Tomorrow is the 4th Women Entrepreneurship Summit and Expo of Go Negosyo happening at the World Trade Center Metro Manila. We are looking forward to seeing another successful event, and hope that thousands will join us for another year of inspiring women and entrepreneurs.

We pooled in some of the country’s most respected and successful women, including esteemed GMA7 news anchor Mel Tiangco, noted cosmetic surgeon Dr. Vicki Belo, former Las Pinas representative Cynthia Villar, former regional president of Starbucks Asia-Pacific Maria Mercedes Corrales, and former Isabela governor Grace Padaca to speak, lecture, mentor and inspire in the summit so that they may help Filipinos develop an enterprising mindset as a way to move upward in life. The whole day will feature womenpreneurs, government and civic leaders, social entrepreneurs as well as notable celebrity-entrepreneurs. (more…)

The women of today have indeed become very driven and ambitious, striving hard for success, whether as an entrepreneur or intrapreneur. And you can see this even just with the lineup of entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs who will be mentoring and speaking at the 4th Women Entrepreneurship Summit and Expo on March 2 at the World Trade Center.

As we approach March, which is also International Women’s Month, we’ve asked for the insight of different women who are entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs (or people working for the family business or leading a corporate organization.) The traditional thinking is that the woman should be at home taking care of the children and making sure the home is running well; while the man goes out and works. Many women today are micro and small entrepreneurs because they try to perform both functions as mother and negosyante, having no fixed schedule so that she is able to fulfill her multiple duties. (more…)

Valentine’s Day is always a special day for women. I guess women are more enthusiastic about all this romantic stuff. For couples who’ve been married for a long time, just as my wife and I have been married for 28 years, sometimes we tend to take Valentine’s Day for granted, our excuse being Valentine’s Day is everyday with our spouse.

Women play a great role in our life; they are mothers to our children which is important as we men can’t give birth. They bear the pains and difficulty of child birth, and traditionally, the mother stays at home especially in the early years of the child to make sure that love and affection are given. (more…)

After my father and uncle’s celebration comes another one; this time Concepcion Industries, Inc. (CII) celebrates its 50th year. CII was started by my grandfather Jose Concepcion, Sr., and also happens to be the baby of my Uncle Raul, the twin of my father. My cousins have taken over the day-to-day management while we sit on the board to provide guidance and work towards the vision our grandfather and my Uncle Raul have set. This vision has also been upheld by the management team: Renna, Jojo, Raffy and Ton, who are my cousins.

Turning 50 is such a milestone, especially for family-run companies managed by third through fourth generations. Many family businesses don’t survive because of family fights, or just because the old business model has somehow lost its edge or has been beaten down by tough and rising competition. Concepcion Industries continues to be dominant in the airconditioner and refrigeration business. (more…)

Last Friday, my father Joe and Uncle Raul shared their life stories with their family and friends. Being twins, they both turned 80 years old, with my father being older by ten minutes. Both are still with the same women they married more than 50 years ago; dad having produced eight children and 28 grandchildren, while my uncle has five kids and 17 grandchildren.

My grandparents from both sides were entrepreneurs. My Lola Herminia Concepcion sold liquor, as our home then at the corner of EDSA and Taft was frequented by the Japanese. This is how they survived, income-wise. My grandfather, who worked for Edward J. Nell Company, was able to get the license to manufacture Carrier in the Philippines. He and my uncle built Concepcion Industries, Inc. (CII) to what it is today. Meanwhile, my father worked with his father-in-law, Don Salvador Araneta. I would say that while my dad had the entrepreneurial spirit, his conviction was towards social reform and this is where he got along with his father-in-law. Both of them ran in the 1972 Constitutional Convention, and both of them won. Because of their shared passion, they both suffered during the Marcos Regime. He was jailed during the dictatorship, while my lolo took exile in Vancouver. (more…)

Last year, we introduced Go Negosyo’s newest program, Negosyo Mo, Bukas Ko (NMBK), a corporate social innovation thrust that benefits the out-of-school youth (OSY). Caroline Burns, head advisor of NMBK as well as trainer of OSYs enrolled in the program, enlightens us about the situation of OSYs today. A native of Scotland, Caro Burns has been in development work for almost 23 years and is an advocate of social entrepreneurship. She currently teaches social development and project management at the Entrepreneurs School of Asia, and is also currently the Executive Director at the Institute for Social Entrepreneurship Education.

What can you say about the state of the out-of-school youth in Philippines?

Out of 100 school age kids: 90 enroll in Grade 1; 40 graduate high school; 21 go to college; 12 graduate college; and only 1 is employed. (more…)