Four powerful businesswomen report big successes in 2007 – and are not afraid of what 2008 will bring. An excerpt of the article from Philippine Daily Inquirer below:
Tessie Sy
(SM Group) Retail, banking, property development
“We are confident that the Philippine economy has sufficient momentum to cope with the external challenges facing it such as the weakness in the US and European markets and higher inflation due to the unrelenting increase in crude oil prices. On that note, we decided to pursue our expansion plans across all our core businesses. Both our retail and mall businesses will be expanding outside of Metro Manila, while the banks will complete their consolidation of recent acquisitions. The property group will launch new residential projects, and perhaps break ground for the sports arena and the Radisson hotel which will both be at the Mall of Asia complex. We will continue to sell condo units and beach and country club shares in Pico de Loro. All these will cost the whole group about P26 billion in capital expenditures.”
Dr. Vicki Belo
(Belo Medical Group) Beauty business
Belo Medical Group is definitely on track in its growth plans for 2008. Actually our growth plan covers a five-year strategic program starting in 2007 up to 2012. The game plan is to calibrate BMG and prepare the organization to embrace unprecedented growth in the global medical tourism picture.
Joji Ilagan-Bian
(Tumble Tot) Educational institutions, business process outsourcing
I believe that 2008 will be a year full of positive challenges—positive because I think there may be greater concerns to hurdle—but once we will be able to address these “positive problems,” business will be better. The outlook for small and medium sized businesses (like what I have) is bright—there will be more markets for us. One of the challenges is also to look beyond the Mindanao borders as a good market for products and services; be more flexible and creative in doing business, which we can easily do because of our size.
Vicki Jardiolin
(Natasha and Confetti) Direct selling and retail
Natasha [a direct selling company] had growth of about 20 percent. We started and intend to expand the Natasha Mall—a section in our catalogue where established brands such as Bobson, Bossini, Confetti, Dickies, Hanford, Nafnaf and Oshkosh display their selected products as in a real mall. Expansion of kids’ line are also planned. Expecting OFW remittances to increase purchases of apparel and personal care items though a strong peso is a cause for concern. This may dampen spending somewhat especially after the holiday spending.
March 10th, 2008 at 11:11 am
Whoa Filipina women are really good entrepreneurs!