FAR EASTERN UNIVERSITY
GENERAL EDUCATION
“Thought Leadership”
International Consultant Law Office
Ms. Zenaida S. Fernandez
GROUP 3
Albina, Sarah Nicole D.
Dela Cruz, Emmanuel T.
Duyao, Yvonne Antonette P.
Ismael, Abdel Nasser S.
Ragamat, Aedrian Kristoffer J.
Ricaña, Cyrah Marie C.
Santos, Manolo Andre III O.
MGT1101_Sec9
November 13, 2021
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Table of Contents:
I.
Overview/Name of the Business
-------------------------------------------- 1
II.
Company Address and Contact Details -------------------------------------------- 1
III. Date of Online Interview
-------------------------------------------- 2
IV. Resume of the Person Interviewed
-------------------------------------------- 2
V.
Questionnaire Template
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VI. Transcript of the Interview
-------------------------------------------- 10
VII. Photo Documentation
-------------------------------------------- 19
VIII. Individual Reflection Paper
-------------------------------------------- 20
IX. References
-------------------------------------------- 28
X. Appendices
-------------------------------------------- 30
A. Request Letters
-------------------------------------------- 30
B. Photo Documentation
-------------------------------------------- 34
C. Video Recording
-------------------------------------------- 35
D. Approval Form
-------------------------------------------- 35
E. Transcript
-------------------------------------------- 36
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I. Overview/Name of the Business
A. Name of Business: International Consultant Law Office
B. Job Position: Admin and Finance-In-Charge
C. Form of Ownership: Corporation
D. Form of Business: Legal service/ Law Firm
E. Mission of the Company: Our mission is to empower your success through a full range of
professional legal services. As a UAE homegrown legal practice, we understand the complexities
and special requirements of doing business in the United Arab Emirates. Yet we also offer a truly
international perspective on legal matters plus the specific knowledge and expertise needed to
guarantee results.
F. Core Values of the Company: Commitment to Clients, Legal Excellence, Outstanding Results,
and Inspired Innovation.
II. Company Address and Contact Details
A. Address: CBD-08, International City, Dubai, UAE
B. Contact Number: +971 56 415604
C. Email Address: zensumang@gmail.com
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III. Date of Virtual or Online Interview
A. Date of online Interview: November 8, 2021
B. Time: 1:40 AM (PST)
9:40 PM (GST)
C. Platform used: Google meet
D. Interview duration: 40 minutes, and 9 seconds.
IV. Resume of the Person Interviewed
CURRICULUM VITAE
Zenaida De Guzman Sumang
CMA
(a dynamic and results-driven professional with 20+ years exceptional professional exposures
in financial and management accounting, internal auditing, and business administration)
Nationality
: Filipino
Address
: CBD-08, International City, Dubai, UAE
Contact Number
: +971 56 4156504
e-mail address
: zensumang@gmail.com
Visa Status
: Residence - Dubai
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Key Skills and Work Experiences
● A Certified Management Accountant (ICMA-Australia)
● A graduate of Master’s in Management(Business Management) and Bachelor
of Science in Business Administration major in Accounting
● With more than 20 years of profound professional experiences in the fields of
Financial Accounting, Management Accounting, Internal Auditing, HR
Management, Administration, from both Philippine government and private
sectors in Dubai
● Currently working as Admin and Finance In-Charge in one of the law firms in
Dubai and Abu Dhabi
● With Previous work experiences in a Management Consultancy Firm, Oil
and Gas company, Ready Mix Concrete Supplier Company, Agricultural
Research and Development Institution (a Philippine Government
Corporation) with International Collaborations and Affiliations
● Attended several relevant trainings, workshops, and conferences.
● Used to work in a computerized accounting environment and Legal Tech Environment
● Used to Work from Anywhere mode
● Knowledge of ERP implementation
● Proficiency in MS office applications (Excel/Word/PowerPoint)
● Holder of valid UAE driving license
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Professional Experience
International Consultant Law Office (previously, Saleh Alobeidli Advocates and Co)
Admin and Finance In-Charge - from September 2017 to date
Key Responsibilities:
1. To ensure the timely and accurate reporting of financial information on a weekly basis and
make sure that the invoicing and the collection of receivables are handled properly by
issuing all invoices prior to the execution of assignment and the receivables are collected
on the due date.
2. Advises the management on a timely basis on financial information and
non-financial information for them to be able to draw an informed judgement and
decision.
3. Handling of Client POAs related to banking tasks.
4. Overall daily management of the finance unit of the organization.
F & B Gourmet – 95 Degrees Coffee
HR and Finance In-Charge (Part-Time) - from September 2017 to August 31, 2020
To the Moon and Back Coffeeshop LLC
HR and Finance In-Charge (Part-Time) - from September 2017 to August 31, 2020
Emirates Conveyancing Management Consultants
Dubai UAE - May 20, 2012, to August 31, 2017
Key Responsibilities - Overall financial and administrative support to the management through
strategic financial accounting, management, and control through:
● Maintains a documented system of accounting policies and procedures.
● Serves as company's gatekeeper
● Forecasting of cash flows positions
● Ensuring that sufficient funds are available to meet ongoing operational and capital
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investment requirements
● Maintaining banking relationships
● Managing the preparation of company's budget
● Assist the management in formulation of its overall strategic direction
● Engages in cost reduction analyses in all areas of the company
● Engages in benchmarking studies to establish potential operational improvement
● Interpreting the company's financial results to management and recommend
improvement activities
● Compiling key business metrics and report on them to the management
● Ensure that the HR is functioning effectively
Reference: Available upon request
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V. Questionnaire Template
INTERVIEW QUESTIONNAIRE
Question 1:
● May we know what are the type of business that you manage is? (Service, goods,
merchandising business, etc.) And what are the reasons why you established this type of
business?
____ It is aligned to my dream profession.
____ To make a living.
____ It is my passion.
____ To continue the legacy of my family
____ Others: ____________________
Question 2:
● As a businessperson do you prefer to?
___ manage the business by yourself.
___ manage the business with someone (business partners, relatives, etc.)
If your answer is the 2nd one, rate the relationship you have with your business partners
(family members, employees, etc.) from 1-5 (5 as the highest and 1 as the lowest).
___ family members
___ employees
___ business partners
___ relatives
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Question 3:
● What values and competencies should a leader have if they want to be a successful
entrepreneur or leader?
Values:
___ Visionary
___ Bravery
___ Integrity
___ Fortitude
___ Trust
___ Others: ________________
Competencies:
___Problem-solving
___ Communication
___ Collaboration
___ Critical Thinking
___ Creativity
Question 4:
● Based on your knowledge and experiences, what leadership style do you implement?
What procedures do you undertake to assess your work performance, if any?
______________________________________________________________________
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Question 5:
● Why do you think having a healthy and strong relationship with your partners and
employees is important in handling your business?
________________________________________________________________________
Question 6:
● In your management role what are the key factors you keep in mind when deciding
whether to delegate a task or do it by yourself?
___ Skills and Capabilities
___ Job Position
___ Capabilities
___ Expertise
___ Others: __________
Question 7:
● What procedures do you take to ensure that tasks are finished on time, on budget, and at
the highest possible quality? When you encounter difficulty in the aforementioned
factors, how do you resolve it?
________________________________________________________________________
Question 8: Operations (Planning / Problems / Difficulties)
● In companies, problems and uncertainties always arise. As a leader, how did you cope up
with the volatility of businesses during the pandemic? Did you have specific ways of
processing and solving a difficulty? If so, what are these steps?
