Map-Sgv 7Th Nextgen Conference Redefines Modern Leadership Beyond Traditional Titles and Paths 

Leaders across generations challenge traditional corporate hierarchies, map out strategies in facing uncertain circumstances

Business executives, civil society leaders, and emerging pioneers gathered at the MAP-SGV 7th NextGen Conference last October 26 at SPACE at One Ayala in Makati City to collectively redefine leadership in an increasingly unpredictable world.

Co-presented by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) and SGV & Co., the conference, with the theme “Uncharted: Leading Beyond Borders, Titles, and Traditional Paths,” brought together a record turnout of more than 400 attendees from industry, civil society, public service, science, education, sport, and creative sectors to explore leadership beyond conventional titles, predetermined career paths, and organizational boundaries.

MAP President Dr. Donald Lim of DITO CME Holdings emphasized the need to bridge generational divides and engage emerging leaders to face evolving challenges. 

“As the business landscape evolves, we recognize the changing dynamics of how people choose to contribute. When younger generations asked for their own space to engage, it became clear: leadership can no longer be confined to legacy executive conference models,” Lim said.

MAP President Dr. Donald Lim acknowledged the changing notions about leadership and called to close the gap among leaders across generations.

New perspectives on leadership and influence

Delivering the keynote address, Timor-Leste President and 1996 Nobel Peace Prize laureate his excellency Dr. José Ramos-Horta stressed that true leadership requires moral conviction and human dignity, especially as technological acceleration outpaces legacy policies. Reflecting on his country’s journey toward independence, he noted that progress in Timor-Leste was driven by courage and conviction rather than designated ranks. 

“In our journey, we did not have the luxury of choosing established pathways; we had to create one. The ultimate test of leadership is what we’ll leave behind, and the strongest leader develops others who can carry the work forward,” he said.

Black Eyed Peas founding member Apl.de.Ap, whose career spans pop music, entrepreneurship and philanthropy, offered a different lens on influence and leadership. As the founder of the Apl.de.Ap Foundation International and co-founder of climate infrastructure company OMTSE Ventures, he explained that leadership entails building opportunities and contributing to communities beyond a conventional corporate career.

“I might not be an expert on agriculture, but I was able to build a team who can do their jobs well and help achieve the vision I have for my community. For me, if your dream does not scare you, it’s not big enough,” he said.

Apl.de.Ap, founding member of the Black Eyed Peas, spoke with Dr. Karen Remo of NPM Group on how his childhood in Pampanga inspired him to give back to his community, then gave a surprise performance of his hit song “Bebot”.

Redefining influence across sectors

Throughout the conference, non-traditional leaders and C-suite executives from legacy firms and startups discussed how recent shifts have challenged the old notions about leadership.

During a panel on interconnected markets, 3C Ventures Founder Olivier Cotard cautioned against stubbornness during market pivots, while Canva Southeast Asia CEO Willix Halim emphasized decisiveness, speed, and timing in competitive markets.

Sunlight Air CEO Ryna Brito-Garcia shared how she established and grew her company throughout the years despite having no prior experience in the airline industry. Meanwhile, Alphavita Capital Founding Partner Anne Kim explained that their Southeast Asian healthcare and education investments aimed to enhance human capability to scale across Asia.

Panel discussions brought non-traditional leaders and C-suite executives in discussing how leadership has moved beyond traditional roles and titles.

In another panel, six-time SEA Games Wushu gold medalist Agatha Wong joined executives Kylee Avante (AiDus International), Cosette Canilao (Aboitiz InfraCapital), and Tony Lambino (Ayala Foundation) in rethinking traditional leadership beyond titles and credentials.

Drawing from her experience as an athlete and medical student, Wong noted that leadership does not require permission. Avante shared the challenge of overcoming perceptions that equate seniority with leadership when founding her enterprise at 18. Lambino, one of the original members of the OPM group Smokey Mountain, recounted that the advice on doing excellent work sustained him as he transitioned towards a corporate career. Canilao, meanwhile, explained the value of having a level playing field, integrity, and transparency, which she learned from leading the Public-Private Partnership Center of the Philippines from 2011 to 2016.

For the MAP NextGen Core Group, led by co-chairs Donna Lina of Ube Media, Natalia Peña of MOFS, and vice chair Carla Laus of Ninyo, the conference serves as a catalyst for action. “We want to challenge traditional ideas of leadership and question who we look to for inspiration. Leadership today is about taking initiative, empowering others, and creating opportunities for new voices,” Peña said.

The MAP NextGen Committee, led by vice chair Carla Laus of Ninyo and co-chairs Natalia Peña of MOFS and Donna Lina of Ube Media, envisioned the MAP-SGV 7th NextGen Conference as a catalyst for action among current and future leaders.

The group added that the conference could serve as a starting point for broadening perceptions of leadership beyond formal titles and established paths, recognizing that influence and the ability to drive change can come from anyone, regardless of position or sector. 

Through its NextGen Committee, MAP extends the commitment to champion leadership, management excellence, integrity, and nation-building through initiatives such as the SGV-MAP NextGen CEO Transformative Leadership Program. These efforts create opportunities for current and future leaders to deepen their leadership capabilities, exchange perspectives and put new ideas into practice.

Ultimately, the impact of UNCHARTED will be measured not by the conversations held on stage, but by what participants take forward: new perspectives, new collaborations and new ways of leading.

Visit their website or follow MAP on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to learn more about their projects and upcoming events.

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