Ayala CEO on purpose-driven work driving inclusive growth

Makati, Philippines – June 4, 2019 To Ayala Corporation (Ayala) Chairman & CEO Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, the Future of Work in Asia Pacific is not just about new jobs, new skills, and new ways to work and learn. It is ultimately about motivating employees through purpose-driven work and driving productivity towards inclusive growth.

“Infusing our organizations and our people’s jobs with a deeper and higher purpose should be part and parcel of any discussion about the Future of Work,” Zobel said. He noted that today’s times “are challenging us to adopt a refreshed approach to enterprise—one that fully responds to the critical underserved needs of society, while at the same time enables the creation of value. This would allow our organizations to generate meaningful impact and imbue a higher purpose in people’s work, which would lead to increased productivity and engagement.”

As the first Philippine company to join the World Business Council for Sustainable Development, Ayala has aligned its strategies with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) through the Ayala Sustainability Blueprint. This is a group-wide plan specifically designed to support the achievement of the UN SDGs by 2030, and to enable Ayala to tangibly contribute to three pillars where its businesses can generate the most significant and lasting impact. These are: access and inclusivity, productivity and competitiveness, and responsible growth and innovation. Through its sustainability blueprint, Ayala is able to institutionalize the creation of meaningful work that would channel its employees’ talents towards positive change, and ultimately, accelerate inclusive growth.

“As we continue these conversations and prepare for the future as individual companies and as a community of enterprises, let us keep in mind an important matter: we also have to create and offer purpose-driven work to our various teams. I believe that [if] we can properly harness technology, properly harness innovation, and properly harness meaningfulness, we will certainly contribute to a more progressive Philippines and Asia Pacific,” Zobel concluded.

As a region known for its low-cost and low-skilled labor, Asia Pacific will likely be facing socio-economic challenges and a growing number of workers displaced by automation and digitization. However, by harnessing, technology, innovation, and meaningfulness, Ayala believes that these developments could also introduce significant opportunities for a future workforce that is inclusive and positively impactful.

PHOTO CREDIT: Asia Society
“As we continue these conversations and prepare for the future as individual companies and as a community of enterprises, let us keep in mind an important matter: we also have to create and offer purpose-driven work to our various teams. I believe that [if] we can properly harness technology, properly harness innovation, and properly harness meaningfulness, we will certainly contribute to a more progressive Philippines and Asia Pacific,” Zobel said at the J.P. Morgan-Asia Society One Step Ahead Series last June 4, 2019 at Makati City.

Contact Information
Ayala Corporation
May Florentino
Corporate Communications
Email: florentino.mpp@ayala.com.ph