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________________________________________________________________________
Question 9:
● From all the obstacles you have faced in managing the business, what were the major
problems you have encountered so far? And what did you learn from it?
The most challenging and major difficulty that the enterprise experienced was ______.
From this, I have learned that _______________________________________________.
Question 10:
● With the time being of you leading the business, what were your most impactful
learnings? Are there mistakes that you want others to avoid committing especially by
those who are just starting-up a business?
● How long have you been in this kind of business?
I have been in this field/industry for ____ years.
I have learned that: _____________________________________________________
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VI. Transcript of the Interview
Sarah: Thank you Mrs. Zenaida for acknowledging our request. To start this interview, we
would like to ask for your consent in the recording of this session, and in adherence to the Data
Privacy Act, it rests assured that all information from the interviewee is solely for educational
purposes. It will remain confidential within the group and the course professor.
Yvonne: Good Evening Mrs. Zenaida S. Fernandez. We are the students of the Far Eastern
University who are currently taking up a BSA course. And as part of our final requirement under
the subject of Leadership and Decision Making, we are conducting an analysis about successful
leaders like you. Our group aims to determine what type of leader and leadership skills you
execute within your business or area of management through this interview. We will be asking a
total of 10 questions that may have some follow-ups as well.
Cyrah: But before we start with the interview, we would like to formally introduce ourselves.
Cyrah: I am Cyrah Marie Ricaña
Sarah: I am Sarah Albina
Yvonne: And I am Yvonne Duyao. And we will be the interviewers for today. To proceed, we
would begin with question number one.
Yvonne: So, for question number one what field in business are you part of, and why did you
choose this industry?
Mrs. Zenaida: Uhm, why do you mean? The employment I'm in right now?
Yvonne: Yes po.
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Mrs. Zenaida: It's not by choice, but this is the available one during when I was taking for
another job when I joined this company in July 2017. So, something like working, not only like
working here in abroad, even in the Philippines if you will try to find a work, you will not try to
say, you want to try work in this particular kind of industry, actually if you will ask me, I really
want to work in oil and gas industry which luckily I planned in 2011, but, you know with some
considerations that the distance between the place that I used to work, and a lot of factors you
will consider, so, I quit the job in 7 months but I loved this job, and I really wish to be in this
kind of industry, because I know that, uh, If you are in the oil and gas industry it’s more a more
greener pasteur, Sorry but I, okay, it’s a more greener, pasteur than the other industry, especially
if you’re in the middle east where, uh, oil and gas is the more lucrative employment, so I am in a
law firn now, as a finance manager, but as I said uhm, I didn't planned to go into a law firm, it’s
the one available during the time when I was looking for a job, but still I'm still on my field
which is finance department, which uhm, really like to work as an finance guide, so, did I
answered the question?
Yvonne: Yes po.
Mrs. Zenaida: What I'm trying to emphasis is uhm, it’s not about when I want to work in this
industry, I will try to work, but honestly whatever work available when you will search for a job,
for sure you will grab it, especially.
Yvonne: To proceed po, for question number two. If you are to establish your own business
would you rather manage the business by yourself or manage the business with someone like a
business partner, relative, etc. po.
Mrs. Zenaida: Always, two heads are better than one. So, I prefer to work with someone, Uhm,
who have the same passion, if I will have my own business, who will have the same passion with
me, but of course uhm, you will have to work with someone, whom you know something like
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that, or better I prefer to work with my kids, or my husbands, with my family, family business is
something like.
Yvonne: And for question number three as a leader what values and competencies should one
have if they want to be a successful leader.
Mrs. Zenaida: Values and competencies?
Yvonne: Yes, it is provided there po.
Mrs. Zenaida: At least, to be a leader you must have this values and competencies, most of the
books there saying that this is a argument a leader is born, and some kept saying you can develop
a leader, but having a vision it’s very important to be a leader, bravery I can say something like a
risk taker, you must be a risk taker, bravery in a form of risk taker but Uhm, reasonable, not
always, because we have this, especially the accountancy students we are expected to have this
informed judgement, something like. Integrity, of course, it’s very important, even in your
personal life in everything, so trust yeah, you should trust, but at least you'll know whom to trust
because sometimes it’s very obvious that this person, it’s not your judging someone, but there are
times that there are someone persons you cannot trust, especially now that I am in the law firm,
sadly Uhm, we are handling some case that is informed with the Filipino, doing some technical
malformation of the fundings that they are managing, so, and on competencies, you should be in
every minute, in business problems are occurring uhm, brought by the environment let’s say like,
during the Covid, it’s very challenging, not only before but still, we are experiencing effect of the
Covid. So, collaboration, critical thinking, creativity, all of this things are really important if you
want to be a leader.
Cyrah: For question number 4 po, based on your knowledge and experiences, what leadership
style do you implement and what procedures do you undertake to assess your work performance,
if any po?
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Mrs. Zenaida: Actually, I want to go back when I was still in the Philippines, when working in a
government corporation. Actually, I was lucky , I was blessed to work on that government
corporation where in its not a typical government offices. It's like a private entity that, because I
was working with scientist, we have international collaboration. Leadership style? The executive
director that I had, I used to work with, and the first director work with in a newly formed
government corporation that time, it was formed in 1995, he was somewhat like a "little Marcos"
because he's from Ilocos Norte, very close to the Marcoses. In that corporation, he should have
six years term, non-renewable, like the president of the Philippines. The next executive director
that we have is something like, his management style is mixed. So, for me, with those
experiences that I had, let's say you, the one who's honing your style, unknowingly, you will see
that you're looking at your teacher, especially if that teacher, you really love him how he's
imparting knowledge to you. This will somewhat shape you as a leader. So be careful when you
are looking at them, try not to be, there are good and bad, so try not to be influenced by the
things that will not help you. So, for me, as I told it’s a mixed. Sometimes you know, when I am
evaluating myself, I am to authoritarian because I really want to have a, you know I'm always
looking at myself what I have from the others. I'm always expecting something because when I
do something, why someone can't, but later I discovered that not all persons are the same. You
cannot see yourself from others, but before I was really something like, "I'm not perfect, but I'm
always on perfectionism." But it always gives a good result, but later on I toned down, I learned
a lot that “you cannot find yourself from the others." So, work performance, in every company
there is a performance management system in place. They have there, own procedures that you
just have to implement.
Cyrah: For question number 5 po, why do you think having a healthy and strong relationship
with your partner and employees is important in handling your team?
Mrs. Zenaida: Okay, healthy and strong relationship. This is really important, if you really want
to achieve your goals, you need to have a motivated employees. First from the partnership level,
the partner should be motivated, the partner should love what they are doing, the partner should
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love whom they are working with. It’s the same with employees, a happy employee can produce
a lot. Employee morale is so important, how to balance. If they will see that the management is
implementing the policies of the company, if the employee sees that its always fair. Fairness is
very important in the company, that's why every organization that I have worked with in the
UAE, it’s a no-no to talk about the salary, as it is a violation of the company's family. The
salaries is the major things that may demoralized one employee, that's why it is very confidential
here. And that is why it is very important that the employee is happy, because a happy employee
can produce a lot.
Cyrah: Okay po, for the next question po, In your management role, what are the key factors to
keep in mind when deciding whether to delegate a task or do it yourself.
Mrs. Zenaida: Okay, actually, job positions, sometimes some people are landed in a job position
because its political but not that capable. But for me, it’s still the skills and capability because
some people, the bypass, some are very concern about their position. But me, if I can go directly
to the lowest staff who can get me what I need, I will go to the lowest staff, I will bypass you.
