ANIMO STORIES

 

Integrity and experience in building homes

Rosemarie Bosch – Ong
MBA 2010

“To have a fulfilled life, we must think of our professions as a positive contribution to the community, with the greater good always in mind.”

 

As Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at Wilcon Depot Inc., Rosemarie Bosch-Ong is steering the future of home building and construction retail industry with her knowledge and experience in marketing, administration, and operations gained over the course of 36 years in the company.

Her journey to her current key role started with challenges that went with having to join an industry dominated by men. But through time, she was able to prove to herself and to everyone that women are as capable of taking on the job.

“Developing yourself, having the right confidence, recognizing your strength, overcoming your weaknesses, and taking courage – such qualities and attitude are key to stand out in the corporate world. Improving ourselves is the only thing that we have full control over,” she said.

From managerial position to top executive level, she went up the ladder with her strong organizational, technical, and interpersonal skills. “My work in Wilcon Depot provides me with the role of helping people realize their dreams when building their homes. I also hold the humble responsibility of leading and inspiring thousands of employees who depend on my direction and guidance in unleashing their full potential and effectively contributing to the success and growth of the company,” Rose shared.

 

 

 

The MBA program of DLSU served as her launching pad to take off and aim for greater heights. Being surrounded by highly motivated classmates with various levels of professional experience brought meaningful insights and thoughtful strategies that she applied in her industry. She also shared her fondness for her STRAMA (Strategic Management) class, “How could I forget Dr. Elfren Cruz, the most encouraging and influential STRAMA professor I have met? Learning from him and comparing notes and experiences from my peers have truly brought a better understanding of the theoretical values and business frameworks taught in class.”

“I was taught and reminded to produce work of the highest quality … I need to have this capacity to deliver remarkable excellence and stand out from the rest.” DLSU has certainly brought out the sense of purpose and newfound passion for Rose. The MBA program equipped her with necessary thinking skills to face the daily challenges at work given the unpredictability of real life business situations. She was also proud to find a network of like-minded people that helped her build meaningful connections that were essential to her career.

 

 

Rose executed the company’s strategy of aggressive store geographic expansion. She also led the company in its rebranding and transformation journey – from the change in the logo, improvement and rephasing of the displays, to the customer path to purchase – making Wilcon a customer friendly shopping destination.

One of Rose’s greatest takeaways from her MBA classes is that businesses are not solely built for profit. “To have a fulfilled life, we must think of our professions as a positive contribution to the community, with the greater good always in mind. As a leader in the workplace, I always try to promote a culture where everyone’s contributions do not just matter but have meaning. I believe if companies and institutions act in a unified and purpose-driven way, then more good and innovation can happen as a result,” she further said.

 

 

 

 

As a Lasallian, she believes that communion in mission is best manifested by being able to share to the community and by understanding the impact to that community. With the business disruptions caused by the global pandemic, Wilcon is committed to protect and prioritize its people and the community at large. “As retailers, it is important to be ready and adaptable to any change … we need to be resilient and innovative in handling the challenges. We know that we ought to quickly respond to the needed assistance concerning the current national health emergency,” she said.

Concurrently serving as President of the Wilcon Foundation and the Philippine Retailers Association, she spearheaded a number of green efforts of the company such as the development and bringing in of eco-friendly products from abroad and the adoption of a hectare in La Mesa Dam (tree planting).

An energetic leader to 4000 employees she manages nationwide, Rose also proves her toughness when it comes to family matters. “When my only son was diagnosed with cancer, at a time when he was studying college and building his career abroad, my family was in a state of disbelief the whole time because the sickness came out of nowhere,” she recalled receiving the news a day before her speaking engagement to DLSU MBA graduates. “During my speech, I had to keep my composure and project my best self, but the emotions behind it were of panic, fear, and anxiety.” Rose had to accompany her son abroad during treatments while fulfilling work commitments and responsibilities.

 

“Before the pandemic, we already experienced our own version of quarantine as my son recovered at our new home in New York,” Rose added. This whole experience put into perspective what is most important in her life – family. Despite the challenge, Rose sees the silver lining through God, for making her family stronger and closer than ever.

If you sow good deeds, you will reap good deeds. This is Rose’s tool for overcoming all challenges whether professionally or personally. “I feel fulfillment from having reached great heights in my career, through the important roles and responsibilities I have acquired, as well as the effective use of my time and talent for the greater good of society,” Rose shared.

 

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ANIMO STORIES is a chronicle of inspiring, positive, and motivating journey of Lasallians of DLSU. If you would know of inspiring Lasallians who would like to share their journey – professional achievements and significant contributions to their respective communities – feel free to email us at [email protected] or fill out this google form http://bit.ly/SubmitAnimoStory. Alumni to be featured will be selected by the “Animo Stories” editorial board.