WE are in the age of the millennials. According to population projections, this year the millennials will comprise 68% of our total population. This means that 7 out of 10 Filipinos is a millennial!
This demographic shift has profound implications specifically on the Philippine labor force where millennials now outnumber Gen X’ers, 46% to 40%. This means that the workplace is changing with the entry of young people with different values and expectations, with new world-views and nontraditional ways of doing things.
And if there is one thing I know in business, you need to be able to sense, understand and adapt to the changes around you in order for you to survive. Static and permanence are words that equate to obsolescence and irrelevance.
I know this firsthand because my company, Vista Land, is an industry leader in terms of of hiring a younger workforce – with over 90% of our employees falling within the millennial age group (those born between 1984-2002), and with almost 20% of that same group in more senior, decision-making managerial positions or higher.
The perfect example of this is my own daughter, Camille, who was born in 1985, and is now at the helm Vista Land’s retail component. She is also a director of Vista Land and managing director for Vista Malls.
As her father, I am extremely proud of what she has accomplished. She has exceeded expectations and is poised to achieve more. But even objectively – as the Chairman of Vista Land overseeing our many projects – I have been impressed with the leadership qualities of Camille. If this is the brand of leadership that millennials will bring to the table, then our future looks brighter than ever.
While Camille only joined the company – officially, at least – in 2006 after finishing her Bachelor of Science in Business Management course from the Ateneo de Manila University, she has been exposed to the business since she was five years old.
I remember bringing her and her brothers to open houses on weekends where they would learn the ins and outs of the housing business. I would bring Camille to some of my meetings and one time while looking at our housing projects she asked where the people would play basketball and where the kids could play. Today all our housing developments all have clubhouses, sports facilities and other amenities.
When Paolo and Mark were both in the US for their studies, I asked Camille to stay behind so she can help in our business here, and, to keep Cynthia and I company. Camille also got accepted to the Global Executive MBA Program of the prestigious Instituto de Estudios Superiores de la Emprese (IESE) Business School in Barcelona, Spain. She was the youngest ever to graduate from one of the premier business schools in the world. She was then 27 years old where the average age of the students was 35.
As a business leader, I like that Camille is hardworking and relentless. She doesn’t stop until what we set out to do has been accomplished. The work ethic that she has developed will serve her well in whatever leadership position she occupies, be it in the private or public sector.
This is what makes me proud as a dad. Beyond the material assets that I will bequeath to my sons and daughter, the most valuable lesson I can impart it is the idea that one cannot achieve success without working hard for it. Persistence is the key to making life better. You will fall down, you will fail, but pick yourself up, learn from your mistakes and try harder. Remember, if you have not achieved something, you are not trying hard enough.
