One of the most sought-after cities in the nation for outsourcing companies is Cebu. In fact, BPOs in Cebu will continue to fuel demand for office space in Q4 of 2023, according to a recent analysis by Colliers Philippines. It is crucial to create a varied and inclusive BPO place where everyone can feel secure and supported given the city’s rapid growth. The WOMENtrepreneurs Meetup was recently conducted at the Dusit Thani Mactan in Cebu by the international finance services business Payoneer to explore inclusive leadership in the outsourcing sector.
“We wanted to promote female leaders in the outsourcing business when we founded WOMENtrepreneurs Meetup earlier this year. However, as Payoneer Country Manager Monique Avila explains, “When we witnessed how powerful that event was, we knew we needed to engage other BPO leaders, particularly in other development areas like Cebu and work with them to create a more diverse and inclusive BPO environment in the nation.
BPO leadership that is inclusive
Rosario Cajucom-Bradbury, the managing director of the Contact Center Association of the Philippines (CCAP), discussed the value of inclusive leadership in the outsourcing sector in her speech. “A diverse workforce is essential for success,” she declared. An inclusive workplace encourages increased productivity, creativity, employee happiness and retention, and harmony among coworkers. The concept of inclusive leadership has three critical components: the leader’s foundation of and commitment to integrity; curiosity about others that is accompanied by empathy and appreciation; and third, respect for what others can do while remaining true to oneself. Transformative change will result from that.
Cajucom-Bradbury has been aggressive in developing strategies to persuade legislators to institutionalize policies on equity for all genders, especially as the BPO business in the nation continues to expand, by putting her ideals into practice. In fact, the BPO sector is a vital part of the Philippine economy, contributing $29.5 billion in revenues, or 7.5% of our GDP, according to Haidee Enriquez, CEO of Microsourcing and member of the CCAP HR Council. The sector must change if it wants to experience unprecedented success.
Strong support for Cebu’s outsourcing sector
The recently hosted WOMENtrepeneurs Meetup in Cebu, where BPO leaders shared motivational stories during the panel discussion, demonstrated the desire to expand the outsourcing industry.
“Creating a business wasn’t simple, particularly at the height of the pandemic, but my motivation to achieve my objectives kept me going. My work has always been tremendously satisfying because I get to guide my business and my team toward success, says Zana Gawan-Taylor, CEO and founder of the Great Place To Work® accredited business BSA Solutions.
Le-an Lai Lacaba, the creator of 2XYou and a recipient of the 100 Most Influential Filipino Women in LinkedIn award, remarked, “I started my business at a very young age. My current priorities are to expand 2xYou to its maximum potential and launch a number of enterprises around the globe. She continued by saying that growing her firm would open up more options. Connie Barrientos-Carey, the founder of Aleph Talent, echoed Lacaba’s observation and stressed the importance of her business to its clients by pointing out that in addition to assisting in their growth, they also create new chances for the community by offering them a variety of services.
Payoneer is dedicated to supporting the development of a diverse and inclusive industry that will enable BPOs to flourish in a variety of markets, with growth-oriented innovation at its core. Avila stated, “We at Payoneer are determined to bring out the best in the Philippine outsourcing industry- both in company performance and workplace culture- by offering dependable products and services and by organizing one WOMENtrepreneurs Meetup at a time.