Forbes Cites Jollibee Group As Top Female-Friendly Company

Forbes has cited the Jollibee Group as Top Female-Friendly Company, the only Philippine-based company in the global listing.

The listed Asian food conglomerate said it is committed to making its workplace female-friendly by encouraging an environment that provides growth and holistic support to female employees around the world.

According to the group, 52 percent of Jollibee Foods Corp.’s leaders are women holding key roles in its businesses in global markets.

These roles span regional and global functions in general management, legal services, business technology, research and development, quality management, marketing and Jollibee worldwide services, among many others.

Jollibee Group president and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong said the company has a dedicated People Agenda in its business strategy, characterized by a people-focused culture that provides equal opportunities to everyone.

“This is our commitment not only as a female-friendly company, but also as a world-class employer that takes good care of its people,” Tanmantiong said.

JFC’s women leaders include Maribeth Dela Cruz, president for Jollibee, Chowking and Red Ribbon in North America.

“JFC has values that are aligned with mine and it has a culture that I didn’t find in the other company,” Dela Cruz said.

Dela Cruz held various roles in Operations before she was sent to the US to help accelerate the Jollibee business, which she has been doing successfully.

In 2020, she was named as one of the Top 50 Most Influential Women in the US Foodservice Industry.

Wally Mateo started as an R&D specialist and is now the vice president and head of JFC’s Global Quality Management based in the US.

“JFC has a culture that allows us to demonstrate our technical capabilities and lead transformational changes. I was empowered to drive the growth and maturity of the company in food safety, quality assurance and customer experience management,” Mateo said.

Under her leadership, Jollibee Group’s Central Quality Management team won in the International Best Practice Competition in Abu Dhabi in 2018, bringing honor to both JFC and the country.

Mateo was also named Quality Manager of the Year by the Philippine Society of Quality.

Valerie Amante, vice president and head of Global General Counsel and Ethics, said women leaders thrive and succeed in the company because women are not treated as “women leaders” but as leaders.

“I am also a person with disability. Just like gender, this has never been a point of discussion. It is always about merit,” she said.

The company also recognizes the need to protect the family and its members, particularly women and children, from violence and threats to their safety and security.