Because it’s just wasting of time, as I told you, some are there, especially in government, there
are people that holding a senior level, the junior level, then there is a rank because of political
affiliation and relationship. But for me, it’s really skills and capabilities.
Sarah: For the 7th question, what procedure do you take to ensure that tasks are finished on time
and at the highest possible quality po? If you encountered such difficulties po, how did you
resolve it?
Mrs. Zenaida: Okay, this you know the targeted set in each department or employee, you should
follow, ah not to lose track. Ahhh, sorry I cannot get it what procedures do you take to finish
tasks on time, budget and at the highest possible quality...
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Sarah: It's something like ano po, for example po, you need to pass a certain financial report, do
you do reminders po or....
Mrs. Zenaida: Mmmm, okay, I get it, I get the point, okay okay. Yes of course, because
reminding is always a good tool to achieve something, in a normal situation, in a normal
employment work, it’s very easy to lose track on what you need to, and you will end up
something like, "Ah, tomorrow is the deadline." It's like from the student’s life to the office work
life, it’s the same. So, reminding yourself, reminding your employees, at the start, if you need it
during the day, at the start of the morning, a simple email will work to achieve what you need
before the end of the day. Or if you need it at the end of the week, at the start of the week, a
simple and a reminder during the meet, not just a reminder but asking where are we? Are we still
reaching our target at the end? So, a reminder really, is a, especially now email or what, here,
what's up is a common tool use in simple message. This will help us to finish the job on time. We
encounter difficulty because during the day, you schedule to do this, but a lot of things pop up
that you cannot avoid. So, accountants are the most not sleeping person in every company.
Sarah: Proceeding po for the next question, As a leader po, how did you cope up with the
difficulties faced during the pandemic and did you have specific ways of solving such
difficulties?
Mrs. Zenaida: Okay here in Dubai, we are so blessed here, because here they are talking about
A.I, artificial intelligence. So, the government, bago pa mag-Covid, the government is ready for
this kind of situation, internet facilities are ready, so we in March 23 (2020), we started to stop
working from and shift to a working from home. The challenge during those time, it's a little bit
time consuming. Because, unlike on face-to-face, you can easily go to your colleague to check
something. But now, you have to use the telephone, but still it’s almost normal that we were
working. Part of the different industries, are mostly affected, but the law firm, no. Because our
thing is in the system it’s in the server you can easily access. And I believe that the good thing
that we learned, we experienced during the Covid era is very helpful today, because we train to
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work everywhere, not only train from work from home, but train from everywhere. You know
even I am outside, I always have my laptop, even in the mall. While the not good thing during
the Covid, it almost removed the boundaries between working hour and family time, between
weekdays and weekends, it removes the boundaries. But still, as a Filipino, we are easily to cope
up with this kind of situation, we don't know what will happen, but it’s good that you
experienced this online classes, really, this will help and build your capability to be a leader in
the future.
Sarah: Yes po, I totally agree, especially sa part po ng resilience. So, for the second to the last
question po, from all the obstacles you have faced, except the problems during the Covid era po,
what were the major problems you've encountered and what did you learn from them?
Mrs. Zenaida: Between the two, working in the government, the budget its appropriated. I
mean, at the start of the year, its approved. You know that you will have this much to spend
during the year, sometimes, its delayed, but definitely it will come. But in the private sector, you
need to work hard to have something at the end of the month. For me, by the third week if I don't
have this much for the salary and to meet my month end obligations and payables. This is really,
especially to think that the employee will not get their salary on time. This is really, so, for me,
this is the major thing. To make sure that at the end of the month, I have this much, but most of
the time this is beyond your control. Even you know that based on your cash flow projection
during the start, I will have, I will have this, but sometimes no. So, what I learned, how I cope
up? Not to be relaxed with my receivables, because of you will be laxed, you must have a target.
By the third week at least, not I have still time, there's still 5 days, no its a disaster , if you will
not leave with your target. It's important, not only for a finance guy or to be a proactive.
Passivity kills, so at the end of the month you will not have anything, so you will not meet your
obligations, so being a proactive is very very important.
Yvonne: For the tenth question, for the last one, With the time being of you managing a certain
department in your field of work po, what were your most impactful learnings?
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Mrs. Zenaida: They said that business is business. They have this, there's no brothers, there's no
sisters in business. You know the meaning of that? Because you need to separate the personal.
That's why you know the business is not you, it’s totally separate. So, you should not implore if
you have a business there's no brother, there's no sister because too much attachment with the
family and to the extent that your business will be affected. You mentioned here, what are the
mistakes. One time, here, I was blessed to manage my own while I was working, but you cannot
mix charity and having business. Although, I didn't regret it because I gave work for so many
people, they survived during those days, but still, nobody will go to a business just for charity or
else better to just put up a non-profit charity business. I mean, we need to put in my that it is
totally separate than your personal. So, I think I learned that lesson because, really, still, I want to
have my own business. But I learned to take care of this one, if I really want my business to have
in the long-term.
Yvonne: So, dapat po may boundaries?
Mrs. Zenaida: Yes, there is always.
Yvonne: Okay po, So how long have you been in this kind of industry po?
Mrs. Zenaida: Ah, the law firm?
Yvonne: Yes po.
Mrs. Zenaida: 2017,2018, 2019, 2020, 2021. 4 years. I was in the research institution before, for
14 years, this is the longest employment that I have, but here, 4 years.
Yvonne: Thank you. So that ends the questions na po.
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Sarah: Before we wrap up this interview, can we take a virtual photo for documentation
purposes?
Mrs. Zenaida: Sure.
*take pictures*
Yvonne: We extend our heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the entire group for the time you have set
aside for us. We understand that your schedule is hectic and full, but you took the extraordinary
effort to lend us your time po.
Cyrah: Have a pleasant evening and stay safe. Thank you once again, Ms. Zenaida, and may
God bless you always.
*end of the interview*
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VII. Photo Documentation
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VIII. Individual Reflection Paper
Albina, Sarah Nicole D.
Leadership is a learned skill rather than an intrinsic one. It is acquired through reading,
listening to mentors honing our skills, and experiencing taking the lead in groups and several
activities. It emphasizes the relevance of such methods as early as being students to improve the
leaders within us. But what I fully grasp about leadership is that it is transformational and gets
influenced as we improve and widen our experience.
Being able to interact with an in-practice leader led me to an epiphany that leading
corresponds to bravery and having a vision, the relevance of people we are working with, and the
liabilities and obligations of leading. Starting with being a visionary is like a foundation of the
purpose and direction of being a leader. I learned that vision facilitates the formation of goals and
guides the decision-making processes we will be encountering. And as our interviewee said, that
is, "Bravery in the form of risks."
Furthermore, the interaction made me appreciate the importance of the leader and
follower relationship. Based on the shared experiences of the leader, a happy employee produces
a lot. The short phrase was an eye-opener for me that motivation and productivity are not solely
reliant on ourselves but also on colleagues and leaders. Therefore, maintaining employees'
morale contributes to the work performance, accomplishments of a team, and the overall
working environment.
And when it comes to a leader's duties and responsibilities, it deepened my understanding
of their weight and significance. As a leader, you are concerned not just with your own work but
also with the general status of the team. A leader's failure in his or her obligations can cause the
downfall of everyone. It served as a reminder that issuing directives is not the same as leading;
it's only ordering and a command. For leadership is an action rather than a mere position.
