Merlee Jayme
Merlee Jayme’s job title as Chairmom at Dentsu Jayme Syfu is appropriate and well earned. Besides her leadership and mentoring at the agency, she takes pride in “being happily married for 25 years; a mom to four beautiful, creative daughters: Issel (25), Inez (21), Sofia (16), Sabine (13); and to launch my first book ‘Everyone Can Be Creative,’ a handbook that encourages everyone to discover and nurture his/her own creativity.” Her other designation as Chief Creative Officer is richly deserved as well. She enumerates the professional accomplishments she takes pride in: “Being the first Filipino to be awarded The Creative of the Year for Southeast Asia in the Campaign Asia Pacific Agency of the Year, as a business-minded creative; to be recognized with The Creative Guild Hall of Fame Award, the NYF Creative Achievement Award, and the CEO of the Year 2016 by the IABC Philippines; my 10 successful years with the agency I founded: DM9 Jayme Syfu; my one-year old integrated agency Dentsu Jayme Syfu has already been named the 2016 Creative Agency of the Year for the Philippines by Campaign Asia; being the only woman in ASIA’s top 20 creative directors (Campaign Brief Asia), to win many “firsts” for the country. Most notable ones include the Cannes Grand Prix for Mobile, a Grand CLIO, NYF Grand Award and the D&AD Yellow pencil; to be featured as one of CNN’s leading women; to be a sought after local and international speaker; and to be a Jury President in prestigious award shows like the Clio and D&AD.”
Lou Dela Pena
Since January 2016, Lou Dela Pena has been the founding CEO of the newly formed Publicis Communications Singapore, which comprises of Publicis Worldwide Singapore, Saatchi and Saatchi Singapore, Leo Burnett Singapore, MSL Group Singapore, Luminous, and Prodigious Singapore. “Leading six outstanding brands, including three creative agency brands that offer over 16 specialisms, is simply amazing. This gives us both breadth and depth of expertise when it comes to tailoring solutions for clients, helping them transform as their creative partners. It’s only been a year, but I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved in this short time. We’re starting to see great results, from winning businesses to delivering on briefs with cutting edge thinking and work,” Dela Pena attests, adding, “Of course, everything I’ve accomplished with my team at Publicis Singapore since 2014 has been amazing so far. There have been many surprises one after another – like winning Agency of the Year twice in a row because of our sustained growth, our culture, our commitment to change and leading the change for our clients.” With such leadership comes the responsibility of being an exemplar for other women. She confesses, “When I started this job as a CEO I wasn’t a feminist. I didn’t subscribe to any hard-core thinking. But I’ve never been more aware than now that women are a minority in this industry. The fact is some serious glass ceilings are being shattered. I was a young CEO at 39, female. I am not from Singapore, I am from the Philippines. It is a personal achievement because, let’s face it, there are conventions, biases and stereotypes in our business and many other businesses.”
Katryna Mojica
Having been recently made CEO of Ogilvy & Mather Hong Kong in January 2017 after building up Ogilvy & Mather Indonesia and Vietnam into powerhouse agencies at their CEO, Katryna Mojica knows how to transform an office into a winning team. Her new role in Hong Kong is her latest challenge and her accomplishments in Indonesia and Vietnam her proudest professional achievements. “When I first moved to Vietnam, we were tiny. In Indonesia, we needed to evolve. In both instances, I felt I made a difference to the health and happiness of our organization, as well as our ability to lead in our market,” Mojica recalls. As with nearly all women leaders, she defines as balance, revealing her proudest personal accomplishment as “my 20-plus year marriage. It never gets old.” It is this joy that may explain Katryna Mojic ageless vigor and vitality as a creative industry leader. Having worked at so many different countries informs her leadership: “In Vietnam, I worked with people who had survived through war and a rapid change in their circumstances, so it taught me not to sweat the small stuff and focus on important things. Going deep into different cultures, being able to learn new things, meeting people with diverse backgrounds and life experiences; it makes you a much more insightful person.”
Margot Torres
Executive Vice President and Deputy Managing Director of McDonald’s Philippines, Margot Torres is a nurturer. “I am proud when I see people I mentored succeed like Kring Lao who I hired as a Product Manager when she was single and is now married with two daughters and is Marketing Director for McDonald’s. Adi Hernandez, Ada Almendras and Cholo Perreras have all been recognized as Young Market Masters awardees. Oliver Rabatan was employee of the year and now brand extensions director at McDonald’s. And there are many more from the different companies and agency teams with whom I worked. I am also proud of all the teams I taught at worldwide hamburger marketing university from 2013-2016. I am passionate about influencing students and young marketers to excel. That is why I was so fulfilled when we showcased Filipino marketing talent as PANA [Philippine Association of National Advertisers] won metals for Cannes Lions Young Marketers competition in 2010 and 2011. Of all the recognition that I have received, it is the First Market Masters Award from Mansmith that means the most to me because it represents the success of people I have mentored.” Even with her personal life, she brims with pride seeing the children she has nurtured grow. “I am proud of my son Diego who will graduate from the Ateneo in May and has already gained experience in setting up and running his own business. I am equally proud of my daughter Isabel who is a talented musician and singer and whose passion for music drives her to become better.”
