future for them as we begin delivering the electricity they need.

My typical working season starts with meetings with the Territory Sales Managers to gain updates on the present business opportunities at various stages, and to discuss the appropriate marketing-related activity that could support their territories. I then go ahead and draft the plans of the activities and present them to the company’s senior management, and to the relevant decision-makers in Caterpillar. I would spend the next couple of days meeting with executives to finalize the projects. As soon as I receive the green light, I pool my team of agencies and suppliers to develop and execute the tasks, and deliver within the agreed time. My activities during my working days are always different. Moreover, there are days when I would not have time to eat due to the long queue of meetings and phone calls. I always take the chance to go on short vacations during the relaxed weeks, so I don’t burn myself out. This way, I am able to maintain my interest and excitement for the work that I do.

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It’s what I do: Jade Saducas & Dennis Dionisio

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What I do for a living

As a Resort Cake Artist at the Madinat Jumeirah, I oversee the specialty cakes division across four hotels in our resort, the Conference and Incentive events unit that handle all the big functions and weddings, the 40 restaurants around the resort and Jumeirah Hospitality for our outside catering business.

Working with Jumeirah, I’ve taken part in several international competitions that have challenged me to be the best at my craft. Last year, I won at the Cake Designer World Championships, representing the UAE, in Milan, Italy – a first for the emirates, and a proud win to say the least. Previously, I’ve also joined the German Culinary Olympics and won gold medals for my two of my showpieces.

Aside from all of this, what makes my job so rewarding is being able to inspire others and illustrate how every single person can make a difference through hard work.

A typical working day for me

Before I go about my day, I check my emails. When at work, I initially make rounds through our breakfast buffet just to make sure it is clean and organized.

Then I start going through my tasks of which include: planning and finalizing designs, sending quotations, making requests to our kitchen artists, as well as setting up meetings with clients. After this, I hit kitchen for some hands-on work, creating and customizing cakes with my assistants.

Days at work can be quite unpredictable, and I often find myself balancing more than one duty at a time. This profession requires a lot of patience and focus, not to mention a genuine passion for the craft. It is very challenging at times, but you will survive if you love what you do.

Stories from the workplace

I have had so many interesting experiences throughout my career. When I was just starting out, I quickly realized that culinary life is not easy, especially when you’re new. People will test, bully, envy, and even judge you for no justified reason. I’ve been through it all and it was painful. I’ve even been trapped in a freezer, not knowing if I would even make it out – luckily, I did! I share my hardships because I want others to understand that no matter the situation you face on the job, giving up is not an option! Fight for your dreams. Embrace the discomfort, the challenges, and the pain, and rise above it all.

And when you rise above it all, you get to accomplish some amazing things. I recently took home a win at the Caterer Middle East Awards, being I the only woman in all the Chef categories. As we all know culinary industry is heavily dominated by men. As a woman of color, to have come this far and survive in the kitchen, receiving the title of Pastry Chef of the Year 2018 was truly gratifying.

Your message to fellow Kabayans

Never give up on your dreams!  If you want to win in any game of life, then keep going, work hard, focus, keep learning, be willing to sacrifice, be humble, be grateful, and learn to respect others.

Dennis Dionisio – Retrofit Manager, Voith

What I do for a living

I work for Voith, a 150-year-old mechanical engineering company and one of the biggest family-owned businesses in Europe.  I belong to Voith Dubai – Industry Division which covers power, water, oil, gas and petrochemical sectors in the Middle East.  As a Regional Retrofit Manager, I’m responsible for the complete overview of retrofit projects starting from the feasibility study, risk assessment, site evaluation, proposals, design, project management and delivery. Retrofit refers to optimization, re-engineering, replacement, and modifications of old systems to increase efficiency, reliability or add functions to existing plants.

Industrial plants are critical and sophisticated; they have the highest engineering standards and safety requirements. I handle various projects from small-scale plants up to national-government funded projects, and I’m so happy to have achieved outstanding results.