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Learning about the experiences and insights of a successful leader was an inspiration for
us, students who are in the process of honing our skills. Her opinions and learnings molded for
more than a decade enlightened the leadership inside of us. It made me realize that no one started
well and at their best. Like everyone else, most of us start from the bottom and gradually
improve as a result of our experiences and tribulations in life.
Dela Cruz, Emmanuel T.
Earn your leadership every day –Michael Jordan. Leadership is something that can be
obtained through coherent judgements and entrust power upon you by your subordinates. You
can not be born with it but earn it by allowing yourself to come across the river and encounter
every fishes to evaluate each identity and form within a bracket. And there comes the acumen of
each species to triumph by collaborative efforts as it is important to repress your emotions when
working with discrete personage. Moreover, I want you to imagine a guild underwater where
merman served as the leader and fishes as the followers.
During the interview, I have come to realize that there are variations of leadership style as
there are different species in the seas and oceans. There will be an authoritative type,
transactional type, democratic type, transformative type, and laissez-faire type. And I will prove
that: 1. A leader can be developed 2. A healthy relationship between the leader and follower is
important 3. Communication affects your leadership skill, in a short narrative story.
In this underwater, an infant merman was born and was presumed to take over his father's
throne. As that merman grows older, he has helped his father with setting a transformational
plan. While planning, they noticed that their fellowmen weren’t happy anymore and were
planning to make a rebellion. But upon taking over the crown, the netizens were delighted by the
news as they were sick and tired of the leadership of the father. As he took over, the netizens
were merry and got back to work again. Since then, they were able to fabricate a healthy
relationship and all issues were resolved fast through a feedback system.
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First, a leader can be developed through time just like in the story. The merman might be
presumed to be the next leader as he was the son, but he earned his rights through processing and
encountering the problems that he had seen in his community. Second, a healthy relationship is
important as it allows your employee to produce a great deal of services and performances. The
merman was able to influence the netizens to toil again and continue the program in the sea.
Third, communication honed your leadership skills as it allows you to recognize the supplication
and sentiments of your people. With the feedback system, you will be able to address the
problem easily as it gives both the leader and follower an insight about the roots of this problem.
Furthermore, I realized that it is important to listen to your fellow mates to be able to
make a healthy relationship between them. And that leadership is not something you can be born
with but develop through a process where you will assess each species to come up with an
acumen. So, earn your leadership every day by coming through the river and encounter every
fishes out there.
Duyao, Yvonne Antonette P.
If I had to highlight my learnings throughout the past several months on this course, I
would quote John Buchan (1930), who said, "The task of leadership is not to put greatness into
people, but to elicit it, for greatness is already there.". Whereby, leadership does not imply that
one must be perfect; rather, what matters is the process and outcome of trying, as a real leader
sees differences as a strength and strives for excellence while training his followers to be the best
possible version of themselves.
During our interview with Mrs. Fernandez, three themes or ideas really stood out to me:
Collaboration as a part of a leader's competencies, the type of leadership she possesses, and a
healthy and strong relationship with her employees. According to Kissflow (2021), collaborative
leadership eliminates boundaries and allows us to complete our job with minimal hassle.
Wherein, this is to value team members' ideas and opinions and to provide everyone with the
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opportunity to participate in a project. And, based on one of my experiences as a student leader, I
can claim that collaborative participation is required to finish a project or task.
My thoughts are not the only ones to consider; any further recommendations or opinions
from my group are also welcome. Mrs. Fernandez also described her previous work experiences,
including how the bosses led their teams and how she adopted parts of their leadership
approaches. She said that she used to be an authoritarian, but that she had loosen up with time.
And being a perfectionist, I can relate to this as a leader. And it made me reflect on my actions,
realizing that I should let go at some time and let my groupmates perform their jobs. Mrs.
Fernandez’s action can also be related to Theory Y, which signifies a favorable view of human
nature, implying that people are generally hardworking, inventive, and capable of taking
responsibility and exercising self-control in their occupations (Reference for Business, n.d.).
Lastly, according to Mrs. Fernandez, “It is very important that the employee is happy,
because a happy employee can produce a lot.” which means that it is important to have a healthy
and strong relationship with employees. According to Broom (n.d.), employees that were happy
not only worked quicker and made more calls per hour, but they also sold 13 percent more than
their unhappy colleagues. Despite the fact that I am not a member of a team or work, the
knowledge I have gained will assist me in the future if I were to become a leader who strives for
the satisfaction of my employees.
To conclude, this overall exercise, which included everything from formulating questions
to listening to the responses of great leaders, provided me with new insights as a young leader. It
opened my eyes to how things function in the real world and how successful leaders of this
generation are. This activity encouraged me to do better at such a young age, to always do my
hardest even if I fail, and to store those lessons deep inside my heart and use them wisely. I
realized that the best instructor one can have in order to improve and achieve one's goals is
experience. To end my reflection, I'd like to cite Warren G. Bennis (n.d.) quote: “Leadership is
the capacity to translate vision into reality”.
24
Ismael, Abdel Nasser S.
Leaders are among the most powerful people in the world. And as we all know with great
power comes great responsibilities. Leaders help themselves and other members in making the
best possible decisions in a specific task. They are one of the most important members of a group
or team because they set the tone, create a captivating vision for a better outcome, and come up
with a unique idea.
Leadership has a lot of movement to it, which makes it entertaining to do. It's energizing
to sketch out where you need to go as a team or an organization to "win." People that are capable
of leading inspire me because they are likely the team's full heart and mind.
Ms. Zenaida S. Fernandez, an Admin and Finance-in-Charge in a Law Firm in Dubai,
was questioned by our group a few days ago. I gained a lot of insight into what it takes to be a
great leader. During our conversation with Ms. Zenaida, I discovered that a true leader must be
visionary. Leaders should always stand out the most in order for them to formulate a unique idea
that can captivate people because their job is to inspire and motivate their members.
A true leader should also know how to communicate well with others, and a leader
should possess adaptability, integrity, and collaboration as values. And I agree with Ms. Zenaida
that a leader must possess those characteristics in order to be successful in life; however, what
inspired me the most was when Ms. Zenaida stated that leaders are created, not born; this should
motivate not only me, but all of us; we can all be leaders with sheer determination and integrity.
25
Ragamat, Aedrian Kristoffer J.
As the saying goes, “Leaders are made, not born” meaning, leadership is one of the
characteristics of human beings that cannot be inherited but is learned throughout life. To
become a true leader, one must be able to influence, not force, others towards a specific goal.
The three ideas that really had a strong impact on me are: leaders should be visionary, the
shared skills that leaders must have, and that leaders are made, not born. One's vision will act as
a guide for both the leader and the followers in the process of attaining the common objective,
and in my experience as a leader, I do not begin working with people unless I have a vision in
mind that I want to share with them.
The shared skills that a leader must have that Mrs. Fernandez shared are adaptability,
integrity, and collaboration which I think are the most essential skills that a leader must have.
And lastly is how Mrs. Fernandez emphasized that leaders are made and not born as she shared
her path to becoming a leader herself from the experience and teachings she learned in the past
whereby I find it similar to myself because when I was a little kid, I was shy and did not like to
work with others, but as I grow up and learn from the people whom I considered as leaders such
as my teachers, friends, family, it impacted me in a way from being a shy person to being a
confident and brave leader capable of handling any situations and providing a united and
collaborative workplace towards achieving a shared goal.
