Steno who became an asset by picking up skills
Published on: Sunday, March 10, 2024
By: Lorena Binisol
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Alice began her journey as a stenographer, equipped with shorthand skills and fresh out of college. Today, she is Head of Procurement, a remarkable ascent through the ranks.
She began her journey as a stenographer, equipped with shorthand skills and fresh out of college. Today, she is Head of Procurement, a remarkable ascent through the ranks. She served in various departments in those four decades.
The first significant shift was the embarkation of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The following years merging the Integrated Management system in the company was entirely a challenge for her at that time in late 1999 and early 2000.
She was tasked to lead a steering committee in the implementation. Mixed-gender personnel were entrusted under her supervision and guidance.
Due to her relentless effort, perseverance and determination, she was promoted.
“Much of our working life was spent collaborating and interacting with a diverse group of individuals, each bringing their own unique skills, competencies and characteristics to the table.
“We must get things done and not wait for things to get done, to be proactive and not reactive,” she said.
“It wasn’t always smooth sailing, we encountered our fair share of differences and had to navigate rough patches. However, we remained focused on getting the work done and addressed amicably. I constantly reminded myself to be resilient and withstand the challenges that came my way,” said Alice.
She remembered vividly being given the task of dealing with male-oriented staff in the Infrastructure Department.
Despite not knowing much about its technicalities, she told herself not to fear but to understand the intricacies of the various exposures.
In some meetings, there were bound to be conflicts, she had to keep reminding herself to be resilient, keep calm and composed to avoid unnecessary disputes.
Some of the other positions that she had held were traditionally considered to be roles for male staff. However, due to her exceptional capabilities and determination, the management recognised her ability and willingness to handle challenging tasks admirably. This led them to entrust her with more responsibilities typically reserved for male employees, demonstrating their confidence in her skills and leadership abilities.
“As I climbed up the corporate ladder, the list of challenges seemed endless – higher managerial and professional demands.
“Nevertheless, I had to prove myself as a woman and as a worker, I give the best to my utmost ability and never giving up easily”. There is no limit to what we, as a woman can accomplish.
Her tenure is set to end on June 30, 2024. The management had carefully selected capable and competent staff to take over the significant responsibilities, led by Alice.
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