A typical working day for me

My time is divided between staying in the office and frequent traveling to different industrial plants in the Middle East as well as visiting various Voith headquarters.

Being a frequent traveler makes my job more enjoyable, because I get to go to new places, and meet brilliant people.

If I’m in Dubai, I usually start at 7:00 am and drive for an hour going to work. Whilst on the road, I use the time to pray, reflect, plan, and learn. I always listen to different talks about innovation, technology, business as well as self-improvement. Office works include internal reporting, project evaluation, preparing proposals, conference calls, and project monitoring.

Aside from my daily responsibilities, part of my advocacy as a person is free and open education. I founded Educspace (Education in Space) in 2015, a social endeavor established to reduce if not eliminate many problems related to Philippine Educational System including equality, quality, and cost. In this endeavor, my team and I are trying to democratize education as we believe that it is a fundamental human right and is one of the most influential tools to make the world a better place to live.

When it comes to free time, I have a thirst for knowledge, hence I write books and record academic and technical lectures. I already authored two engineering reviewers and recorded approximately 300 hours of engineering lectures. These products are now available in the market and helped many students and aspiring engineers already.

Your message to fellow Kabayans

To all my kabayans working abroad, my advice is to define clearly your passion and goals in life. Many young people look for better salary even though they land on different field or profession which after several years found themselves stagnant and unhappy because they don’t see the connection between their job and their passion. So, try to find a job or workplace where you can grow, save money, and most importantly give you a chance to do what you love.

Finally, as OFW’s, we carry the Philippine flag regardless of what our position and job are. Every failure and success we achieve in and out of work is somehow bringing impression to our race as Filipinos. Therefore, always do your best, be responsible, don’t stop learning, share what you can, be humble and do not forget the ethical values that we as Filipino have.

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Implementation Specialist- Digital

Optimum Media Direction

Paul Anthony arrived in Dubai in September 2015 and worked as the training officer and coordinator at the Asian Institute of Journalism and Communication (AIJC) and program assistant in the Educational Sector of the Philippines National Commission for UNESCO (PH NatCom).

In October 2015, Paul started working for Optimum Media Direction (OMD) as one of the implementation specialists for digital campaigns. He handles the agency’s Lower Gulf accounts, with clients mostly from Qatar and Kuwait. He collaborates with his team to ensure all clients’ campaigns and ads go live on time, regularly monitoring their progress to ensure everything is on track.

“The typical day in the life of a media executive is quite fast-paced. Every day, you must learn to juggle different needs and expectations, dealing with everyone’s requests promptly and making sure that everything will be managed properly.

“I can say that after almost three years here in Dubai, I’ve grown a lot, both personally and professionally from my experiences. I am very fortunate to work in such a welcoming and instructive environment, operating alongside colleagues and management who have become like my second family. I always strive to be positive when faced with a new challenge to overcome, and strongly believe in having an optimistic approach both to work and to life.”

“My message to my fellow Overseas Filipino Workers (OFW) is that we all need to be passionate about what we do and believe we can always be better. Being passionate is much more than just liking our job. It is knowing that no matter how busy or ‘full on’ the job gets, we won’t stop doing it, just because the road gets bumpy. It’s about feeling fulfilled and accomplished. Being passionate is about understanding that not every day will be a perfect day, and accepting that at times we will fail, but we won’t quit. We are happiest when we are pursuing our passions. Love your work and it will love you back!”

Jardine Ong

Head of Learning and Development for:

An international luxury hotel group

A Group of Companies operating in the F&B, Insurance

and Automotive Industries.  

I started off my career as a Consultant for an HR and Training Consultancy firm in 2006 when I relocated. I was later on promoted to Senior Consultant, where I was spearheading HR and Training Projects for prestigious organizations around the country.

A day in my work life

My day is spent conducting training workshops for employees to create new skills and enhance specific competencies related to the fields of customer service, sales, communications, leadership and management. I also host coaching sessions for individuals. My current role also requires me to travel to other countries in the GCC (like KSA, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, etc.) in order to conduct different tasks. 