To conclude, listening to the responses of these experienced successful leaders allowed us
young leaders to understand what areas we needed to work on in order to become more effective
leaders. I then realize that experience is the most significant and effective teacher, not just for
becoming a leader, but for becoming a better person in general. That is why we should not be
scared to take risks since whether we succeed or fail, it will always be viewed as a victory for the
experience and learning that it provides. Just like John Quincy Adams said, "If your actions
inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader."
26
Ricaña, Cyrah Marie C.
As the quote by Donald McGanno says, “Leadership is an action, not a position”
Leadership is not defined by the position we hold in an organization, but by the actions we
choose to take. It is simply a matter of choice and behavior (CastleBay Consulting, 2020)
Upon interviewing a successful finance manager like Mrs. Zenaida S. Fernandez, I got
new ideas about being a leader. First, A good leader must be visionary, a good leader’s goals
must be well defined and well planned on achieving it. The leader can motivate and inspire the
team to aim higher. In my understanding, there should always be a vision on doing a task as it
will be the guide for someone to know what they want to achieve. Second, A good leader must
be strategic. A leader should have a concrete plan and ways to attain their vision. The leader can
create a space for the team to try out new ideas and be able to communicate effectively. It is
important to be strategic because it helps the organization to improve the skills of members for
the future development. Third, A good leader should be brave to take the risks to execute the
visions. As a leader, I should have the courage to try the goals and plan to know if it will be a
success or not; look for alternative ways to achieve it successfully. And lastly, there should be a
healthy and strong relationship between employees and leaders, it maximizes the full potential of
the team if the employees are happy. They are motivated to do their task and goals are being
achieved one by one.
To sum up my views, I realized that as early as now we are shaped into becoming good
leaders as we learn the characteristics of an effective leader. And with the experience and
learning we have, help us become a better person.
27
Santos, Manolo Andre III O.
In my experience of knowing a successful leader such as Ms. Sumang-Fernandez, I
understand now how tough it can be as a leader in the world we live in. Tough unforeseen
obstacles will be thrown at you, but you must keep your composure to show your staff or the
management you are handling that as a team you can get past the challenges.
I ponder a lot about the thing she said that sometimes people in an organization hold
higher positions even if they are less qualified for the position or lack the necessary skills due to
political or family ties within the organization. For that very reason I understood what she later
said that sometimes, going to the lowest positions of an organization will be more efficient than
going through unskilled works with high ranks within the organization.
In the future, I would do the same as it would give me time to communicate with the true
gems of a company.
28
IX. References
Barnett, T. (n.d.). Theory X and theory Y. Reference for Business. Retrieved November 12, 2021,
from https://www.referenceforbusiness.com/management/Str-Ti/Theory-X-and-Theory-Y.html
Bechervaise, R. (2013, October 14). “5 Reasons Why Vision Is Important In Leadership”. Take It
Personel-ly.
Retrieved
November
10,
2021,
from:
https://takeitpersonelly.com/2013/10/14/5-reasons-why-vision-is-important-in-leadership/
Bennis, W. (n.d.). Warren Bennis quotes. BrainyQuote. Retrieved November 12, 2021, from
BrainlyQout.com Web site: https://www.brainyquote.com/authors/warren-bennis-quotes
Bowman, M. (2019, April 23). 3 Key Reasons Why Having A Vision Is So Important (And How
To Define One). Thrive Internet Marketing Agency. Retrieved November 11, 2021, from:
https://thriveagency.com/news/business-vision/#:~:text=Having%20a%20
vision%20
provides%20a
Broom, D. (2019, November 13). Happy employees are more productive, research shows. World
Economic
Forum.
Retrieved
November
12,
2021,
from:
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/11/happy-employees-more-productive/
Buchan, J. (1930). John Buchan quotes. BrainyQuote.com. Retrieved November 12, 2021, from
BrainyQuote.com Web site: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/john_buchan_166510
CastleBay Consulting. (2020, August 27). Leadership is action not a position. Retrieved
November
12,
2021,
from:
https://www.castlebayconsulting.com/leadership-is-action-not-a-position/#:~:text=%E2%80%9C
Leadership%20is%20 action%20not%20a,simply%20about%20choice%20and%20behavior.
Henrikson, M. (2006, August-September). Great Leaders Are Made, Not Born. AWHONN
Lifelines,
10(4),
335–338.
Retrieved
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6356.2006.00064.x
November
11,
2021,
from:
29
Keating, K. (2021, March 10). “3 Traits of Adaptable Leaders”. Atd. Retrieved November 10,
2021, from: https://www.td.org/insights/3-traits-of-adaptable-leaders
Kissflow. (2021, October 11). Why is collaboration important? benefits and best practices.
Retrieved
November
12,
2021,
from:
https://kissflow.com/digital-workplace/collaboration/importance-of-collaboration-in-the-workpla
ce/
Kruse, K. (2012, October 16). 100 Best Quotes on Leadership. Forbes. Retrieved November 12,
from:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinkruse/2012/10/16/quotes-on
leadership/?sh=427a1b242feb
Leading Effectively Staff (n.d.). What Are the Characteristics of a Good Leader? Center for
Creative
Leadership.
https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/characteristics-good-leader/
Prasanna (2020, May 16). “Essay on Leadership | Leadership Essay for Students and Children in
English”
AplusTopper.
Retrieved
November
10,
2021,
from:
https://www.aplustopper.com/leadership-essay/
Schneider, G. (2015, September 11). What is your Leadership Style? Performance Development
Strategies,
LLC.
Retrieved
November
12,
https://www.pdstrategies.com/index.php/easyblog/entry/what-is-your-leadership-style
from:
30
X. Appendix
A. Request Letter
November 4, 2021
Dear Ms. Zenaida S. Fernandez,
Greetings!
We are Group 3 of Far Eastern University in Leadership and Management course taking up
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. Our fellow member Yvonne Duyao mentioned your
profession and field of work. In this regard, we are writing to humbly ask for your time and have
an online interview with us.
The conducted interview is for our final requirement in Leadership and Decision Making (LDM)
subject entitled, " Thought Leadership." The discussion will be about your journey and
experiences in being a leader. It aims to give us students, insights, and principles directly from a
professional and successful leader. The time frame for your interview would depend on your
availability.
And in adherence to the Data Privacy Act, it rests assured that all information from the
interviewee is solely for educational purposes. It will remain confidential within the group and
the course professor.
We are looking forward to meeting with you. We hope that you will consider our request. Thank
you.
Here are the members of Group 3 that you may reach out to when you have a question or further
clarification in regard to the interview:
● Albina, Sarah Nicole - 2021018461@feu.edu.ph
● Dela Cruz, Emmanuel - 2021605041@feu.edu.ph
31
● Duyao, Yvonne Antonette - 2021016321@feu.edu.ph
● Ismael, Abdel Nasser - 2021018041@feu.edu.ph
● Ragamat, Aedrian Kristoffer - 2021018831@feu.edu.ph
● Ricaña, Cyrah Marie - 2021021521@feu.edu.ph
● Santos, Manolo Andre - 2021009031@feu.edu.ph
November 4, 2021
Dear Ms. Sheika Ismael,
Greetings!
We are Group 3 of Far Eastern University in Leadership and Management course taking up
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. Our fellow member Yvonne Duyao mentioned your
profession and field of work. In this regard, we are writing to humbly ask for your time and have
an online interview with us.
The conducted interview is for our final requirement in Leadership and Decision Making (LDM)
subject entitled, " Thought Leadership." The discussion will be about your journey and
experiences in being a leader. It aims to give us students, insights, and principles directly from a
professional and successful leader. The time frame for your interview would depend on your
availability.