Madonna Tarrayo
Straight Shooters/Unitel president and Group COO Madonna Tarrayo’s rise to the top is all the more remarkable because she started from the ranks. “I am proud of the fact that I worked really hard to go up the ladder; that I have risen through the ranks and have experience in producing for all kinds of platforms, from broadcast to advertising to film to radio to digital. I am proud to have led the team who built StraightShooters Media, Inc. ground up and for 11 years, has been considered as one of the top five production companies in the country to date. I am proud of being able to merge the best in Unitel Productions, Inc. and StraightShooters Media, Inc to create and establish an independent multi-media company who caters to all kinds of clients and partners. I am proud to walk the walls of these united companies, every single day. The people of Unitel/StraightShooters define who I have become today,” she attests. Even as a parent, her joys are hard earned. “I think my biggest joy and fulfillment in life is being a single parent. I am proud to have raised a 28-year old daughter who is smart, independent, brave, compassionate and grounded. She is in a very noble profession of teaching and nurturing children with special needs and conditions. My daughter is a psychologist and an educator.”
Bebot Ngo
Bebot Ngo, CEO at Publicis JimenezBasic Advertising since 2008, competes with herself, constantly seeking to outdo her own accomplishments. “Sustaining growth is the constant challenge for a big agency. Targets are pushed. Resources are stretched year on year. With PJB having such as strong history, I had to manage several transformations over the years to keep the business healthy. These growing pains were challenging but I am happy that the business is in great shape, and that our creative output give the results and recognition our clients truly deserve,” she explains. The constant honing is what keeps her sharp. “The competitiveness of advertising and marketing has pushed me to go beyond what is comfortable. I have learned that striving for more is best done, one step at a time. PJB’s dominant position in the market has taught me to drive the business not with ambition, but with a sense of responsibility, to consistently deliver on commitment. I’ve had to manage and work through many changes. That has taught me the importance of focusing on an objective that will always be for the greater good of the business.” And yet for all her experience in the industry, it is her family life that prepared her best to succeed. Asked what personal experience has made her the woman she is today, she responds, “Being a mother and that is powerful enough to make me who I am. Without batting an eyelash, my family is my proudest accomplishment: a very supportive husband and my very vibrant source of joy, my daughter.”
Isa Lorenzo
Silverlens Projects Inc. founder and gallery director Isa Lorenzo takes pride in being a fearless pioneer in representing Filipino artists at the most prestigious global art events. She takes pride in “founding / building Silverlens from the ground up:: all the galleries we spaces we have built (four and counting), our roster of artists, our exhibition program, and the art networks we have built around the world.” An esteemed photographer herself, she also takes pride in graduating from the UP College of Medicine and passing the boards as well as maintaining a single digit handicap at golf. She notes, “The more difficult experiences, both personal and professional, are the ones that are more formative: failure and tragedy are great teachers. Failing does not mean giving up and tragedy does not mean the end. Always get up, and always keep trying. Never give up. But it is ok to take a break.” She reveals what art loves and friends can expect next from her: “Art Basel in June, shows in Singapore in July, Taipei in august, Sydney in September; the shows we are having here in Manila too. Looking forward to hosting an exhibition of Edouard Malingue gallery (Hong Kong/Shanghai) here in Manila in June. We have shows by Wawi Navarroza, Hanna Pettyjohn, Pow Martinez, Dina Gadia, Frankie Callaghan, Eric Zamuco, Bernie Pacquing, and Patricia Eustaquio coming up in the next six months, and activating a new art space in Manila.”
Liza Diño
On August 12, 2016, Film Development Council of the Philippines chairperson Liza Diño was appointed to the position with a three-year term by Philippine president Rodrigo Roa Duterte, who took the place of her father, former chairman of the Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption Martin Diño, to run for president in the 2016 elections as the standard bearer for the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan political party. Liza Diño won Best Actress Award at the International Film Festival Manhattan New York, and Best Female Performance at the Equality International Film Festival for In Nomine Matris in 2012 as well as the Ani ng Dangal Award twice: in 2010 and 2012 for Compound and In Nomine Matris, respectively. She is also a noted theatre actor having won over audiences for he roles in Anton Juan’s staging of Jean Genet’s The Maids, Tony Mabesa’s staging of Jon Lazam’s Passion of Christ and William Shakespeare’s Winter’s Tale. She completed a certificate program in Culinary Arts at the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu of Culinary Arts and studied flamenco under world-renowned dancer Clara Ramona. For all her accomplishments, Dino, takes pride in her relationship with her spouse, folk singer and actor Aiza Seguerra, who was also appointed chairperson of the National Youth Commission by Duterte.
Gina Lorenzana
Gina Lorenzana, currently the vice president for personal care at Unilever Philippines, is a loyalist. She has been with Unilever for 25 years in various capacities: vice president for deodorants in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East while working at Manila, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur; marketing manager and director for hair care at Unilever Indonesia while working from greater Jakarta; marketing manager for mass markets and senior brand manager for laundry mass markets at Unilever China while working at Shanghai; among others. She has proven herself essential to the transnational consumer goods company’s success with various brands in various markets. More than just being a “lifer” for Unilever, Lorenzana’s career evidences her adaptability in a myriad of product categories and regional cultures, languages, and geographic locations. The values she epitomizes as a leader—drive, vision, collaboration, and precision—are highly regarded universally where ever she goes. Traveling the globe isn’t just part of her job: it’s how she and her family have fun. An avid fan football, she and her family travel across the globe—from Germany to Italy—to watch matches by the world’s most beloved soccer teams. This seamless integration of work and play is Lorenzana’s true measure of success.
Photos by Dookie Ducay.
