A TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER OF THE MODERN TIMES
COVER STORY
ROSEMARIE BOSCH-ONG :
A TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADER OF THE MODERN TIMES
Navigating leadership is challenging enough but Rosemarie Bosch-Ong is a class in herself for handling two positions of leadership and responsibility during the toughest of times .
BY : GRACE C . DIEZ | EDITED BY : MAYAN SANGIL
As Wilcon Depot Inc .’ s SEVP ( Senior Executive Vice President ) and COO ( Chief Operating Officer ), as well as the Philippine Retailers Association ( PRA ) President , Rosemarie Bosch-Ong , had to muster her wit , intelligence , patience , and strength to steer the organizations she leads to not only survive but also to thrive amid rough waters .
A look at Bosch-Ong ’ s background enables one to understand how the indefatigable executive manages to steer two organizations with grace and sincere concern for the welfare of the people she serves and leads .
Bosch-Ong has an educational background in Economics and began her career at Wilcon Depot Inc . as a Purchasing Manager way back in the ‘ 80s . She steadily climbed the corporate ladder , meeting various types of workers and people in the company , before reaching her position as SEVP and COO . The journey provided insights and empathy that she would later be able to tap into for her leadership roles .
She shares a quick look at her experience which guided her journey .
“ I learned the ropes at Wilcon as I rose from the ranks . When you talk of retail , it ’ s all about service and engaging with the customers . It ’ s not just about selling products , there ’ s also an aspect of providing service . Na-develop iyong experience ko of dealing with people ,” Bosch-Ong says .
She further elucidates on this by connecting how their work at Wilcon is retail-oriented but is somehow also connected to a basic need — shelter .
“ Selling is all about relationships and retail is about serving the needs of the market . The very basic needs are food , clothing , and shelter . Homes are under shelter so I ’ m in the business of knowing what the needs are , what are essential and important to people . We ’ re basically addressing a basic need ,” she adds .
That said , retail is very close to Bosch-Ong ’ s heart . She sees market conditions and the landscape through the lens of someone who worked from humble beginnings all the way to being on top . As a retailer , she is always on the lookout for trends and development in the industry . She ’ s been the President of the Philippine Retailers Association ( PRA ) for almost five years ( since 2018 ) now and prior to leading the organization , she ’ s been with the PRA board since 2009 .
Transformational Leadership
Because of Bosch-Ong ’ s concurrent roles in two highly respected organizations , a lot might wonder how she does it . When asked about her leadership style , she explains how it all depends on what theorganization requires of her .
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