And in adherence to the Data Privacy Act, it rests assured that all information from the
interviewee is solely for educational purposes. It will remain confidential within the group and
the course professor.
We are looking forward to meeting with you. We hope that you will consider our request. Thank
you.
Here are the members of Group 3 that you may reach out to when you have a question or further
clarification in regard to the interview:
32
● Albina, Sarah Nicole - 2021018461@feu.edu.ph
● Dela Cruz, Emmanuel - 2021605041@feu.edu.ph
● Duyao, Yvonne Antonette - 2021016321@feu.edu.ph
● Ismael, Abdel Nasser - 2021018041@feu.edu.ph
● Ragamat, Aedrian Kristoffer - 2021018831@feu.edu.ph
● Ricaña, Cyrah Marie - 2021021521@feu.edu.ph
● Santos, Manolo Andre - 2021009031@feu.edu.ph
November 4, 2021
Dear Ms. Amerie Escuadro,
Greetings!
We are Group 3 of Far Eastern University in Leadership and Management course taking up
Bachelor of Science in Accountancy. Our fellow member Yvonne Duyao mentioned your
profession and field of work. In this regard, we are writing to humbly ask for your time and have
an online interview with us.
The conducted interview is for our final requirement in Leadership and Decision Making (LDM)
subject entitled, " Thought Leadership." The discussion will be about your journey and
experiences in being a leader. It aims to give us students, insights, and principles directly from a
professional and successful leader. The time frame for your interview would depend on your
availability.
And in adherence to the Data Privacy Act, it rests assured that all information from the
interviewee is solely for educational purposes. It will remain confidential within the group and
the course professor.
We are looking forward to meeting with you. We hope that you will consider our request. Thank
you.
33
Here are the members of Group 3 that you may reach out to when you have a question or further
clarification in regard to the interview:
● Albina, Sarah Nicole - 2021018461@feu.edu.ph
● Dela Cruz, Emmanuel - 2021605041@feu.edu.ph
● Duyao, Yvonne Antonette - 2021016321@feu.edu.ph
● Ismael, Abdel Nasser - 2021018041@feu.edu.ph
● Ragamat, Aedrian Kristoffer - 2021018831@feu.edu.ph
● Ricaña, Cyrah Marie - 2021021521@feu.edu.ph
● Santos, Manolo Andre - 2021009031@feu.edu.ph
34
B. Photo Documentation
Ms. Ismael (Anna Ocampo – Assistant)
Mrs. Escuadro
35
C. Video Recording
Mrs. Fernandez
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/15c91AnrVDOuYtTsVPVI4Agv7uE6wYo_F?fbclid=IwA
R2deo49_htkBAolZzuHoAs9s9lkGZXjYdsuy3PzFFaPCr_NzfPopmNUMfg
Ms. Ismael
https://drive.google.com/file/d/14nmsioZG_lQwtC2mS9c9WlbCEN27bIlc/view
Mrs. Escuadro
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fv5KOe5tGJRAymZC0v9W8y2YKWRWyGIT/view
D. Approval Form
Leadership and Decision-Making Approval Form
Group Member Names:
Section: Sec 9
Date: October 29, 2021
Albina, Sarah Nicole D.
Dela Cruz, Emmanuel T.
Duyao, Yvonne Antonette P.
Ismael, Abdel Nasser S.
Ragamat, Aedrian Kristoffer J.
Ricaña, Cyrah Marie C.
Santos, Manolo Andre III O.
Leader Names
Position
Organization/Business
36
1. Sheika S. Ismael
Owner / Dentist
Dental Clinic
2. Zenaida S. Fernandez
Finance Manager
International Consultant Law Office
Owner
Transient & Local Delicacies
3. Amerie Escuadro Meija
Submitted by: Group 3
Approved by:
(SGD) Prof. Leonardo F. Cada, Jr.
E. Transcript of other interviews
Intro:
Aedrian:
Thank you, Dr. Sheika S. Ismael, for acknowledging our request.
To start this interview, we would like to ask for your consent in the recording of this session, and
in adherence to the Data Privacy Act, it rests assured that all information from the interviewee is
solely for educational purposes. It will remain confidential within the group and the course
professor.
Dr. Ismael: It’s fine, go ahead.
Aedrian: Good morning, Dr. Sheika S. Ismael
We are the students of the Far Eastern University who are currently taking up a BSA course. And
as part of our final requirement under the subject of Leadership and Decision Making, we are
conducting analysis about successful leaders like you. Our group aims to determine what type of
leader and leadership skills you execute within your business or area of management through this
interview. We will be asking a total of 10 questions that may have some follow-ups as well.
But before we start with the interview, we would like to formally introduce ourselves.
I am Aedrian Kristoffer J. Ragamat
37
Andre: I am Manolo Andre O. Santos III
Abdel: I am Abdel Nasser S. Ismael
Emmanuel: And I am Emmanuel Dela Cruz
Aedrian: And we will be the interviewers for today.
To proceed, we would begin with question number 1.
Question 1:
●
May we know what is the type of business that you are currently part of? (service, goods,
merchandising business, etc.) And what are the reasons why you established this type of
industry?
____ It is aligned with my dream profession.
____ To make a living.
____ It is my passion.
____ To continue the legacy of my family
____ Others: ____________________
What field in business are you part of and why did you choose this industry?
Dr: Ismael: I’m an owner of a dental clinic and I provide general dentistry services to people.
The main reason why I become a Dentist is that it is my dream profession since childhood days, I
was inspired by how dentists do their work in keeping our teeth clean and healthy not only that it
gives us self-confidence by just smiling confidently with how improved our teeth look that’s why
I ended up with a degree of Dentistry in the University of East. Also, being a Dentist is not only
a passion it gives me the opportunity to open my own business to make a living because
Dentistry is one of the highest paying medical professions.
38
Aedrian: Question 2:
●
As a businessperson do you prefer to? (If you were to establish your own business would
you..)
___ manage the business by yourself.
___ manage the business with someone (business partners, relatives, etc.)
If your answer is the 2nd one, rate the relationship you have with your business partners (family
members, employees, etc.) from 1-5 (5 as the highest and 1 as the lowest).
___ family members
___ employees
___ business partners
___ relatives
Dr: Ismael: At first, I wanted to manage the business myself because it gives me full autonomy
and control of my business and income-wise it will be mostly mine. However, I came to realize
that having a business partner allows me to expand into a more dynamic approach that’s why I
decided to have my cousin as my business partner because with different skills sets we have it
helps to spread out the workload. I would rate our relationship a solid five since we trust each
other and we basically grew up together so we already have a strong trust foundation.
Abdel: Question 3:
●
What values and competencies should one have if they want to be a successful
entrepreneur or leader? And why do you think such values and competencies are important?
