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Thursday, January 22, 2004
Toral: Preparing for a comeback
By Janette Toral
Digital Filipino
BOEING EXEC. The nice thing about the Internet is that you get the chance to meet great people online and get to know them more despite the lack of physical contact.
A few months ago, I met Encarnacion “Cannie” May, born in Sorsogon and a University of the East graduate, who is currently working as an IT project manager for Boeing in the US. More than anything, she makes sure that the computing processes (SEI-CMM) are in place and streamlined in the organization.
She plans to retire from working three and a half years from now at the age of 55, and venture into her own business. In preparation for it, she founded her own company, YOSSN Corp.
Its initial product is Your One- Stop Shopping Network, launched last month. It is a self-service website that enables almost anyone to buy and sell just about any product or service.
In February this year, the public can start buying using credit cards.
She used the Philippines as her launch pad to help overcome the fear of rampant fraud both from within the country and outside. This can be overcome with sufficient security checks and well-coordinated processes from
ordering, to payment, to shipping.
She hired a starting programmer from the Philippines to build YOSSN.com for lower cost and to have firsthand experience on how to outsource an IT project to the country.
As more companies outsource their software applications, she believes the Philippines is a very strong alternative to India in getting these projects.
TWICE AS HARD. Cannie’s character was greatly molded by her US experience. She advises
people who are planning to go there to be aggressive, be serious in their
work, bold, and speak up if they see that something is not right.
“By default, it always takes twice (or more) as hard for an immigrant to succeed in their adopted country. It takes twice as hard to earn their respect. But once you have earned that respect, then you are accorded twice that because they know it was not that easy for you to get there.”
She advises IT companies to aggressively pursue outsourcing, especially from the US.
For the country to be competitive, it should seek help for resource and technical advice. “We cannot compete among ourselves at this time—we need to collaborate to grow. We need each other. It sounds very nationalistic—it has to.”
At present, Cannie is currently building her network of Philippine
companies, their associated expertise, and some of their customers.
“If a company simply does not have the skill—they should refer the customer to others who has. The easiest way to lose customers is for someone to say they can when they cannot. One bad experience will spread like wildfire and may tarnish the reputation of the whole industry.”
There are many Filipinos like Cannie that can be tapped as a partner in
promoting the Philippines IT services sector. With the dual citizenship law
passed, our diaspora should look into entrepreneurial opportunities so we are not be stuck as employees of foreign corporations.
(Janette can be reached at janette@ digitalfilipino.com.)
(January 22, 2004 issue)
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