For the men, they are more of a risk taker, and for the women, they are more nurturing and more details. So the combination of the men and women is very good for business.
— Teresita Sy-Coson
I belong to a family where I think we're all fairly treated, boys or girls. Although I have to work doubly hard just to be able to be recognised. That meant long hours, but the hard work paid off.
I was just born into a business family. It is really a destiny.
In the Philippines, we don't have that much of a problem. There's not much difference between the men and the women. In our business, we always have a good mixture of the men and the women.
We grew up in a very demanding environment. Dad expects us to prove ourselves... so my siblings and I worked hard to reach what we have today, and I guess we have to continue working hard to maintain it.
I learned by example. ...As a kid you think you are just the same as other adults.
Sometimes, of course, I could not belong to the boys club, but that's OK. There are always ways to do what I wanted to do. It doesn't really matter so much to me.
I was always told I had to be an example to my siblings. I was told to toe the line. So I had to behave.