Your message to Filipinos out there

I have full admiration for all of us here, away from the comfort of what is familiar and competing in the global environment. It’s not a surprise that we could thrive in any industry and in any country because of the type of work we can produce. We have always been known for our strong work ethics, so let’s keep it up.

Read more It’s What I Do on www.illustradolife.com

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Freelance News Presenter/ Reporter –

Arabian Radio Network,

UAE Correspondent – ABS-CBN The Filipino Channel

Dubai, UAE

My job

I work as a freelance news presenter/ reporter at Arabian Radio Network where I regularly write news copies and conduct interviews in both English and Tagalog.  I also present hourly newscasts for the first and leading Filipino radio station in the UAE, Tag 91.1. I also have the opportunity of conversing with the radio jocks, when we give advice to listeners, voice our opinions on various topics, be light and funny and even sing on air!

I also report on TV as a UAE Correspondent of ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel, where I cover people and events in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.  The job entails shooting videos, interviewing people, writing scripts and doing voice overs.

My typical working day

My job starts when most people are still in slumber. I usually come to work around 3:30 am and start writing local and international English news copies, then discuss with fellow news presenters (of other stations under ARN such as Dubai Eye, Dubai 92, Virgin, City, etc.) which stories should be used and which ones should be highlighted as leads. I then proceed in writing my Tagalog bulletins; newscasts on the early shift run from 5am until 10am, and in between. I go down to Tag studio for my live teases and chats with the radio jocks. I also upload news stories and photos on the ARN News Centre app, which can also be accessed on the ARN News Centre Facebook page and Twitter account.

Being in my workplace every day uplifts me as writing and reporting are already in my veins. I feel more energetic and grateful for every commendation, appreciative and corrective comments from bosses, colleagues, listeners and viewers.

My message to Filipinos

Aim high but never let your ambitions ruin your character. Use your profession, whenever possible, to serve and help people in need.

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ARCH. ERNESTO R. OLIQUIANO IV, UAP, INT’L ASSOC. AIA 

Senior Interior Design Architect, U+A Architects

Dubai, UAE

My job

I work for an international design firm which offers comprehensive design solutions in architecture, interior design, engineering, planning and landscaping. I started my Middle East career in 2004 at 23 years old with Dewan Architects in Riyadh, KSA, where I worked on projects for the Saudi Royal Family, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and some hospitality brands. This allowed me to travel to countries like Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Kazakhstan, Iraq, UAE and Oman. In 2009, I moved to the UAE and started a career with LWD Architects, Clifton Interiors, DWP – Design Worldwide Partnership – JLT, Damac Properties and finally U+A Architects. I was part of numerous award winning projects and developments. Recently, my team handed over the Al Habtoor Polo Club & Resort – St. Regis Hotel in Dubailand.  Currently I am with a team tasked to deliver Deyaar Millenium Hotel in Al Barsha, Emaar South in DWC and the Swiss International Scientific School in Al Jadaf for both Architectural and Interior Design works.

My work day

My work day normally starts with a cup of coffee, a pile of shop drawings and paper works to review. After that is the routine site walk to oversee progress, anticipate and solve site issues before they escalate. During the week, I can be at two sites in a day and do the same thing. The real challenge at work is keeping an eye on the details at the execution stage. A normal person would see a wall just as it is, while I would look at a wall as blockworks and accessories, rough-ins, pre-plaster, plaster and render, final finish, skirting and cornice, which have to be inspected one by one during application.

Message to Filipinos

Filipinos are known to be hard working and for being highly talented individuals. Don’t just keep it that way. Don’t just settle for a senior position, to be the best employee or the trusted assistant. Aim for CEO position, to be the best employer and have a trusted assistant. Get rid of the idea that your career abroad is temporary, and that at the end of your contract you will come home and return. Returning as a CEO of your own business empire abroad would be better than returning as an expat. Never settle for less and always aim for the top, but don’t forget to look back.  My late father Ernesto F. Oliquiano once told me, if you want to be on top, you should aim over that top. At least when you missed, you still hit the top.