39
Values:
___ Visionary
___ Bravery
___ Integrity
___ Fortitude
___ Trust
___ Others: ________________
Competencies:
___ Problem-solving
___ Communication
___ Collaboration
___ Critical Thinking
___ Creativity
___ Others: ________________
Dr: Ismael: Every leader or a successful business owner has different values and competencies
of how they become a success in their field. In my opinion values, a leader should have are, First,
Empowerment and Development because as a leader I am in the position of power, instead of
keeping all the power and control to myself, I empower others through mentorship and
delegating tasks, creating a stronger team of foundation and it helps build future leaders that I
can rely on with confidence. Second, Vision I have the responsibility in creating and maintaining
organizational vision. So I have to visualize thinking what my goals are for the next 5 years, 10
to 20 years, or even a decade years, and knowing what are the next steps that required me to
40
achieve that goal. This basically means that I am looking at a bigger picture for better decision
making and which leads me to my third value, Communication because a successful entrepreneur
should not only have a clear vision but should also have effective communication skills because
it is the foundation of any relationships by preventing misunderstandings and conflicts. Fourth,
Empathy and Influence, a leader should have the ability to understand others, see from their
point of view, understand each other’s motivations to build stronger, positive, and productive
relationships by influencing people with positive reinforcement, recognition, and encouragement
to improve self-confidence, motivation, and engagement. This helps boost morale in business.
Last, Accountability, Commitment, Humility, and Integrity. Accountability means taking
responsibility for one’s duties and goals. Owning the responsibility for the shortcomings leads to
our Commitment to our work, committing to your goals, decisions, and mistakes. Next,
Humility, we should always be humble because leaders must be constantly learning don’t
hesitate to ask for inputs or advice from others, and always be willing to recognize and process
mistakes to prevent becoming insulated from the outside world. And Integrity means having
strong principles such as approaching all your work with consistency and coherency the way to
communicate with others, approaching new situations, honoring commitments, being honest and
transparent about business objectives, directives and policies because Integrity character trait
gains respect and trust. As for competencies we should combine creativity, a sense of initiative
being open to new ideas and innovations willing to question status quo approaches,
implementing new processes and able to see problems from a new perspective, and generate
helpful insights into problems and which leads me to Problem-Solving, we have to be proactive
in addressing issues and avert conflict whenever it emerges or prevents the further escalation of
the conflict by seeking information and assessing a variety of potential solutions. Adaptability
and Flexibility being able to adapt easily and flexibly can help you through any difficult
situations and different environment settings. Lastly, the ability to take risks, taking the chances
to do something out of your comfort zone even though it is not a 100% success rate but by
risk-taking, you should carefully calculate all the chances, assess properly to reduce negative
results by making the most out of the positive possibilities.
41
Abdel: Question 4:
●
Based on your knowledge and experiences, what leadership style do you implement?
What procedures do you undertake to assess your work performance, if any?
________________________________________________________________________
Dr: Ismael: There’s a lot of different type of a leader and I would say that I am a participative
or a follower type of a leader, whereas I inspire and help others to grow, succeed and lead, being
open to receive and listen to my team’s opinions and criticisms by conducting weekly meetings.
Also, freely contribute hard work and support to reach our goal and recognize the individual
effort and group achievement.
Abdel: Question 5:
●
Why do you think having a healthy and strong relationship with your partners and
employees is important in handling your business?
________________________________________________________________________
Dr: Ismael: Establishing a strong relationship with my employees and business partner is to
have an excellent communication skills, where we raise our expectations, initiate actions for us
to understand our views, opinions and efficiently do our work.
Abdel: Question 6: In your management role what are the key factors, you keep in mind when
deciding whether to delegate a task or do it by yourself?
___ Skills and Capabilities
___ Job Position
___ Capabilities
___ Expertise
42
___ Others: __________
Dr: Ismael: As of now, I am the only dentist in my clinic. So, I’m the one doing all the major
works but I do have an assistant where I delegate her task by assisting me with the patients as
well as getting the patient’s personal information. If in the future and whenever I hire a dentist I
will make sure that they are well trained and have the ability to improve themselves before I
delegate the task and if they still lack practice and experience I will take the task to teach, train
and demonstrate it to them properly. So the next time they handle a patient they can do their
work accurately.
Abdel: Question 7:
●
What procedures do you take to ensure that tasks are finished on time, on budget, and at
the highest possible quality? When you encounter difficulty in the aforementioned factors, how
do you resolve it?
________________________________________________________________________
Dr: Ismael: Time management is the important essence in finishing the work on time. So, I have
to work smart in managing my time by knowing which I should prioritize first and I always
make a list. The difficulties that I encountered are my scheduling my patients with appointments
and walk-in patients, it was hard on managing a lot of people at the same time because of lack of
manpower to lessen my burdens I decided to accept patients with appointments only and if ever
there are walk-in patients we suggest that they need to book an appointment for availability since
I need to prioritize patients with appointments.
Abdel: Question 8: Operations (Planning / Problems / Difficulties)
●
In companies, problems and uncertainties always arise. As a leader, how did you cope up
with the volatility and difficulties of businesses during the pandemic? Did you have specific
ways of processing and solving that difficulty? If so, what are these steps?
43
________________________________________________________________________
Dr: Ismael: When the pandemic hits, I did have a hard time because we have to close the clinic
due to lockdown and actually all of the business establishments were forcedly closed and it is
something that we can’t avoid since it concerns our health and our community. So, what we can
do is follow health protocols example would be proper protective equipment. When the
lockdown was lifted I prepared myself and my employees for the expectations at work and a
change of working schedule and to strictly adhere to health protocols as well as staying positive
all the time in any situation.
Abdel: Question 9:
●
From all the obstacles you have faced in managing a team, what were the major problems
you have encountered so far? And what did you learn from it?
The most challenging and major difficulty that the enterprise experienced was ______. From
this, I have learned that _______________________________________________.
Dr: Ismael: The challenging and major difficulties that I experience in managing a business are
one money management in opening the clinic, cash flow as well as fatigue. From this, I learned
how to manage my book and by getting an assistant that helps me manage my appointments, so I
have time to rest and recharge myself for my next task.
Abdel: Question 10:
●
With the time being of you managing a certain department in your field of work, what
were your most impactful learnings? Are there mistakes that you want others to avoid
committing especially by those who are just starting up in this field of work?
●
How long have you been in this kind of industry?
I have been in this field/industry for ____ years.
44
I have learned that: _____________________________________________________
Dr: Ismael: I’ve been in the industry for 4 years, the most impactful thing that I learned is that
don’t be afraid to take a risk and make mistakes because it happens and learn to overcome them,
commit to your mistakes, and learn from it because it helps you improve and generate new plans
that can achieve the goal that you set for yourself. As for mistakes that others should avoid
committing is not having a clear vision of your goals and expectations. Always plan ahead of
time and make sure that the recipient understands and has a clear view of your vision. Also,
make sure that you can commit to your plans and goals.
*End of Interview Proper
Aedrian: Before we wrap up this interview, can we take a virtual photo for documentation
purposes?
Dr. Ismael: Sure, it’s fine.
*Proceeded with the documentation
Aedrian: We extend our heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the entire group for the time you have
set aside for us. We understand that your schedule is hectic and full, but you took the
extraordinary effort to lend us your time po. Have a pleasant evening and stay safe. Thank you
once again, Dr. Sheika S. Ismael, and may God bless you always.
INTERVIEW (Ms. Amerie)
Aedrian: To start this interview, we would like to ask for your consent in the recording of this
session, and in adherence to the Data Privacy Act, it rests assured that all information from the
interviewee is solely for educational purposes. It will remain confidential within the group and
the course professor.
Ms. Amerie: Yes, of course.
45
Aedrian: Good Morning Ms. Amerie. We are the students of the Far Eastern University who are
currently taking up a BSA course. And as part of our final requirement under the subject of
Leadership and Decision Making, we are conducting analysis about successful leaders like you.
Our group aims to determine what type of leader and leadership skills you execute within your
business or area of management through this interview. We will be asking a total of 10 questions
that may have some follow-ups as well.
But before we start with the interview, we would like to formally introduce ourselves.
