Experience is the the best teacher of all, the old adage goes. But having a mentor who has lived through those experiences is far, the next best alternative. And this has been the case for the Sy siblings, especially for Teresita Sy-Coson.
 

“I was fortunate to have learned the basics of leadership first hand from my father,said Ms. Sy-Coson, her old man is no less than the country’s retail and shopping magnate, Henry Sy Sr.

Growing up in the Sy household meant being exposed to a number of principles espoused by the taipan and embraced by the family. Ms. Sy-Coson still continues to draw from these values, using them to get through changing times and situations.

“Inspired by his bold visions and dreams, he taught me to strive to be a leader in my chosen field. I learned from him that being a leader means being different, taking bold steps, and going to unexplored places,Ms. Sy-Coson said.

“From my father’s example, I learned that a leader has to have a great passion to achieve, work hard for it, (be) patient and persevere, and recognize opportunity. He should also be focused and have a long-term vision and strategy. Integrity and optimism are also very important in leadership,she further added.

As with most family corporations, pundits have always kept a close watch on the second generation Sys, predicting who the next leader would be , Ms. Sy-Coson is seen as the heir apparent of the Sy clan, partly due to biological and chronological factors. She is the eldest among the brood of six and the first to immerse herself into Shoemart work.

Ms. Sy-Coson however, said, “I have not taken over the (SM) Group. My father Henry Sy Sr., still remains active as founder and chairman of the SM Group.

The mall tycoon’s daughter further adds, “My five other siblings and I share a collective responsibility of fulfilling our roles within the organization. However, her appointments tell those outside the clan otherwise.

Ms. Sy-Coson presently holds the helm of the group’s core businesses-retail and banking.

In 1990 Ms. Sy-Coson, then 39 was appointed president of Shoemart, Inc. At that time, the Assumption College graduate was no longer new to the business. She was already a veteran, in fact, having worked beside her father for 24 years. She started doing part-time work in one of the SM stores while still in college.

Joining the family business was a natural evolution Ms. Sy-Coson explained . “My siblings and I grew up as my father was building his company, and we were always encourage to take part in  the business .The Sy empire, after all is huge enough to for the clan’s members to fulfill any entrepreneurial ambition.

Ms. Sy-Coson is also the director and chairman of the executive committee of Equitable PCI Bank, after she relinguished her chairmanship of Banco de Oro Universal Bank (BDO).

Shoemart Inc. and BDO are considered flagship companies and among the cask cows of the Sy empire.

She is also currently the vice-chairman of SM Investments Corp. the holding company of the SM Group.

Her designations, though, did not merely come with the surname. Ms. Sy-Coson, is not the tycoon’s daughter for nothing. “She got the brains. She’s hardworking and decisive,an associate previously said.

While Henry Sy’s vision created the supermalls, Ms. Sy-Coson’s ability to follow through that vision made things work for SM Group. She provides the hands-on management needed to turn many of the patriach’s vision into reality, thus providing a valuable asset to the company. Ms. Sy-Coson’s leadership also allowed her father to concentrate on new projects.

Insiders say that in meetings whenever the taipan is not around, Ms. Sy-Coson has the last say. Some say Ms. Sy-Coson is feared, because she doesn’t compromise when she believes she’s correct, a positive trait for people constantly undertaking negotiations.

Personality-wise, associates praise her for the fair, practical and decisive leadership she exudes.

Ms. Sy-Coson also acquired her father’s penchant for details. For the mall tycoon, “presentation is of utmost importance.

Proof of this, accounts say that when the elder Sy still participated in weekly shoe-buying sessions, debates would sometime ensue between father and daughter over shoe details.

“Once you are not interested in details , you might as well be retiring, Ms. Sy-Coson explained earlier.

When asked  what among  her achievements she is proudest of , she simply replied, “There have been many significant milestones…but these have all been collective accomplishments, I look at the business  as a work in progress that is constantly evolving with the times.

However, Ms. Sy-Coson can be most noted overseeing SM through its latest cycle of expansion. The retailing giant now has 19 Supermalls spread across the archipelago. A tremendous feat considering that the company started out as a shoe store. Ms. Sy-Coson is also admired for her nurturing of BDO to become the 8th largest universal bank in terms of assets.

But Ms. Sy-Coson humbly maintains that credit does not belong to hers alone believing that the group’s success has always been through the effort of its entire team. “Over the years, I have come to realize that having a sound and dynamic organization is the ultimate competitive advantage, she said.

“One should have an architectural approach and concentrate on building the organizational traits of the company, and define the organization agenda, designing around products and customers…operational excellence delivers the combination of quality price and ease of purchase that gives one the competitive edge.

Nonetheless, because of her leadership abilities, Ms. Sy-Coson was counted among Fortune magazine’s Top 50 influential women in international business, the only Filipina included in the list. She ranked no. 47 in 2004.

The magazine said, “she’s proving that he skill in the boardroom at family empire SM Prime Holdings is at least equal of her wily octogenarian dad.

Focusing on what should be done is what Ms. Sy-Coson does best. Basically, I like to put things together. When I see a lot of opportunities, I do a lot of coordination and integrate different efforts to reach a certain direction. said Ms. Sy-Coson.

And when unexpected failures happen along the way, “I learned from my father that these should not deter you and not agonize about these too long. It is said that success is connected to action and motion. I just keep moving and don’t quit, she explained.

Beneath this western management style of looking for efficiencies amid trying times, however, is a strategy that the Sy’s seem to have perfected—cohesive, family oriented management.

In spite of this, Ms. Sy-Coson has indicated that they would rather not keep the business all to themselves. After all, running huge—still expanding—business is becoming more of a challenge.

“The company will be run professionally in the future, but with the close coordination with the stockholders so that both their objectives will be realized. With that direction, the company will be able to go on for longer time, said Ms. Sy-Coson.