JOHN GILBERT FLORES

Head of HR – Tiberius Holding Limited

DIP, Dubai, UAE

My job

I work for a group of companies engaged in pharmaceuticals, FMCG as well as the manufacture of building materials.  I lead our organization’s Human Resources & Development teams, providing services and advice on HR development and HR transactional services. My roles are talent acquisition, learning & development, performance management, organizational development, leadership development and employee total rewards management.
I have more than 20 years of experience as an HR professional and have a strong expertise in employee development programs.  I am responsible for managing the yearly HR budget and employee development activities to maintain and improve overall staff morale. I joined the company in 2012, and established a comprehensive employee learning and development program, awards and recognition, performance management system as well as introduced several HR policies and procedures.

My work day

My typical day starts with meeting and briefing with my staff. We do this to keep track of all the activities for the week. I usually check each single thing that we need to accomplish and what is expected of me and my team. HR is a helping profession, and thus we treat each employee in our organization with utmost care and respect. From a simple salary certificate requests, to complex coordination of health insurances, I see to it that my team and I efficiently deliver. I also act as business partner to the C Levels executive in our organization. My main role is to assist them in planning and developing our existing workforce.

Message to Filipinos

Put God first in everything that you do. Secondly, continue to learn to improve your craft.

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Head of HR Services for Multinational Financial Services

Dubai, UAE

My Job

I am the Head of HR Services for a multinational Financial Services company based in DIFC. I help our employees help our clients understand the importance of protecting their future and provide financial security for their families and businesses. My main role is committed to addressing the needs of our function and the business, ensuring that we have the right manpower capability who will provide world-class customer and claims services so we can deliver what we promised to our clients when they need it the most. With my role, I was given opportunities to travel abroad, meet new people with different culture and be able to help employees realise their full potential.

My Typical Working Day

My day usually revolves around managing the day to day operations of our HR services and deliver group-wide initiatives. I oversee the recruitment process, onboarding, off-boarding, payroll and benefits to name a few. A challenging day will be when I manage employee relations issues (performance management, disciplinary, grievance, ethics investigation, etc). I always end up my day online, catching up with beautiful people around me whom I called my 2nd family (my Fil-HR friends).
Message for my fellow expats

As what Steve Jobs said “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life, don’t be trapped by dogma”. Always strive to be the best, spend time in refining your craft and never lost the opportunity to help others in the Filipino Community. Build your personal brand as someone credible by doing what you say you’ll do, and has integrity by having strong moral values.

View her LinkedIn here.

Jeimar Pore

Engineer Project Manager –

Dubai, UAE

My Job

I am a Project Manager working on a international environment in a management position which includes constant development possibilities and a challenging working environment.

As a Project Manager I am involved in the development and execution of the operations project with multiple project managers and directors, including engineering procurement, EPCM, owner’s team, and external construction management consultant. To ensure target plans and schedule are achieved on time and to budget; ensuring remedial strategies are developed when shortfalls are identified. I am also In charge of power plant system design such as efficient fuel system, engineering thermodynamics, power generation and effectively carrying out the complex implementations and solely handling extensive contracts with stakeholders, pulling everything together with other department such as civil, electrical, financial and business department.

My Typical Working Day

My typical working day starts with a big cup of black coffee and a toast with peanut butter while watching the newscast. Most of my day is occupied by e-mails, conference brainstorming and over-the-phone dialogue. And from time to time I also go on business trips to visit our contractors and clients for technical and commercial consultations.

Although my schedule is full throughout the week, i still manage to have quality time with my parents and siblings, enjoy my ME time and most of all, travel to different parts of the globe.

My message to Filipinos around the globe

Stay strong, humble and invest in your dream. Grind now, shine later.

View Jeimar’s LinkedIn here.

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