I am Aedrian Kristoffer J. Ragamat
Andre: I am Manolo Andre O. Santos III
Abdel: I am Abdel Nasser S. Ismael
Emman: And I am Emmanuel Dela Cruz
Aedrian: To proceed, we would begin with question number 1.
●
May we know what type of business that you are currently part of? (service, goods,
merchandising business, etc.)
Ms. Amerie: As of the moment, we are at a hospitality business which you call hotels or
transients where people would usually go for touring the city and stuff like that.
Aedrian: And what are the reasons why you established this type of industry?
Ms. Amerie: Actually, I’m a nurse by profession but I was asked to manage this hotel since i
was considered as a family by the Gonzales, I was taken into consideration to manage this place.
Aedrian: Okay po. So second question, as a business person do you prefer to?
___ manage the business by yourself.
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___ manage the business with someone
Ms. Amerie: Um personally, I would love to manage it by myself because I’d be able to
formulate any plans to make it better like for instance, I would train the people behind me so that
they would perform better and according to the rules and standards of the hotel.
Aedrian: Okay po. So the third question will be asked by Abdel.
Abdel: For question 3 po:
What values and competencies should one have if they want to be a successful entrepreneur or
leader? And why do you think such values and competencies are important?
For values it can be:
___ Visionary
___ Bravery
___ Integrity
___ Fortitude
___ Trust
___ Others: ________________
And in competencies it can be:
___ Problem-solving
___ Communication
___ Collaboration
___ Critical Thinking
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___ Creativity
___ Others: ________________
Ms. Amerie: Okay that’s a very good question. Uhm, for me it’s important for the leader to be
the visionary cause then you’ll be able to set a goal for yourself, not only for yourself actually
but also the establishment itself. It’s also important to have good communication because then all
those ideas will be put together for you, for you all to be put together be able to establish certain
places into, into one that you wanna it to be. So it would be successful.
Abdel: For Question 4: Based on your knowledge and experiences, what leadership style do you
implement? What procedures do you undertake to assess your work performance, if any?
Ms. Amerie: Uhm, for me, what worked for me is, Uhm, really Uhm, into thinking into
consideration the skills of the person, so I would be able to delegate the right task for them,
because, Uhm if you gave them the right task they’d be able to perform better, and so Uhm, that
for me is very important.
Abdel: And for Question 5:
Why do you think having a healthy and strong relationship with your partners and employees is
important in handling your business?
Ms. Amerie: Uhm, as I’ve mentioned a while ago, communication is very important, because
Uhm, through this you would let them know what to do, what the dos and don’ts are, and you
can establish a good relationship for yourself. As for us, we’ve been a host for nearly 3 years
until this pandemic, its because we actually Uhm, communicate with them as well as manage
them, so that’s very important.
Abdel: Question 6: In your management role what are the key factors you keep in mind when
deciding whether to delegate a task or do it by yourself? It can be:
___ Skills and Capabilities
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___ Job Position
___ Capabilities
___ Expertise
___ Others: __________
Ms. Amerie: Uhm, you have mentioned the skills right? So, that’s very important as you
observed your staff you will see their skills, so its not important what you know, if you know
their expertise because Uhm, one person can learn from something and they’ll eventually Uhm,
would expert Uhm, they would eventually become expert to that if they would practice. So for
me, as I go through the skills of my staff and observe them Id be able to grasp what their skills
are, so, for example, Uhm, one of my staff is Uhm, handling the cleaning of the rooms, but then
again we can also assist the guest, so, I think it’s important that you assess the skills first.
Abdel: Question 7:
What procedures do you take to ensure that tasks are finished on time, on budget, and at the
highest possible quality? When you encounter difficulty in the aforementioned factors, how do
you resolve it?
Ms. Amerie: Okay, so for me, I don’t actually have a management plan, but I always see to it
that I talk to them, like for instance, Uhm, uh, we will have many guests during this peak season
so this is are, I will have to list all the things we need to do, so they Uhm, it won’t split their
mind, and that to ensure the qualities will always be referred to our guests, so that’s my style. So,
I, I need to ensure that, Uhm, each of the guests, is treated as if it’s their first time in our place so
that they won’t forget it.
Abdel: Moving on for question 8. In companies, problems and uncertainties always arise. As a
leader, how did you cope up with the volatility of the businesses during the pandemic? Did you
have specific ways of processing and solving a difficulty? If so, what are these steps?
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Ms. Amerie: Well, as you know, tourism has been hit so hard during this pandemic. So, there’s
no partic… I don’t think there is a particular, Uhm, what did you say? Parang, Uhm, how you
can handle it because it is something that we did not.. Seen happening in the future. Right? I
mean, it is nearly two years, and so, I think that it is important for a leader, like me, to have
resiliency so I can show it to my staff that everything will eventually be okay. And they will
eventually have their, Uhm, regular working days so they can also provide for their families. So,
that, I think that is the resiliency.
Abdel: And for.... Question 9: From all the… From all of the obstacles you have faced in
managing the business, what were the major problems you have encountered so far? And what
did you learn from it?
Ms. Amerie: Well, aside from the pandemic, of course, uhm, I have been ahh… dealing with
some guests who are usually high-rate, but, uhm, there’s… there is no problem that being
solved…(shake head) that is not being solved with a good communication. So, uhm, for instance,
there was this guest we have handled before who is, uhm, having complaints about the noise
outside. So, I had to explain to them that it is something that we could not control. So, what we
could do is for them to, ah, feel comfortable by transferring them to a different room where the
noise, ah, could not be heard that much. So, that’s how we handle. Is, eh , it’s, actio… uhm, I
think it’s, uhm, with the way you communicate with ahh.... With th-, with the customers. So, they
would bowered at all times.
Abdel: Okay po. And for the last question: With the time being of you leading the business, what
were your most impactful learnings? Are there mistakes that you want others to avoid
committing especially by those who are just starting-up a business? And how long have you been
in this kind of business?
Ms. Amerie: So, I have been with Kumadidad de Amanda for, including the pandemic heresies,
already 5… going on 5 years. So, in 3 years time of handling this, I did learn s-... so many things,
because it’s really not my profession, right? So, I did not, uhm, study, uhm, HRM or anything.
But, uhm, dealing with the people and the customers that we’ve been facing each day, uhm, some
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of them are good, some of them are not. Uhm, you just really have to adapt to, everyday, uhm,
take notes of what they need ’cause that would really help you and improve. Like for instance, if
they have problems with your rooms or when people are… uhm… setting-up the… setting-up
your room so if they have problems with that we take notes and I make sure that I… I talk to my
staff, so that they could include the next time or what they would need to do. So, I think, that’s
really important if you take notes of all the complaints because actually, complaints are good
thing. It makes you improve.
Aedrian: Okay. Thank yo-... (disconnect from the meeting)
Ms. Amerie: Oo. Tapos na?
Aedrian: We would like to… (chappy) May ano lang… May kwan lang… May fifill-upan lang
resume po about your background lang po. Pero, you can do it after or anytime na ‘di ka busy,
Tita.
Ms. Amerie: Sure! No problem!
Aedrian: Tapos, eh… We… We would extend our heartfelt gratitude on behalf of the entire group
for the time you have set aside for us. We understand that your schedule is hectic and full, but
you took the extraordinary... extraordinary effort to lend us your time. Have a pleasant… and
stay safe. Thank you, may God bless you, Tita!
Ms. Amerie: You’re most welcome, Aedrian, Abdel, Andre, and Emmanuel!