The inaugural Gokongwei Group Learning Festival in November brought employees, leaders, and industry experts together for a day of knowledge-sharing and meaningful discussions at Opus Mall. With the theme “Celebrate Meaningful Breakthroughs,” the event aimed to inspire innovation and continuous learning across the conglomerate.
At the event, Lance Gokongwei, President and CEO of JG Summit Holdings and head of the Gokongwei Group, shared, “Learning is a lifelong process. We need to be open to new ideas and embrace new ways of doing things.” He added, “We need to continuously acquire new skills and knowledge to keep abreast of change,” underscoring the need for adaptability and continuous development in today’s rapidly shifting environment.
The learning festival, aligned with the principles behind the Gokongwei Group’s internal Pride in Performance awards, focused on building partnerships, fostering innovation, and promoting sustainable growth across the organization. “Sharing knowledge and best practices will help us build strong partnerships, make better decisions, drive change, and support growth,” noted David Gulliver Go, Chief Human Resources Officer of JG Summit Holdings, in his opening remarks.
This commitment to creating synergy and breakthroughs in moving forward set the stage for the day's discussions, which featured insights from several prominent speakers.
Fabricio Ibanez Raad, Chief Digital Officer of Cebu Pacific, opened the discussion by exploring how disruptive technologies are reshaping the airline industry and creating new opportunities for growth. Building on this theme of change, Elfren “Boyie” Sarte, Executive Vice President of the Bank of the Philippine Islands, shared leadership strategies for navigating organizational transformation and fostering resilience in the face of uncertainty. Transitioning to the role of customer relations in this evolving landscape, Brian Cu, CEO and co-founder of SariSuki, emphasized the importance of adopting customer-centric approaches to build loyalty and forge long-lasting relationships in the digital era.
Interactive Sessions and Thought-Provoking Discussions
A range of breakout sessions and lightning discussions delved into key topics such as customer experience, sustainability, and digital transformation.
In the sessions on customer centricity, Lionel Lacad from GoTyme Bank kicked off the segment by presenting how they are redefining the banking experience. Building on this, Chad Sotelo from Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) shared insights into how a customer-centric approach helps the company in fulfilling its clients’ homeownership dreams. Apple Ignacio from Cebu Pacific then emphasized the crucial role of customer trust in fostering lasting relationships. Furthering the conversation, Elvis Contado Jr. of UNICON highlighted the insurance brokerage firm’s journey toward customer-centric excellence driven by innovation. Finally, Bismarck Orbe from JG Summit and Donna Armas from Aspen Philippines discussed how innovation is transforming supplier engagement, rounding out the session on how focusing on the customer is reshaping industries across the board.
In the discussions on sustainability and social impact, Dr. Shirlyn Reyes from Universal Robina Corporation (URC) highlighted her company’s purposeful transformation, setting the stage for actionable sustainability strategies. Following this, Paul Bayan from Robinsons Retail shared insights into their practical approach to the 3Rs of sustainability. Building on this, Ralph Roy from JG Summit Olefins Corporation (JGSOC) emphasized the importance of ecological education in fostering lasting change. Continuing the theme of sustainability, Ramon Rivero from RLC discussed their people-first strategy as a foundation for sustainable business growth. Ves Yraola from Cebu Pacific addressed the airline’s proactive efforts in decarbonizing its operations, bringing the conversation full circle on how industries are working toward a more sustainable future.
Deeper Insights on Transformation and Leadership
Fireside chats provided additional depth to the event’s discussions. In a session on digital transformation moderated by JG Summit Holdings’ Amina Rillo, insights were shared by URC’s Billy Andrew Sy, Data Analytics Ventures’ Yuchen Zheng, MaxiGroup’s Fiona Victoria and Raymond Hernandez, Boston Consulting Group’s Julian Cua, and Amazon Web Services Philippines’ Uuni Pillai. They explored how technology is enabling businesses to innovate and adapt across industries.
A second chat on leadership and culture, moderated by JG Summit’s Carla Perfecto, brought together Summit Media’s Howard Go, JG Summit's Quirino John Calica, IDEO’s Bea Camacho, Darwinbox’s JP Villanueva, and Microsoft’s Vett Watson. This session delved into the intersection of leadership, culture, and people management as key drivers of organizational success.
Exhibits from various Gokongwei Group business units showcased their innovative projects, best practices, and success stories. These displays featured advancements from sectors such as retail, petrochemicals, aviation, and real estate, fostering collaboration and providing attendees with actionable insights.
Looking Ahead: Future Initiatives
To enhance engagement, the festival introduced the Gokongwei Group Learning Festival App, a gamified platform that allowed participants to earn badges, join raffles, and interact with colleagues throughout the day. The app added a dynamic layer to the festival, encouraging active participation and fostering connections among attendees.
The event concluded with a preview of upcoming initiatives, including the 2025 Pride in Performance Awards and the Gokongwei Olympics. These future events aim to build on the momentum of the Learning Festival, offering additional opportunities for growth, recognition, and camaraderie within the organization.
