When I met Regina Victoria Y. De Ocampo this week, the grand daughter of the Philippines former President, Jose P. Laurel and the only daughter of Nita L. Yupangco, I suddenly admire how down to earth this CEO is. As the one handling the remittance and financial side of the company- Yupangco Group of Companies, surely this person is not just an ordinary woman.

Leadership according to her is not born but made, well, it’s also what Dr. Elton See Tan told me when I interviewed him in my radio show “Let’s talk about career” last time. These two leaders has a similarity, both were born in a silver platter and schooled in the best schools in the world which definitely a plus points or a bonus that helped these two in their careers.

Despite any popular beliefs, great leaders can be cultivated and developed as long as with the right mindset and determination. Right now, all leaders based on one TEDx speaker possess GRIT.  Grit according to the dictionary is a positive, non-cognitive trait based on an individual’s passion for a particular long-term goal or end state, coupled with a powerful motivation to achieve their respective objective. This perseverance of effort promotes the overcoming of obstacles or challenges that lie within a gritty individual’s path to accomplishment, and serves as a driving force in achievement realization. Commonly associated concepts within the field of psychology include “perseverance”,  “ambition”, “need for achievement”.

To be successful, you need to have a deep understanding of what holds value to you. Once this is recognized, you can start to develop your beliefs and to demonstrate your values effectively. All successful people are leaders, since nobody can be successful especially in business alone. As for Regina Victoria Y. De Ocampo of  Yamaha and Dr. Elton See Tan of  E- Hotels and Resorts, even without money but determined, one can achieve success.