The EY Entrepreneur Of The 12 months 2024 Philippines has concluded its seek for the nation’s most visionary leaders shaping alternatives and remodeling industries. It’s a program of the SGV Basis, Inc., with co-presenters: the Asian Institute of Administration, the Division of Commerce and Trade, the Philippine Enterprise for Social Progress, and the Philippine Inventory Alternate.
Rosemarie P. Rafael
Chairperson and President
Airspeed Group of Firms
ROSEMARIE P. RAFAEL is a prime instance of entrepreneurial resilience and innovation. Her outstanding journey, from humble beginnings as a ticketing agent to main one of many high logistics corporations within the Philippines, is a narrative of willpower, enterprise acumen, and visionary management.
After her stint as a ticketing agent, Ms. Rafael joined a cargo company however quickly realized the constraints of her position, driving her to comply with her goals and carve her personal path.
“As early as then, I needed to do issues that may influence different individuals,” she recalled.
Regardless of challenges in a male-dominated business, her distinctive mixture of willpower, motherly care, coronary heart for individuals, and imaginative and prescient set her aside.
In 1985, with six staff and a single supply van, Ms. Rafael based Airspeed Worldwide Corp. From the beginning, she targeted on constructing trust-based relationships slightly than purely transactional ones, which attracted a loyal buyer base.
Airspeed confronted many challenges early on, however inside 5 years, it surpassed her former employer and was acknowledged by the Worldwide Air Transport Affiliation (IATA). Her imaginative and prescient expanded Airspeed’s choices, together with worldwide and home multi-modal freight forwarding, customs clearance, specialised logistics, storage options, and e-commerce success. At present, Airspeed operates in over 90 international locations, serving 1000’s of stakeholders.
Ms. Rafael is obsessed with supporting small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which she calls “the spine of the Philippine financial system.”
“If we actually wish to be aggressive within the ASEAN area, we actually have to assist our SMEs — give them entry to instruments, assets, entry to finance, and entry to markets,” she mentioned.
By means of initiatives like PINASPEED SME Program, which provides discounted supply charges, entry to trainings and commerce festivals, and on-line market via the Kahanga-hangang Pilipinas — an e-commerce digital platform showcasing MSME merchandise from numerous areas of the Philippines — she helps SMEs develop alongside Airspeed.
The COVID-19 pandemic was a crucial take a look at for her management as business flights had been grounded. She made the daring choice to constitution flights, making certain continued service regardless of international disruptions. “We had been in a position to feed our individuals due to that exact choice,” she narrates.
Airspeed’s success with main shoppers prompted Ms. Rafael to strengthen her company governance abilities, which opened new progress alternatives. Her problem-solving skills had been additional highlighted when Airspeed efficiently delivered a crucial medical merchandise from Singapore with solely hours to spare, saving a life within the course of. “So, it’s not nearly delivering. That is the enjoyment that we now have in what we do,” she says.
Beneath her management, Airspeed prioritizes sustainability via Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives like utilizing e-vehicles, recycling packaging, and consolidating journeys to cut back environmental influence. Furthermore, Airspeed is proud to be women-led, with over 50% of its workforce being feminine, together with LGBTQIA+ staff. Girls maintain 70% of their high executives and 45% of middle-tier managers.
“Range and inclusion are values that stretch past the corporate to its suppliers and companions,” she mentioned.
As chairperson of the Girls Enterprise Council Philippines and ASEAN Girls Entrepreneurs Community, she champions ladies’s management and financial empowerment. By means of public talking and NGO involvement, she advocates for the success of ladies in enterprise, inspiring future feminine leaders.
Wanting forward, Ms. Rafael goals to increase Airspeed’s presence past the Philippines, standardize logistics processes, and upskill the workforce to compete within the ASEAN area. Airspeed’s digital platforms like UnboxMe and Pinaspeed, which cater to e-commerce, additionally reveal her dedication to innovation and help for microbusinesses.
Her management exemplifies the ability of resilience and purpose-driven enterprise. “We wish to have an effect not solely inside our firm, among the many staff and the stakeholders, but additionally within the communities that we serve,” she mentioned. “We are able to make it occur.”
Media sponsors are BusinessWorld and the ABS-CBN Information Channel. Gold sponsors are SteelAsia Manufacturing Corp., Uratex, and Converge ICT Options, Inc. Silver sponsor is Worldwide Container Terminal Providers, Inc. Bronze sponsor is Lausgroup Holdings, Inc. Banquet sponsors are Robert Blancaflor & Teams, Inc., Bounty Contemporary Group Holdings, Inc., and Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc.
The winners will likely be introduced on Oct. 23, 2024. The EY Entrepreneur Of The 12 months 2024 Philippines will characterize the nation within the World Entrepreneur Of The 12 months 2025 in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June 2025. The EY Entrepreneur Of The 12 months program is produced globally by Ernst & Younger (EY).