I have been hearing about this woman from my sister Krie and from Dad and Mom…and I had the chance to finally meet her. Her name is Mercy Corrales.
Heart2Heart is very proud to feature her as I am sure she will be an idol to many women and Filipinos out there – just like how she has made me proud.
Mercy started off in Human Resources for Levis ( LSPI ) in the Philippines and even knew my grandmother working with her in Rustan’s. She later on became CEO of Levis in Brazil and then in Japan. She was with Levis for thirty years. Afterwhich, she became the CEO of Starbucks in Japan which has almost a thousand stores and sales of around a billion US dollars.
Imagine a woman being the CEO in a male dominated society like Japan?
She is the only woman who was awarded by the Harvard Business School in Japan as Business Statewoman of 2008.
And recently she was asked to be the President of Starbucks Asia Pacific which includes the Philippines.
I heard Mercy telling my Dad about her conversation with Howard Schultz over the phone when Howard called her about the new job offer.. Mercy told Howard… “I am going to SHAKE THINGS UP and I am going to disagree with you sometimes!” Howard was very happy to hear that and agreed that that was what he wanted. I also heard that she even dictated her terms as to what countries she could cover and how often she could come back to the Philippines…..that’s how good she is!
Mercy has given talks in Japan to many people from all over the world… many of them are amazed and asking her how she did it and how she made it to where she is now.
She told us over dinner that one of the reasons she wants to retire already is because she wants to be able to do something for the country…. she said that most of her career she has been helping overseas countries and companies. Hmmm…. the fact that she represents our country and makes us proud to be Filipinos…is already great service to our country!
“Itayo natin ang ating bandila,” she says!
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